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The First Dog on the Moon Christmas whisky guide The First Dog on the Moon Christmas whisky guide
(about 20 hours later)
Earlier this year, I embarked on the adventure of a lifetime with my great loves: science, whisky, bicycles and marsupials. These were fortuitously combined into one glorious and important scientific expedition which I undertook with fellow cartoonist Jon Kudelka.Earlier this year, I embarked on the adventure of a lifetime with my great loves: science, whisky, bicycles and marsupials. These were fortuitously combined into one glorious and important scientific expedition which I undertook with fellow cartoonist Jon Kudelka.
Jon is the editorial cartoonist at the Australian but he is really OK. We travelled bravely around Tasmania for two weeks on a pair of shiny new electric bicycles. Do not let the “electric” in electric bicycles fool you. Electric they may be, but if you want to travel more than 40km a day or go up a mountain you will still need to pedal. A lot.Jon is the editorial cartoonist at the Australian but he is really OK. We travelled bravely around Tasmania for two weeks on a pair of shiny new electric bicycles. Do not let the “electric” in electric bicycles fool you. Electric they may be, but if you want to travel more than 40km a day or go up a mountain you will still need to pedal. A lot.
Our grand plan was to visit every whisky distillery and whisky bottler in the state to see what they had distilled and what they had to say about it – a journey of some 600km documented in our exciting new book, Kudelka and First Dog’s Spiritual Journey.Our grand plan was to visit every whisky distillery and whisky bottler in the state to see what they had distilled and what they had to say about it – a journey of some 600km documented in our exciting new book, Kudelka and First Dog’s Spiritual Journey.
The Tasmanian whisky industry is a funny little thing, kicked into action by Bill Lark, the man now known as the godfather of Tasmanian whisky. After having an epiphany while fishing for trout, Bill asked to have local laws banning small distilleries changed and, lo, an adorable cottage industry was born.The Tasmanian whisky industry is a funny little thing, kicked into action by Bill Lark, the man now known as the godfather of Tasmanian whisky. After having an epiphany while fishing for trout, Bill asked to have local laws banning small distilleries changed and, lo, an adorable cottage industry was born.
Two decades and nine or so distilleries later, Tasmania is home to one of the most interesting mob of tiny distilleries in the world – all vying for the whisky dollar as well as wider tourism trade. Starting a distillery is not for the fainthearted though it looks rather fun.Two decades and nine or so distilleries later, Tasmania is home to one of the most interesting mob of tiny distilleries in the world – all vying for the whisky dollar as well as wider tourism trade. Starting a distillery is not for the fainthearted though it looks rather fun.
Only the week before Jon and I embarked on our scientific undertaking, the Hobart distillery known as Sullivans Cove won the best whisky in the world ever award – or at least the best single malt. No mean feat. Unfortunately we weren’t able to sample any of the prizewinning cask 525.Only the week before Jon and I embarked on our scientific undertaking, the Hobart distillery known as Sullivans Cove won the best whisky in the world ever award – or at least the best single malt. No mean feat. Unfortunately we weren’t able to sample any of the prizewinning cask 525.
“You might find a bottle at Dan Murphys if you’re lucky,” they said, before adding in typically laconic Tasmanian whisky industry fashion that 525 wasn’t necessarily the “best” one in any case. “They’re all good. We just liked that one a lot.” So we sampled 526, the cask that had matured next to 525, and we liked that one a lot too.“You might find a bottle at Dan Murphys if you’re lucky,” they said, before adding in typically laconic Tasmanian whisky industry fashion that 525 wasn’t necessarily the “best” one in any case. “They’re all good. We just liked that one a lot.” So we sampled 526, the cask that had matured next to 525, and we liked that one a lot too.
The main problem with Tasmanian whisky is that it is so hard to get. Distilleries such as Lark and Hellyers Road produce enough whisky to supply stores on the Australian mainland. And some specialists stores might carry it but it is expensive and scarce. As we learned on the trail, Glenfiddich alone sell more in a year than the entire Tasmanian whisky industry makes. So there you go. Someone needs to give those bastards at Glenfiddich a talking to. The main problem with Tasmanian whisky is that it is so hard to get. Distilleries such as Lark and Hellyers Road produce enough whisky to supply stores on the Australian mainland. And some specialists stores might carry it but it is expensive and scarce. As we learned on the trail, Glenfiddich alone spill more in a year than the entire Tasmanian whisky industry makes. So there you go. Someone needs to give those bastards at Glenfiddich a talking to.
I know a lot more about whisky than I did when I started the book, even if I still say “oooooh” or “hmm, this one is ... yummy”. So, as shiny new whisky experts, my friend Jon and I have reviewed five whiskies under $100 in time for Christmas.I know a lot more about whisky than I did when I started the book, even if I still say “oooooh” or “hmm, this one is ... yummy”. So, as shiny new whisky experts, my friend Jon and I have reviewed five whiskies under $100 in time for Christmas.
Five whiskies under $100 in time for ChristmasFive whiskies under $100 in time for Christmas
When drinking whisky we look for three things: taste, feel in the mouth and finish. And also if we have to pay for it (we mostly did). Only one of our whiskies is a Tassie one because they are hard to get – sorry. We rated each whisky on a scale of one to this is really, really good. Anyway, here are our reviews:When drinking whisky we look for three things: taste, feel in the mouth and finish. And also if we have to pay for it (we mostly did). Only one of our whiskies is a Tassie one because they are hard to get – sorry. We rated each whisky on a scale of one to this is really, really good. Anyway, here are our reviews:
Balvenie Double Cask Single Malt was our first taste. Double cask means it started in one cask (we reckon it was bourbon cask, the label doesn’t say) and “finished off” (spent a year or two) in a sherry cask. Single malt means it came from a single distillery.Balvenie Double Cask Single Malt was our first taste. Double cask means it started in one cask (we reckon it was bourbon cask, the label doesn’t say) and “finished off” (spent a year or two) in a sherry cask. Single malt means it came from a single distillery.
We tasted finger, cinnamon, vanilla and brown sugar. Not too fiery on the tongue, smooth with a bit of bite, a mild finish. It is a charming whisky, an upmarket quaffer. We enjoyed it and gave it seven quolls. Could do a lot worse at Christmas.We tasted finger, cinnamon, vanilla and brown sugar. Not too fiery on the tongue, smooth with a bit of bite, a mild finish. It is a charming whisky, an upmarket quaffer. We enjoyed it and gave it seven quolls. Could do a lot worse at Christmas.
Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban is a 12-year-old whisky at 46% strength. A nice ruby colour as well. This is also a double-cask whisky. It starts in a bourbon cask which comes through clearly in the vanilla spiciness. It is finished off in a Ruby Port cask which is apparently a thing and we did rather enjoy it.Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban is a 12-year-old whisky at 46% strength. A nice ruby colour as well. This is also a double-cask whisky. It starts in a bourbon cask which comes through clearly in the vanilla spiciness. It is finished off in a Ruby Port cask which is apparently a thing and we did rather enjoy it.
It was all very God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen. Accessible and welcoming with just enough bite and some very interesting sour notes. Lots of complexity and fire without being silly. It wants to be your friend. We gave it eight quolls and it is really, really Christmassy.It was all very God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen. Accessible and welcoming with just enough bite and some very interesting sour notes. Lots of complexity and fire without being silly. It wants to be your friend. We gave it eight quolls and it is really, really Christmassy.
Writers Tears is an Irish whiskEy - note the E! The difference between Scotch (on which Tassie whisky is modelled) and Irish whisky is the distillation and the barley. Scotch style is distilled twice and uses all malted barley; Irish whisky distills three times and combines half-malted half-green barley.Writers Tears is an Irish whiskEy - note the E! The difference between Scotch (on which Tassie whisky is modelled) and Irish whisky is the distillation and the barley. Scotch style is distilled twice and uses all malted barley; Irish whisky distills three times and combines half-malted half-green barley.
The third distillation removes a lot of the volatiles and makes it a lot smoother. We tasted a lot of grass. It had a creamy mouth feel and hardly any finish at all. Very, very easy to drink. Could really ruin a lot of writers. It is a whisky for those who are timid and those who like to guzzle. We gave it six quolls.The third distillation removes a lot of the volatiles and makes it a lot smoother. We tasted a lot of grass. It had a creamy mouth feel and hardly any finish at all. Very, very easy to drink. Could really ruin a lot of writers. It is a whisky for those who are timid and those who like to guzzle. We gave it six quolls.
Dalwhinnie was an exciting whisky. It had a bit of the forest floor about it: mushroom, fungus, wood, vanilla – all in a good way. We’d tasted quite a few whiskies by this time and had become very articulate and funny. This whisky would go really well with blue cheese. It has a short finish and lands right in the middle of the palate. We gave it seven quolls.Dalwhinnie was an exciting whisky. It had a bit of the forest floor about it: mushroom, fungus, wood, vanilla – all in a good way. We’d tasted quite a few whiskies by this time and had become very articulate and funny. This whisky would go really well with blue cheese. It has a short finish and lands right in the middle of the palate. We gave it seven quolls.
Monkey Shoulder is a real mass-produced number that retails for less than $50 but punches above its weight as they say. According to the label it’s from Speyside which is apparently a nice place in Scotland where they make mild, sweet whisky. It was a bit oily, a bit watery, a bit of bite. For a whisky under $50 it is pretty good but we only gave it 6.5 quolls because the others were better.Monkey Shoulder is a real mass-produced number that retails for less than $50 but punches above its weight as they say. According to the label it’s from Speyside which is apparently a nice place in Scotland where they make mild, sweet whisky. It was a bit oily, a bit watery, a bit of bite. For a whisky under $50 it is pretty good but we only gave it 6.5 quolls because the others were better.
Belgrove Rye Whisky is the only Tasmanian whisky on this list (and which I happened to have in the cupboard). It costs $145 but we wanted to include at least one. Jon loves this whisky, normally made from barley. Belgrove make their whisky from rye – you can read all about this in our excellent book.Belgrove Rye Whisky is the only Tasmanian whisky on this list (and which I happened to have in the cupboard). It costs $145 but we wanted to include at least one. Jon loves this whisky, normally made from barley. Belgrove make their whisky from rye – you can read all about this in our excellent book.
This whisky is a contender – lots of grass and pickle, nuts and apples and autumn. It wants to fight you. This is the whisky you drink after you shot a man in Reno just to watch him die. Not for the newcomer. It is also the the whisky to drink while eating a ploughman’s lunch on the back of your tractor, you olde farmer you.This whisky is a contender – lots of grass and pickle, nuts and apples and autumn. It wants to fight you. This is the whisky you drink after you shot a man in Reno just to watch him die. Not for the newcomer. It is also the the whisky to drink while eating a ploughman’s lunch on the back of your tractor, you olde farmer you.
It is delicious and velvety and boisterous, as if you presented the king with a pickle on a velvet cushion. Look, it is really good – 8.5 quolls.It is delicious and velvety and boisterous, as if you presented the king with a pickle on a velvet cushion. Look, it is really good – 8.5 quolls.
We’ve also stuck a 16-year-old Lagavulin in here because we need to have a peaty whisky. And it was, it is ... delicious. If you like peaty whiskies, you will probably already know this one. A smokey enthusiastic whisky that wants to fight you. Oily and sinuous and nutty. We gave it eight quolls but it also costs just over $100.We’ve also stuck a 16-year-old Lagavulin in here because we need to have a peaty whisky. And it was, it is ... delicious. If you like peaty whiskies, you will probably already know this one. A smokey enthusiastic whisky that wants to fight you. Oily and sinuous and nutty. We gave it eight quolls but it also costs just over $100.
And the winner isAnd the winner is
The Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban. It’s just Christmas in a bottle! If you’re looking for a whisky to drink over Christmas while you are reading Kudelka and First Dog’s Whisky Adventure, and I know I am, this is the one Jon and I recommend.The Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban. It’s just Christmas in a bottle! If you’re looking for a whisky to drink over Christmas while you are reading Kudelka and First Dog’s Whisky Adventure, and I know I am, this is the one Jon and I recommend.