Blogging, one whisky at a time
Style: Smoky and Spicy Nose: Begins with an acidic overtone, followed by some smoky liquorice roots, bacon drizzled with barbeque sauce. Hot spice cutting in from time to time. Raspberries, a touch of Quandong liquer (?) and orange drops meet at the bottom. Sharp, sweet and smoky. Palate: A rather hot palate, but when the…
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[50.0%・ Distilled in 2014・Bottled in 2017・3 Years Old・Official Bottling・Single Cask Release of 199 Bottles] Nose: On the nose, the whisky attains quite the Port cask influence on the surface, lemony with a generous dose of blackcurrants. Musky and floral but at the same time there are these familiar notes of gritty dust and dirty diesel…
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You can read our last interview with Brian and Genise here. Nicholas: So tell me, what has changed at Black Gate since our last chat over three years ago? Brian: Well, we built a cool room so we can ferment during the hotter weather, and we were able to increase production from when we first…
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[49.3%・ Distilled in 2014・Bottled in 2017・3 Years Old・Official Bottling・Single Cask Release of 213 Bottles] Nose: The thickness of old Black Gate has been replaced in favour of a more balanced delivery. The aged lemon from the “Port” cask is in play here with subtle notes of basil, oregano, minerals and copper. With time the familiar…
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[67.0%・2 Years Old・Distilled in 2013・Bottled in 2015・Official Bottling・Limited Release of 159 Bottles] Nose: Big musky aromas from the “Australian Sherry casks”, a dusty note that is a key signature note of early Black Gate releases. Dried flowers and poached fruits with toffee treacle and the quintessentially Australian diesel note. Palate & Finish: A full on…
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Style: Musky and Spicy Nose: A mash of sweetness and spices with an herbal overtone. Beneath the cover reveals a lower acidic branch, a mix of super lemon candies and cola gummies. Chilli spice puffs out together with vinegar. Palate: Crystallized red fruits shattered as toffee core slowly dripping out. Unique, lip-smacking sweetness comes…
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[66.0% • Original Bottling • Bottled in 2016 • No Age Statement • Single Cask Release of 32 Bottles] As a Black Gate fan, it gives me great pleasure to have the opportunity to officially announce that Mr. Brian Hollingworth and Mrs. Genise Hollingworth are releasing the single cask #016, exclusively for The Oak Barrel Sydney Whisky…
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A decade ago, it might have seemed strange to celebrate world whisky day with a nip of Australian whisky. I wouldn’t know, I was in middle school back then. Times are a bit different now, with website getting crashed from eager fans trying to get their hands on the latest release, to award winning casks skyrocketing through…
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[50.0%・NAS・Bottled in 2016・Official Bottling・Single Cask Release] Nose: It certain feels more refined from the get go, concentrated sugary note from muscat grapes that have been naturally dried. Golden honey with a layer of rich beeswax generously applied atop. There is also a comforting dried lemon note that would normally only come from whiskies matured well…
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