Whisky writer Luke McCarthy joins us on the Drinks Adventures podcast, to discuss Oz Whisky Review’s best Australian whiskies of 2021 (paywall).
Oz Whisky Review is an independent online magazine comprising Australian whisky reviews, news and features.
Luke says its annual Top 10 Australian whiskies is selected based on quality, value and affordability.
- Click here to open episode in your podcast player
- World Whiskies Awards 2022: Australia Round 1 Results
Most of the brands featured in the 2021 list have previously appeared on the Drinks Adventures podcast: Bakery Hill, Heartwood / TIB, The Gospel, Starward, Morris, Overeem and Backwoods.
Clearly the Oz Whisky Review team have impeccable taste, so first up I asked Luke about the criteria they follow in putting their list together.
Also this episode, we discuss the trend of Australian whiskies undergoing maturation in native wood, with Backwoods Rye Whisky Red Gum Cask selected as Oz Whisky Review’s favourite whisky innovation of 2021.
We explore the controversial category of rapidly aged whiskies, including those from Goodradigbee Distillers in New South Wales and Mountain Distilling in Victoria.
Luke updates us on his research into early Australian whisky distilleries such as Warrenheip near Ballarat, the Federal Distillery at Port Melbourne and the Corio Distillery north of Geelong.
And finally, we take a look at some of the biggest debut whisky releases expected from Australian distillers in 2022.
Luke suggests you look out for whiskies from Cape Byron Distillery (New South Wales), St Agnes Distillery (South Australia), Callington Mill Distillery (Tasmania) and Cut Hill Distillery (South Australia).
More:
Lark Distilling MD Geoff Bainbridge on Shene deal & more: S11E4
Dr Nicholas Morgan, whisky writer, historian and Diageo veteran: S11E5
Charles Maclean MBE on whisky ‘flippers’, Tasmanian whisky & more: S10E7
