DRAMS DOWN UNDER

If the last year has taught us anything, it’s that community is the cornerstone of humanity. This applies ten-fold to the intrepid souls of the Australian whisky community. Despite geographic isolation and the youthful heritage of the contemporary wave of distillers, the popularity of whisky in Australia has risen dramatically over the past decade – thanks in large part to a passionate sharing of knowledge and wisdom from the category’s early pioneers. Across the whisky scene, from distilleries and dedicated bars, to whisky societies and the media, locally distilled whisky is finding its way into the hands of a younger audience for whom discovery and new experiences are king.

Considering Australian weather conditions below the 37th parallel south are similar to parts of Scotland, it is no surprise that expats who settled in the nation’s southernmost state, Tasmania, found the conditions more than favourable for distilling and maturation. While some drinkers may turn up their nose at any bottle devoid of an age statement, the many awards garnered by Australian whiskies speak for themselves.

With distilleries now popping up across the country, the chance of discovering a new favourite whisky improves with every barrel tapped. Read on to meet just a handful of the people making an impact on the Australian whisky