What is Whisky? Whisky or whiskey is a type of distilled alcoholic beverage made from fermented grain mash. Various grains (which may be malted) are used for different varieties, including barley, corn, rye, and wheat.
Whisky is typically aged in wooden casks, which are typically made of charred white oak. Uncharred white oak casks previously used for the aging of port, rum or sherry are also sometimes used.
Whisky is a strictly regulated spirit worldwide with many classes and types. The typical unifying characteristics of the different classes and types are the fermentation of grains, distillation, and aging in wooden barrels.
In Australia it is law that whisky (and brandy and rum, for that matter) must be stored in wood for no less than 2 years. It is also law that place of product claims and advertising claims must not be misleading or deceptive.
Most Australian whisky is produced using a very similar process to that of Scotch whisky; however the flavour of Australian whisky is subtly different.
Although the majority of whisky produced in Australia is in the single malt style, there is more variation than what is found overseas, with no strict customs or traditions governing the styles produced. Other styles of whisky produced in Australia, include rye, wheat and blended whiskies.
Australian whisky was popularised globally in 2014, when Sullivan’s Cove French Oak single cask won the world’s best single malt whisky at the World Whiskies Awards. This was the first time a distillery outside of Scotland or Japan had won this category.
Tasmania is the hub for whisky distilleries in Australia, it has the most distilleries of any state in Australia by far, with over 22 whisky distilleries in 2020.
This is due to conditions in Tasmania being very suitable for whisky production. The climate has a large diurnal temperature range, and seasonal variation, which is desirable for whisky maturation. In addition, distilleries in Tasmania claim to use some of the best quality water in the world.
If you want to find the nearest whisky distillery to you, check out our list here.