Yes, Ireland and Scotland have brought the world some of the most revered bottles of whisky known to man…but you have not lived until you have tried Australian whisky. Down Under has been amongst the top producers of whisky globally, with the likes of Lark and Hobart distilleries. But what makes them so special?
While Australia has produced some sophisticated drams that resonate well with the purists, it also offers a mind-blowing diversity of blends and single malts that are so distinctly Australian, with beautiful flavours that dance around your taste buds. Here in this article, you’ll find some of the top Australian whisky brands that you need to try.
What we look for in a good Australian whisky:
The best Australian whisky brands don’t always have to be the most expensive or the ones with the most intriguing history. When reviewing the top Australian whisky brands, it’s good to consider a range of different factors that make it not only taste good but the things that make it unique. Consider everything from the nose, the consistency, the value for money, the story behind the brand and the taste (of course).
Here are some of the best Australian brands we’ve found:
1. Iniquity Whisky (Tin Shed Distillery)
Starting off, one of the best value-for-money Australian whiskies you’ll find on the market is none other than Iniquity, specifically because of their Talamara. This brand is brought to you by Tin Shed Distillery, and they offer a wonderful selection of flavourful drams that are loved all over Australia and the world. In their own words, they are described as “immoral, sinful, and just plain wicked”. Once you get a taste of it, you’ll soon understand why.
Iniquity has collected a fleet of gold and silver awards for their whiskies. Some of their best offerings include:
- Flustercluck (49.1% ABV) – the happy accident
- Talamara (40% ABV) – the best value-for-money
2. Hobart Whisky (Devils Distillery)
Hobart Whisky makes its way onto the list of one of the best Australian whisky brands because of the sheer amount of time and effort they put into their product to give us a one-of-a-kind dram. Hobart Whisky was a two-man project that aimed to create a distinctly Australian whisky that focused on individuality. Even after blowing up in popularity and expanding, the brand has stuck to its vision and still takes its time, only releasing whisky when they consider it perfect.
Every bottle of Hobart Whisky is craft-distilled and individually cut, numbered, labelled, and sold while stocks last. This is what makes this Australian Whisky brand so unique; each bottle is one of a kind, and therefore, every sip should be savoured.
3. Starward Whisky
Starward Whiskey is the Victorian whisky brand that defies the old ways and tests the limits of what modern whisky can be. Starward’s whiskies are all made using Australian barley and aged in Australian wine barrels sourced from the Yarra Valley and Barossa Valley for an unrivalled, fresh red wine profile.
People can’t get enough of Starward Whisky’s innovative distilling techniques and fresh taste. This brand has won many awards for its unique and tasty take on Australian whisky. Some of their most notable offerings include:
- Ginger Beer Cask (6% ABV) – a cult favourite
- Starward Nova (41% ABV) – the pick of the bunch
4. Sullivans Cove
Sullivans Cove, also known as the overachiever of Australian whisky, makes it onto the list because, as it stands, this brand is one of the most awarded Australian whiskies on a global scale. Sullivans Cove has delivered crowd-pleasing drams time and time again, which is impressive, seeing as they’ve only officially been around since 1996. It really offers something for everyone.
Like we said, Sullivans Cove is the overachiever whisky, and here are some of its top drams:
- American Oak Single Cask (47.5% ABV) – liquid gold
- French Oak Single Cask (47% ABV) – the legend in its own right
5. Lark Whisky
Try as you may; you just can’t make a list of the best Australian whiskies and not include Lark Whisky. Lark Whisky is the revolutionary whisky brand that garnered fame not just because it was created by Bill Lark, i.e. the “Godfather of Australian Whisky”, and was the first legal distillery to operate in Tasmania since the whisky ban of the 1800s. No, Lark Whisky remains at the top of the list because of its perfect combination of sweet, spicy and savoury flavours and smooth taste that could make any die-hard Scotch lover weak at the knees.
Lark has won multiple awards since its conception, with the creme de la creme being:
- Lark Fresh IPA Cask Single Malt (46% ABV) – The Endless Summer, or Tasmania’s LARK and New Zealand’s Garage Project
- Symphony No1 – a true Tasmanian icon
Final Thoughts
Australia has a lot to offer when it comes to whiskies, and each has its own unique spin on the timeless drink that has captivated the world. Don’t be afraid to experiment because with your whisky tasting. As much as a good old traditional whisky is a brilliant choice; some of these brands have shown us that it’s okay to drink…we mean, think out of the box and try new things.
