Whisky Live Sydney – A Whisky Wonderland

The annual Whisky Live Sydney event; It’s really just an amusement park. Hoards of whisky enthusiasts, industry elites and brand ambassadors coming together for four days of alcohol fuelled fun and banter. Okay perhaps its nothing like a children’s amusement park, but it’s the closest we fine whisky drinking adults have to it. Among Gentlemen’s Cabinet’s neighbouring stands of whiskey, whisky and bourbon was a world of travel, excitements’ and wonder that was almost maddeningly endless for the designated driver and has made it hard to pick a few highlights. Though I think I have managed…

My first stop on the long and fearless journey around Byron Kennedy Hall, armed with complimentary Glencairn glass in hand, was inspired by a unique ethnic flavor that permeated a room dense with Irish and Scotch whisky. Amrut Distillery offered Whisky Live patrons an array of Indian Single Malt Whiskies that have been flying under most of our radars since 1948. The Fusion was my winner by far. Distilled from barley from Scotland and India, this is true whisky multiculturalism. Top notes of caramel and toffee are shrouded in a friendly smoke for an ultimately approachable scent, followed by a controlled peaty palette and ushered to a soft landing finish with gentle, settling spices.

The Glenlivet put on a well rounded and professional show as always, with established whisky ambassador Laura Hays entertaining the masses with her charming Scottish accent and incomparable knowledge (enthusiastic head nod of respect to women in the industry killing it). The Nàdurra 16 year old was a stand out, offering a fresh, summer like melody among the warmer scents, with a sweet, honey palette and oakey finish.

Suntory seemed to engulf their entire corner of the room (an impressive three stands) with a controlled excitement only comparable to that exercised around the trays of complimentary canapés.  Especially impressive was the display of their range of Japanese whiskies, with the range just recently expanding in Australia last month. My pick is the Hibiki 12 year old for a feminine touch.  Hibiscus and soft fruit scene, creamy pink pepper palette and a sweet and sour finish.

Punters lined for the South trade stands like 6-year old girls line up for Disney Princesses and the boys at Bruichladdich may well have been the brand ambassador super stars of the day. Their main attraction was undoubtedly Octomore-the heaviest peated whiskies in the world-and people were loving it. Stand vendor Scott Rumble reported that it was popular, noting on its taste that ‘it just shouldn’t work! So big and powerful but surprisingly elegant’. Magnificently muscular in aesthetic and taste, the 6^th edition of Octomore almost has testosterone. Scents of sea spray and black peppercorn turn to a malted barley and toasted rye palette, finishing with the sense that you just rode a very, very good rollercoaster.

Other notable stands included Talisker‘s impressive showcase of peat that brand ambassador kindly lit up for our senses great amusement (see fire below). Jack Daniel’s impeccable designer stand more than fulfilled the Tennessee whiskey drinker’s heart and Glenrothes whisky boasted a constant line longer than an ice cream truck on a summers day.  The adventures closed with a visit to ‘Rare and Olds’ quietly elegant stand that offered an array of souvenirs. Well not so much souvenirs, but a chance to shop whisky experiences, with scents that still haunt my salivating and unindulged taste buds. But at up to $99 dollars per 15ml nip, I may have been dragged away from a taste of the only bottle of Port Ellen 5^th release in Australia kicking and screaming.

And among the chaos of the day, Gentlemen’s Cabinet humbly tended stand as we assisted punters to match their favourite dram with a cigar. The array on offer included cigars from Mexico, Cuba, Brazil, Nicaragua, Honduras, and interestingly enough, Connecticut. (Great quality wrappers). The team still had time to pose candidly for photographs though as the hoards of amusement hungry ladies and gents shouted ‘shut up and take my money’.

A big shout out to all the brands that took part at this year’s Whiskey Live, and as always, we savoured the moment.

You can catch Whisky Live in Melbourne and Brisbane before the end of the year!

Written By Michelle Reed

Whiskies On Show:

Amrut Single Malt Whisky
Auchentoshan Classic
Auchentoshan 12 yo
Auchentoshan Three Wood
The Balvenie 12yo Double Wood
The Balvenie Single Barrel 15yo
The Balvenie Double Wood 17yo
The Balvenue Triple Cask 12yo DF
Teh Balvenie Triple Cask 16yo DF
Blanton’s Original Private Reserve
Blanton’s Special Reserve
Blanton’s Gold
Bowmore Legend
Bowmore 12 years old
Bowmore 18 years old
Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Bruichladdich Laddie Classic
Bruichladdich Port Charlotte Scottish Barley
Buffalo Trace Straight Bourbon
Chivas Regal – Chivas Brothers Blend DF
The Dalmore 12yo
The Dalmore 15yo
The Dalmore 18yo
The Dalmore Cigar Malt Reserve
Compass Box Asyla
Compass Box Oak Cross
Compass Box Great King St
Compass Box Hedonism
Compass Box The Spice Tree
Compass Box The Peat Monster
Drambuie Original
Drambuie 15 Year Old
The Dubliner Irish Whiskey Liqueur
Eagle Rare Single Barrel 10 yo
Elmer T Lee Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Finlaggan 10yo
Finlaggan Old Reserve
Finlaggan Original Peaty
Finlaggan Original Peaty Cask Strength
Finlaggan Old Reserve Cask Strength
Glenfiddich 14yo Rich Oak
Glenfiddich 15yo
Glenfiddich 18yo Ancient Reserve
Glenfiddich Reserve Cask DF
Glenfiddich Select Cask DF
Glenfiddich Vintage Cask DF
George T Stagg Straight Kentucky Bourbon
Glengoyne 10YO Single Malt
Glengoyne 12YO Single Malt
Glengoyne 15YO Single Malt
Glengoyne 18YO Single Malt
Glengoyne 21YO Single Malt
Glengoyne Cask Strength
Glen Grant 10 Year Single Malt
Glen Grant 16 Year Single Malt
Glen Grant The Majors Reserve Single Malt
The Glenlivet 12 Year Old
The Glenlivet 15 Year Old
The Glenlivet Nadurrà 16 Year Old
The Glenlivet 18 Year Old
The Glenrothes Select Reserve
The Glenrothes Vintage 1998
The Glenrothes Vintage 1995
The Glenrothes Vintage 1991
The Glenrothes Vintage 1988
Glen Moray Classic Single Malt
Glen Moray 12YO Single Malt
Glen Moray 16YO Single Malt
Glen Moray Chardonnay Cask 10yo
Glen Moray Classic Single Malt
Hudson Manhattan Rye
Hudson Baby Bourbon
Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey
Jack Daniels 1907 Brand
Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey
Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel
Jack Daniel’s Gentleman Jack
Johnny Walker – The Spice Road DF
Johnny Walker – The Gold Route DF
Johnny Walker – The Royal Route DF
Jura 10yo Origin
Jura Prophecy
Kentucky Vintage Small Batch Bourbon
Label 5 12YO Blended Scotch Whisky
Label 5 Blended Scotch Whisky
NZ Whisky Co South Island 21yo
NZ Whisky Co Cask Strength 1992
NZ Whisky Co Dunedin Doublewood 15yo
Octomore 6.1 Heavily Peated Single Malt
Pure Kentucy XO Small Batch Bourbon
Rowan’s Creek Smallt Batch Bourbon
Smokehead Islay Single Malt
Starward Whisky
Starward’s Single Malt Whisky
The Six Isles Blended Malt
Talisker Dark Storm DF
Talisker Port Ruighe
Talisker Storm

Teeling Small Batch Irish Whiskey
Tullamore Dew Irish Whiskey
Tullamore Dew 12yo Irish Whiskey
Willett Pot Still Reserve Bourbon
Yamazaki 12yo