Everyone’s talking about the new normal that will hopefully be 2021: a vaccinated population, freer movement between states, more certainty for hospitality venues. The signs are getting more promising by the week, but much of the booze industry is still on tenterhooks, particularly internationally.
What’s more certain is that we can expect plenty of new Australian whisky launches, distillery openings and events in 2021.
As the whisky calendar in Australia starts to come into focus, we thought a round-up of what to look out for was in order.
First release whiskies
It’s going to be another big year for Australian whisky producers entering the game.
One producer who recently caught our attention was Souwester Spirits. The Margaret River-based operation was founded by wine and food writer Danielle Costley, and the first release Souwester single malt was matured for four years in, of all things, ice chardonnay barrels. We’re keen to try it.
Souwester Ice Chardonnay Barrel Single Malt Whisky. Photo – Nicks Wine Merchants
A number of distilleries we reported on last year are only just getting around to bottling their first whiskies due to COVID-19 delays.
Kinglake Distillery is one of those, and recently put out their first single malt (although a contamination issue with a holding tank tainted their first batch – here’s to a smoother second release).
We’re also hanging out for first releases by Manly Spirits Co., Bellarine Distillery (the later’s coming very soon) and wondering if Alchemy Distillers in the Yarra Valley will bottle their first whiskies this year, after being impressed by some pre-release samples.
New whiskies
Adelaide Hills Distillery will soon release their first widely available whisky, following the success of their Native Grain series.
Victoria’s Backwoods Distilling Co. are set to launch their first red gum matured whisky in March, joining a growing number of whiskies matured in native woods (more on that soon).
Lark 19 year old legacy bottlings. Photo – Lark Distilling
From Tassie, Killara Distillery recently teamed up with Whisky Lovers Australia to offer a single malt and gin combo – an interesting idea, be surprised if we don’t see more of that.
And both Lark Distilling Co and Sullivans Cove will soon release 19 year old, erm, Sullivans Cove whiskies to kick things off to an interesting start this year.
Melbourne’s The Gospel Distillers recently put our their first Wheated Rye whiskey, which sold out almost instantly. Whipper Snapper followed last year’s successful Wheat Whiskey launch with a follow-up batch for those who missed out in 2020.
And a new rye whisky from Riverbourne Distillery has also got our attention.
Photo – Starward Whisky
Last week, Starward dropped two smoked whiskies out of the blue, Cherry Wood and Mesquite Smoked. We’ll have reviews on both in coming weeks.
While Melbourne’s Bakery Hill Distillery will soon launch Little French Pete, a 12 year old malt matured initially in virgin French oak casks and then ‘finished’ in ex-Bourbon casks for a further 10 years.
For Bakery Hill fans, the Baker’s are also confident that the new distillery site in Melbourne’s Kensington will be opened by the end of the year.
Photo – Bakery Hill Distillery
On the independent bottling front, Spirit Thief continued their exploration series with the release of a Belgrove matured in a French oak mataro cask and an Adams malt in a shiraz cask.
The Whisky List added to the Remnant Whisky Company’s ‘Fly By Night’ release with ‘The Virus’ and ‘The Vaccine’ (ten points for the titles).
While Tim Duckett has a suite of new whisky releases coming from Heartwood and TIB (the malt and oat blend sounds fascinating). Follow his social media antics to try and keep up.
Distillery openings
Aforementioned Backwoods Distilling Co. have just opened their distillery cellar door for those interested in a road trip. Down the road, Yack Creek Distillery also opened their cellar door over summer. We highly recommend a visit to both.
Backwoods Distilling Co. cellar door
Killara Distillery’s cellar door in Richmond also opened over the summer period, and is now welcoming visitors. While Lark Distilling Co are set to open a new whisky bar in Hobart this June.
Awards
Awards season, always a controversial period, is just around the corner, and there’s plenty to wrap your head around in 2021.
The World Whiskies Awards recently released their round one results, with several Aussie drops scoring well (final results announced in May).
The two other major comps to look out for are the San Francisco World Spirits Competition (results in May), and the International Wine and Spirits Competition (whisky results in July).
On top of the overseas competitions, a crowded calendar of Australian spirits competitions will be added to with the Australian Whisky Awards, launched by the Australian Whisky Appreciation Society. Winners will be announced at the inaugural gala dinner on March 21st.
Meanwhile, established comps like the Australian Distilled Spirits Awards (disclosure: some of the Oz Whisky Review team are judges), Tasting Australia Spirit Awards and the Drink Easy awards will all run and conclude in coming months.
We’ve also heard of at least two other local whisky competitions that will launch in 2021, so good luck keeping up with all of that (I know we’re struggling).
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Events
Whisky events will likely shift and change this year due to the pandemic. But we’ve received word that most of Australia’s biggest whisky events will come alive again in some form.
Tasmanian Whisky Week (August), The Sydney Whisky Fair (August), Whisky & Dreams (June/July), and the various Whisky Live’s will be returning to a physical format this year, pending restrictions.
For those who prefer staying in, many festivals and businesses will continue to offer a tasting pack alongside the physical event, with Alchemist Events, for instance, offering a series of virtual tastings throughout 2021.
There’s certainly no shortage of whisky revelry to keep you entertained this year. So here’s hoping we can stay open, stay connected and enjoy some cracking whiskies along the way.