For this month’s tasting we were treated with a range of drams presented by whisky connoisseur; Sourav Kumar. He promised a selection of highly rated Indian whiskies, alongside a few from up and coming Australian craft distilleries, and he didn’t disappoint.

Ironbark Moonshine

Opening with something a little different, we sampled Ironbark Distillery’s Corn Rye Moonshine. While technically not a whisky, all that’s lacking is a couple of years aging in wooden barrels. This was a good opportunity to see what comes straight out of the still and what flavours are already there before the aging process.

There was a combination of citrus notes and aniseed, presenting mild floral scents and flavours, almost like a fruitcake without any Port or Sherry. While it was an interesting sample of something early in the whisky process, all whisky lovers agreed it would be something worthwhile with a few years in a barrel.

Paul John Brilliance

Moving into whisky, we found out how Indian whiskies benefit from a bit of an accelerated aging process thanks to the hot climate where it’s stored. Paul John’s Brilliance is an unpeated whisky, made with barley from the foothills of the Himalayas, distilled and matured in Goa.

It had some subtle fruity flavours and a creamy texture. With the simple addition of a few drops of water, this dram became a very different whisky, opening up a very floral bouquet and a longer tail.

There were some mixed perceptions overall, though generally favourable with an average score of 7 out of 10.

Paul John Edited

Moving up to a light peat, the Edited bottling makes use of some imported peat and aging in bourbon barrels. The peat is rather light and not too on the nose, proving enjoyable for those who don’t enjoy smokey flavours, but still drinkable for those who love some oily smoke.

There were some wonderfully earthy notes of wood, honey and barley to the palette, with a lingering taste of oak and perhaps even liquorice.

While it was a favourite for some, it lost to those who steer clear of peat, coming in at 6.9 out of 10.

Fleurieu Distillery – Whisky Kiss

From a wonderful craft distillery down on the coast of South Australia, the Whisky Kiss was an exclusive tasting opportunity for us with very limited bottlings. To the nose this carried some wonderfully musky Sherry notes, carrying across to the palate along with cranberry, cinnamon, and even notes of toffee and burnt toast.

A drop or two of water softens everything and helps the flavour linger on the tongue. While there is meant to be some light peating added to this whisky, it is so incredibly smooth that you could almost miss it. This was indeed a complex whisky that would go well on a cold winter night… or any night really.

It was an obvious favourite for many and scored an average 7.8 out of 10.

Paul John Bold

We finished the night with a full peat malt from Paul John that truly lived up to its name; ‘Bold’

While to the nose it actually smelled like a Lagavulin, it lacked the sweet, creamy texture the Islay region is known for, making for a uniquely dry peat flavour. It was a very well rounded whisky that scored favourably among the peat lovers.

A close second to the night favourite, scoring an average 7.6 out of 10.

All in all it was an educational night enjoyed by all, with some even purchasing and taking a few of their favourites home. We’ll likely see Sourav return for another tasting night some time in the future.

If you missed out on this tasting or you’d like to revisit these whiskies, you can make purchases through Sourav on 07 3901 7085, or sourav@ravglobal.com.au