Bruichladdich, Buffalo Trace & Starward Distilleries on Whiskies of the World Tour

Southtrade International is currently presenting the Whiskies of the World National Tour with Gee David leading a series of tastings around the country.

The tour launched in Sydney at Button Bar in Surry Hills with trade guests tasting 11 whiskies from the Bruichladdich, created by Jim McEwan, Buffalo Trace and Starward distilleries.

Whiskies of the World 

Bruichladdich Laddie Classic

Pale amber in colour, Bruichladdich’s Laddie Classic (46% ABV) is a multi-vintage whisky, a marriage of five year old and six year old spirits. Young and vibrant, it is matured in first American oak and has aromas of caramel, vanilla, citrus, lemon and honey. On the palate, the caramel is more pronounced but it remains a light and elegant style of whisky.

Bruichladdich Islay Barley 2006

The Bruichladdich Islay Barley 2006 (50% ABV) is made using barley from Dunlossit farm Ceannacroc  on Islay, where it is also distilled, matured and bottled. Pale straw in colour, with very few tears, it is unpeated style of whisky, matured in American oak. On the nose, it has floral notes which come from the yeast fermentation with traces of acetone, perhaps even agave. On the palate, it is viscous, juicy and tastes of lychees pears, kiwi and peach.

Bruichladdich Laddie 10

Bruichladdich Laddie 10 (46% ABV) is the flagship single malt from the time the distillery reopened in 2001. Made from 100% Scottish barley, it is a slight peat on the nose, some floral characteristics and an oaky character. On the palate, it has a a light smoke with a marked viscosity and a lingering finish.

Buffalo Trace

Buffalo Trace is a Kentucky Straight Bourbon, and the only American distillery to continuously distil since 1787. Made from 70% to 73% corn, the malted barley is a small component to kick start fermentation. The rest is mainly rye which takes over with age, reacts with the oak to give it a spice character. The whiskey undergoes 8 to 10 year of ageing and has sweetness on the nose, with aromas of aromas of vanilla and molasses which flow to the palate with a touch of spice.

Eagle Rare 10

Produced by Buffalo Trace, Eagle Rare 10 (45% ABV) is made from one barrel and aged in oak for 10 years. On the nose, it has a mild floral aroma with toffee and on the palate, it exhibits oaky flavours finishing dry and lingering.

Elmer T Lee

Also produced by Buffalo Trace, Elmer T Lee (45% ABV) bears no age statement but is said to be aged for approximately 9 years. Rich and deep in colour, it has spice, vanilla and butterscotch on the nose with a caramel taste, a light spiciness in a long finish.

Starward

Starward is a new Australian whisky from New World Whisky Distillery in Victoria made from 100% malted barley from Ballarat, a spirit that has the characteristic of Melbourne’s four seasons in a day climate, unlike Scotland.

Now in its fourth year of production but first year of release, it is described as “youthful, rich and bright”, just like Australia. Dry yeast provides the orchard and tropical fruit backbone, and at 43% ABV, it has slight burn. Banana and tropical fruit are dominant on the nose and the flavour profile has ripe orchard fruit aromas of pears, bananas and apples. Sweet on the palate, the whisky finishes with a spicy, dry finish.

Thomas H Handy Sazerac

Named in Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible 2013 as World Whiskey of the Year, Thomas H Handy Sazerac is a straight rye whiskey, uncut, unfiltered and aged for 6 years and 3 months at bottling. Bottled at cask strength which varies between 64.3% and 68.9% ABV, it has leather, tobacco and marmalade on the nose and loads of toffee and spice on the palate.

George T Stagg

George T Stagg (71.3% ABV) whiskey is made from rye mash bill #1 and aged for 18 years and 5 months. Names “spirit of the year” in 2011 by Paul Pacult, almost 60% of the original spirit is lost to evaporation which yields a luxurious bourbon with intense flavours of espresso, chocolate and vanilla.

Port Charlotte Peat Project

From the Bruichladdich distillery comes the Port Charlotte Peat Project (46% ABV), an old school style of Bruichladdich with 40 ppm peat. Aged in American oak casks, it has more peat character and less medicinal/seaweed/iodine and retains an elegant flavour of whisky. On the nose, the barley/wheat is prominent with the peat and smoke and it has a nice creamy finish on the palate.

Octomore

The most heavily peated whisky in the world is the Octomore, with 169 ppm. It comes from the Bruichladdich distillery. Cask strength at 59.5% ABV, it is triple distilled then aged for 5 years in American oak and finished in sauternes barrels for two weeks.

Presented in sleek, black packaging, the Octomore is beautiful pungent and encapsulates a lot of peat, with the smoke releasing at the back of the palate. A truly sensational single malt for lovers of peated whiskies.

The Whiskies of the World Tour was held in Sydney on Tuesday 19 March 2013 and continues nationally.