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Co-created by one of Scotland’s most awarded Master Distillers, Jim McEwan, together with Cape Byron Distillery Co-founder and distiller Eddie Brook are two new Australian takes on a classic Scottish single malt. Many readers will already know of Jim McEwan who has more than fifty years of experience in the whisky business, having worked at Bowmore for 38 years, before overseeing the rebirth of Bruichladdich and most recently helping to get new Islay distillery, Ardnahoe, off the ground. Two editions are on offer: A Chardonnay barrelled limited edition, and this, the Cape Byron 'Original', aged in Scotland's traditional vessel of choice: American oak x-Bourbon casks. Says Brook, “They go together like a match made in heaven. [The whisky is] not overly dominated by the oak, it’s letting the spirit sing, and we’re seeing this marriage.” What partly accounts for the distinctive style is that the pair have resisted the temptation to use smaller barrels to ‘accelerate’ the ageing process. It's the opposite approach of most Australian distillers. “...We’ve got this climate that gives us faster maturation. Now that’s great, but it can also get too much, you can get too much tannin and then over-oaking in your whisky, ” Brook explains. "To avoid this, we only mature in full format barrels, between 200 to 300 litres in size". Specially designed warehousing facilities further offset Byron’s temperature extremes. According to McEwan, another factor is the distillery's proximity to the coast. “Walk down the barrel room... you’re getting that marine character and influence coming through" he says. "That moisture is falling on the oak staves, and slowly but surely, there’ll be a residue of salt and eventually as the whisky moves in and out, as the temperature increases, the alcohol will expand and it will touch the salt, and pull it back, and that brings a unique marine freshness to the spirit – quite different from anything else...” No surprise that McEwan reckons fans of Bruichladdich might taste some similarities in the Cape Byron spirit. “They’re not dissimilar. There’s no peat, [Eddie’s] using American oak, I used a lot of American oak Bourbon casks as well. I’ve used wine casks – and you’ve got all the wine casks there. There’s a similarity there between what I was doing in Islay and what Eddie’s doing here." As for the taste? Can't say there are many like this - either here or abroad - but you can appreciate why McEwen draws comparisons with Bruichladdich. Cape Byron's Original is a creamy, near voluptuous malt that defies its age. Peaches and cream come through with sweet barley and shortbread on the nose. The co-mingling of dried mango and juicy malt with the Bourbon vanilla aspects is nicely done, and there's a spicy edge adding vibrancy. At the finish, more peaches and cream, dried mango and a little grilled pineapple, pepper and coastal freshness develop. It's a whisky less about overt complexity, all about generous mouthfeel and precocious flavour. No doubt that equation will change over time. Right now, the creative forces behind the project have guaranteed one of the more compelling Aussie releases in recent years. Matured for three years in 200 litre ex-Buffalo Trace Bourbon casks. 47% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered. Batch 001 tasted. Notes from the producers... The colour of a Byron Bay sunset. The palate offers soft vanilla, creme brulee and biscotti characters, layered over distinct notes of pear, coconut and buttery macadamia.

Distilled in Melbourne by Brogan herself, Evening Light Gin is her fresh and fruity, easy drinking gin. Gentle and zesty, she like to think of it as new age Australian gin. Unique botanicals such as fresh mangos, fresh raspberries and organic white grapefruit juice form a fruity and unconventional backbone, complimented with sweet piney juniper and warm cassia. refreshing strawberry gum and river mint shine through. Tasting Note: Lighter and more delicate in flavour, not alcoholic strength. With a gentle piney juniper and dry coriander seed base lifted up by fresh Australian mangos, raspberries, and white grapefruit juice to create a lively character. Highlighted by the delicate floral flavours of red rose petals and lavender, and warmed by cassia bark. Australian native botanicals of strawberry gum, lilli pilli and river-mint give a gentle, sweet, berry like element and deliciously refreshing. Superb in a G&T, terrific in fruity cocktails and easy to drink with soda water.

A premium seasonal gin made in the style of English sloe gin, supplanting handpicked local Mulberries in the place of the traditional sloes. Local mulberries are steeped in the gin, then pressed by hand; final steps include light filtering before bottling. Naturally sweet, rich and smooth mulberry flavours distinguish this elegant gin. Served with fresh lemon juice, soda/bitter lemon and garnished with fresh berries, mint or basil.

Nestled amongst coastal rainforest in the Byron Bay hinterland, our terroir is uniquely influenced by the powerful Pacific Ocean. 'The Original' is matured in American oak ex-bourbon casks and is a whisky true of its natural environment. The colour of a Byron Bay sunset. The palate offers soft vanilla, crème brulée and biscotti characters, layered over distinct notes of pear, coconut and buttery macadamia.

Ink Dry Gin was created in the Northern Rivers of NSW after a global voyage of botanical discovery. This natural floral infusion of butterfly pea flower petals gives Ink Dry Gin a remarkable and lustrous inky blue hue. Visually beautiful with changes of colour from deep blue to blush pink when mixed with tonic water or a splash of lemon juice. Distilled with a blend of traditional and exotic ingredients, the flavour of juniper , native lemon myrtle, Tasmanian pepper berries and sweet orange make for a aromatic and full flavoured experience.

To create this truly unique whisky, we selectively sourced rare malted rye and the finest malted barley from progressive malt houses, paired them with virgin American oak casks air-dried for 36 months and let it all mature in the maritime air of coastal Sydney. Our preference for malted rye over the far more commonly used unmalted rye affords this whisky a point of distinction evident upon the very first sip. This layered, aromatic spirit offers notes of spiced custard, ginger, stone fruit and baked apple pie with a fresh herbal finish that lingers on the palate.

Gin is created using limonene, one of the main compounds found in cannabis plants. The limonene adds an ultra-rich profile to the spirit, mingling alongside notes of juniper, mandarin and lime, and finishing with soft spice. Limonene is also found in citrus peel and is said to have anti-inflammatory properties which can be used to relieve stress and naturally decrease anxiety and depression.

These Willamette variety raspberries are grown in the deep south of Tasmanian, in the foot hills of our world heritage Mount Field National Park at the Westerway Raspberry Farm, owned and operated by the Clark family for over 25 years. These raspberries, originally from the north-west of USA are a sweet and juicy variety, great for jams, juicing and of course gin ;). With a very short shelf life and harvest season (4-6 weeks) you have to be quick to get your hands on the real thing, but if you miss out, don’t worry…. we have the next best thing :).

Poor Toms Fool's Cut at 52% is for audacious gin drinkers looking for a spirit with strong Juniper presence. In looking to create a gin with enough presence to shine in strong cocktails, the more delicate, floral botanicals have been left out. So it's adios strawberry gum leaf, granny smith apples, lemon myrtle and dried chamomile, and hello loads of juniper and the earthy depth of liquorice root.