It’s been another big year for the Australian whisky industry. Despite the pandemic lingering, Australian distillers persevered and released some fascinating new bottlings for us to get around. It’s a genuine pleasure to be looking back on the best and brightest whiskies of the last 12 months.
While independent bottlers stole the show in 2021, this year some exciting new producers entered the field. Some of Australia’s more established distilleries, like Starward, also had breakout years internationally.
Beyond that, the value for money side of the Australian whisky equation came into focus this year, a sign of the pressures on individuals, businesses and the broader economy. New entrants still swaggered in and dropped distinctive, high quality whiskies at more affordable price points, and some established producers have even adjusted their prices down reflecting the choice consumers now have with 80+ Australian distilleries consistently releasing whisky.
For the Oz Whisky Review team’s top whiskies of the year, we keep things pretty simple. Our top 10 are drawn from the categories you see below: top single malt, top rye, top corn whisky, peated whisky, blended whisky, etc. As always, there were arguments and disagreements on the final list, but the categories will give you an idea of how we arrived at our top 10.
Like last year, the specific criteria for our selection was outright quality of the whisky, value for money and general awesomeness. This year, we also considered how well a whisky was able to say something about where it’s from, whether that be the use of local ingredients or a particularly Australian or regional approach to production. We reckon this is becoming increasingly important, especially as Australian whisky begins to enter the hyper competitive world whisky market.
Feel free to disagree, agree or tell us about your top whiskies of the year in whatever forum you favour. And as always, a huge thank you to our readers and subscribers for your interest and support this year. The Australian whisky industry is gathering serious momentum and we can’t wait to bring you all the latest in 2023.
Oz Whisky Review’s Top 10 Whisky Releases of 2022
Top single malt:
Killara Port Cask KD26 Single Malt Whisky, Killara Distillery (TAS), $220
For the sheer complexity and consistency of the bottlings, it was hard to go past Kristy Booth-Lark’s Killara Distillery for the top single malt gong this year, and her Port Cask KD26 was a particular standout. That full-flavoured, malty, chewy Killara spirit matched up brilliantly with this cask. It showed exceptional balance, was bottled at an optimal ABV, and landed at a reasonable price point considering the quality on offer. Of course, the single malt category is the most hotly contested in the country, and we also had whiskies from Backwoods, Bakery Hill, Overeem, Fleurieu, Iniquity and Starward in the mix.
Top rye whisky:
The Gospel Projects Fortified Cask Rye Whiskey, The Gospel Distillers (VIC), $135
The Gospel again took out our pick for the top Australian rye whisky of the year. Their Gospel Projects range hasn’t missed a beat, and this richly flavoured take on their spicy and distinctive 100% rye spirit was a stunning expression of Australia’s fortified winemaking prowess. Archie Rose and Backwoods released some impressive ryes this year as well, and Peter Bignell’s recent Belgrove bottlings have been absolute flavour bombs as always.
Top new distillery first release:
Cape Byron The Original Single Malt Whisky (NSW), Cape Byron Distillery, $125
Cape Byron Distillery’s first release was one of the stories of the year, with Eddie Brook and legendary Scottish distiller Jim McEwan launching their first single malts to sell out events across the country. Other top first releases in 2022 came from Amber Lane Distillery, Camborne/St Agnes and Winding Road Distilling Co.
Top corn whisky:
Upshot Red Corn Australian Whiskey, Whipper Snapper Distillery (WA), $140
Once again, a Whipper Snapper Upshot bottling gets our pick as the best corn whisky release of the year. Western Australian red corn was the hero here, and the grain character was brilliantly supported by some top notch casks. Tiger Snake’s recent batches are also worth a look, there’s some serious age now on offer there, and Ned Whisky’s single cask range is throwing up some good drinking options.
Top peated or smoked whisky:
Furneaux Flinders Island Peated Bourbon Cask, Furneaux Distilling Co. (TAS), $200
Furneaux Distillery on Flinders Island have taken out our best peated whisky for the second year running. We love the way the Furneaux folks are injecting local island peat into their whiskies, but this was a tight call, with Furneaux just getting the nod over whiskies from Black Gate, Fleurieu, Iniquity, Limeburners and Heartwood/TIB.
Top bang for your buck whisky:
Coastal Stone Nor’easter Single Malt Whisky, Manly Spirits Co. Distilling (NSW), $99
It was brilliant to see a range of more affordable offerings hit the shelves this year, but the Coastal Stone Nor’easter from Manly Spirits Co. ticked all the boxes for us. Tasty and complex, wonderfully presented and landing at a cracking price, it edged out offerings from Kinglake, Starward and Ned Whisky.
Top independent bottling:
Image: The Old Barrelhouse
Heartwood ‘The Best of Times’ 10 Year Old Single Malt Whisky, Heartwood Tasmanian Malt Whisky (TAS)
Tim Duckett and his Heartwood/TIB label took things to a new level again this year, bottling some incredible single cask, vatted and blended grain whiskies that continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible with Tasmanian whisky. The ‘Best of Times’ was distilled by Lyn Lark back in 2012 and is a dedication to her incredible talent and influence, both on the Tasmanian spirits industry and on Duckett’s own whisky journey. This release also marks the last whisky Duckett will bottle using Lark Distilling stocks. Yes, Heartwood whiskies are not the easiest to obtain because they’re so highly sought after. But jump on to Heartwood’s Barking Mad Club list or visit The Old Barrelhouse or Nicks Wine Merchants online to try your luck.
Top whisky innovation:
Archie Rose Red Gum Smoked Single Malt Whisky, Archie Rose Distilling Co. (NSW), $199
This was a seriously impressive whisky from the Archie Rose team, where the pale malt component in the mash bill was smoked with red gum wood. Balance and drinkability have been core issues with native wood influenced Australian whiskies, but this was a subtle, flavourful and sophisticated take on this exciting part of the Aussie industry. Backwoods again released some cracking red gum matured whiskies this year. 78 Degrees Triple Smoke and Morris Muscat Smoked whiskies were some other boundary pushing whiskies that rate a mention.
Top blended or collaboration bottling:
Country to Coast Collab Black Gate and Fleurieu Blended Malt Whisky (SA/VIC), $198
This brilliant blended malt, the third batch in Fleurieu and Black Gate’s Country to Coast collaboration, won nearly every major Australian whisky award going this year, and deservedly so – this is one of the best Australian whiskies we’ve tasted in recent years. Lark The Rising Tide by The Whisky Club was also in the conversation.
Top grain whisky:
Nonesuch Tasmanian Triple Grain PX Sherry Cask, Nonesuch Distillery (TAS), $253
Nonesuch Distillery’s Triple Grain Whisky has long flown under the radar, and their PX Sherry Cask release was our standout grain whisky of the year. Spicy, rich and seriously moorish stuff. Yack Creek Distillery also released a lovely wheat whisky which we’d highly recommend.