New Australian whiskies in time for Christmas

New whisky releases have taken on extra meaning in 2020. Years of work and patience lie behind every whisky release, particularly inaugural bottlings. And while the pandemic has changed the way we celebrate these releases, many Australian distillers have charged on undaunted.

Another long-awaited first release has been launched by Lawrenny Distilling in Tasmania. Ascension provides an introduction to the Lawrenny whisky range, which the distillery is hoping to make available from mid-2022.

This first Lawrenny single malt has been painstakingly prepared by Lawrenny’s experienced head distiller Joe Dinsmoor (formerly of Lark and Archie Rose).

For the release, Lawrenny spirit was initially matured in a range of 20 litre ex-Bourbon and tawny casks. Whisky from these casks was then transferred to larger 100 litre casks and then vatted together and finished in a Spanish pedro ximenex cask for a further seven months.

Jensen Farley, Lawrenny’s co-founder and general manager, gave Oz Whisky Review a preview of what to expect from Lawrenny in coming years.

‘The Lawrenny range will consist of another limited release next year in a similar vein to Ascension. In 2022, we will see the release of our whisky made from Tasmanian malt; this will be a consistent blend of Bourbon, port and sherry casks. Our Estate Whisky, which is made from barley grown on-site and matured in a mixture of ex-cognac and ex-sherry casks, will be ready in late 2023 or early 2024.’

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