World Whisky Day is a global celebration of whiskies and an occasion for whisky aficionados to raise a glass of their favourite dram, be it Whisky/Whiskey/Scotch Whisky/Bourbon/Blended Whisky/Single Malt Whisky.
March 27, 2012 marks the inaugural World Whisky Day™, an initiative started in June 2011 by Blair Bowman, a young whisky enthusiast whose vision was to have a day where people across the world to thank those who work in the global whisky industry.
World Whisky Day at the Oak Barrel
The Oak Barrel in Sydney held a free in-store tasting of Highland Park, working through 12 year old, 18 year old and 25 year old expressions presented by brand Ambassador, Jared Plummer.
Highland Park, which comes from Orkney, the most northern distillery in Scotland uses 100% ex-sherry casks which give the whisky a spicy and fruit-driven character. As a lightly peated mainland whisky, it exhibits more wood-driven peat which tends to be more dry, floral, and honey than the earthy and seaweed character of Islay whiskies.
Where almost 65% of the flavour comes from the barrel, the climate is also a major contributor. At Orkney, there’s a smaller gap in variation in temperature compared to Speyside, as shown in the image above. Stepping through the various expressions, the 12 yo (40% ABV) uses 15-20% first fill sherry, the 18yo (43% ABV) uses 45% sherry fill and the 25 yo (48.1% ABV) has 50% sherry fill. The result is a whisky which is progressively darker colour, richer in flavour and exhibits more oak, vanilla and richness of fruit and also a lot more spice character.
Jared Plummer, Brand Ambassador
Gourmantic has reviewed many whiskies in the last 12 months and we take this opportunity to say Slainté! to our major whisky features, Chivas Regal, Drambuie, Gentleman Jack, Grant’s Blended Scotch, Highland Park, Jack Daniels (in progress), Jameson Irish Whiskey, Johnnie Walker Double Black, Lark Whisky, Laphroaig, Macallan, Maker’s Mark, Royal Salute, The Singleton of Glen Ord and Woodford Reserve.
A special mention goes to Sydney’s ultimate whisky bar, the Baxter Inn and the Sydney Whisky Fair, where we tasted over 43 different whiskies and expressions.
Slainté on World Whisky Day!
The Oak Barrel
http://www.oakbarrel.com.au
[…] to take us on a journey through Scotland from Speyside’s Macallan, up to the Orkney Islands to Highland Park and ending in Islay, with the smoky and distinctive taste of […]
[…] Grant’s, Jack Daniels, Jim Beam, Johnnie Walker, Laphroaig, Lark Distillery, The Macallan, Highland Park, Makers Mark, the Singleton, Woodford Reserve , Yamazaki only to name a few, with many offering […]