Tasmania is fast gathering a reputation as a producer of premium single malt whiskies. There are six distilleries and a seventh isn’t far away.

There are about two dozen distilleries across the country, but with a quarter of them based in Tasmania, already some connoisseurs are labelling what used to be called the apple isle - the whisky island.

• Video: Tasmania’s maturing whisky trade (7.30 Report)
  

Tim Duckett is a member of the Tasmanian Whisky Appreciation Society, a group that samples and analyses both local and international drinks.

Mr Duckett firmly believes the state’s climatic conditions, barley and clean water make the colonial product comparable to whiskies from more traditional territory.

“They seem to produce a depth of character that I believe makes us comparable, or I’m going to go out on a limb here and say superior to some of the whiskies that are produced in Scotland,” he said.

“Our industry is only 16 years of age - theirs is 400 and we’re catching up very, very rapidly with the qualities of the whisky that we produce.”

In the central highlands is one of the industry’s newest players, Nant Distillery, based on the old Nant Estate, near Bothwell.

It was set up by Queensland property developer Keith Batt who intends to move down when things warm up later this year.

The distillery bottled its first release in early July, and it’s receiving rave reviews.

One thing that sets this producer apart is the colonial methods still used in the (more…)

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Kilbeggan Distillery releases first new whiskey in over 53 Years

For over 200 years, the Kilbeggan Distillery produced some of the finest whiskey in the world.  In 1957 the stills ran dry but 50 years later Cooley Distillery, the multi-award winning independent whiskey distiller, breathed new life into the world’s oldest distillery and today, the first new whiskey to be distilled at Kilbeggan in over 53 years was officially unveiled at an intimate gathering at the Kilbeggan Distillery in Co. Westmeath.

The Kilbeggan Distillery Reserve Malt, the latest addition to the Kilbeggan family of fine whiskeys, is produced from the oldest pot still in the world which dates back to 1830. The Kilbeggan Distillery itself was established in 1757 and is the oldest distillery in the world.

Fittingly the local heritage group was in attendance to witness the launch of the new whiskey as they played a key role in ensuring the survival of the distillery during the years it lay dormant.  Also in attendance were distillery employees, without whom the world’s oldest still could not have been brought back to life.  All gathered at this momentous event received a signed bottle of the first batch.

The whiskey world has waited in anticipation for half a century for the first new bottling from the historic Kilbeggan distillery. (more…)

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The last few years have seen a meteoric increase in both the popularity and quality of Australian whisky, yet by world standards, the industry is young.

Ryan Marshman from Nicks.com.au has written an well researched guide to Australian Whisky - from it’s history right through to current distilleries.
Ryan has done an amazing job, and you will find a wealth of information in his article.

Head on over and check out the article at www.nicks.com.au.

Article Link - http://www.nicks.com.au/Index.aspx?link_id=76.1610

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From the excellent Islay Weblog, it’s been announced that the Ardbeg Ten Years Old has been awarded the ultimate accolade, as World Whisky of the Year. Internationally acclaimed whisky expert, Jim Murray, author of ‘The Whisky Bible’ has furthered the honour by making this the first single malt Scotch winner ever. Ardbeg 10 Years Old is also accorded Scotch Single Malt of the Year at the same time.

During the 1980s and (more…)

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The Nant Distillery is proud to announce its newest addition to the Nant Whisky Bar, the rare and highly sought after “liquid utopia” of Ardbeg 1965, which was purchased by auction in Melbourne in August.

Arguably one of the rarest and most notorious of Scotch Whiskies, there are only 261 bottles of Ardbeg 1965 in existence. Soon whisky enthusiasts will have the opportunity to savour it at the Nant Whisky Bar in Tasmania – the only place in Australia selling the rare spirit.

A highly sought after dram, the Ardbeg 1965 was purchased at the Malt Whisky Society of Australia bi-annual conference in Melbourne for $6000AUD for the Nant Whisky Bar in August.

Considered the second highest amount paid for a bottle of whisky ever in Austraia’s history, the purchase was made by Nant Estate owner Keith Batt. The bottle was a generous donation by Moet Hennesy and proceeds will assist not-for-profit organisation StreetSmart in helping the homeless.

“The Ardbeg will take pride of place in our new Whisky Bar at the Nant,” said Keith Batt. “We are creating a state-of-the-art bar and lounge, private function room and area to reflect on the full complexity of the world’s finest single malts.”

Designed by award winning Tasmanian architects Morris Nunn and Associates (of Henry Jones Art Hotel and Islington Hotel fame), a glass Atrium has been built to incorporate the whisky bar and lounge facilities. Over 200 whiskies sourced from around the world will be available for the whisky enthu (more…)

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