Photography by Christopher Pearce
World Whisky Day 2021 is on Saturday 15th May. The day takes place on the third Saturday in May each year. Unlike lots of the ‘days’ we celebrate this one has been recognised by the Scottish parliament, and we think that’s as good a reason as any to have a dram.
World Whisky Day founder Blair Bowman started the whole thing in the hopes of bringing new people into the world of whisky and they are celebrating their tenth anniversary this year.
This year we thought we would tip our hat to a few Scotch whiskies (although the day is there to celebrate all style of whisk(e)y from all over the world). If you want to get involved, reach out to one of your whisky suppliers, host an event or add a drink to your list and tag it with #worldwhiskyday.
Whisky Sour 60ml scotch whisky 30ml lemon juice 10ml 2:1 sugar syrup whites Dry shake, wet shake into a crystal rocks glass over ice. Garnish with a line of Angostura Bitters.
Blood & Sand 50ml scotch whisky 15ml Cherry Heering 15ml Martini Rubino Sweet Vermouth 30ml orange juice Shake & Strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with an orange twist.
Penicillin 50ml scotch whisky 30ml lemon 10ml honey-ginger syrup 10ml Islay scotch (to float) Shake and strain into a crystal rocks glass over ice. Garnish with candied ginger.
Rob Roy 50ml scotch whisky 20ml sweet vermouth 2-3 dashes bitters Stir & strain into Nick & Nora. Garnish with maraschino cherry.
10 Drams to try this World Whisky Day:
GlenDronach Original 12 Year Old
The GlenDronach is an old school single malt, a rich, full-bodied and sherried style. Matured for a minimum of 12 years not in ex-bourbon casks but in a mix of used oloroso sherry and pedro ximenez sherry casks. It’s non-chill filtered, no colour is added, and is bottled at 43%. Brown-Forman
Craigellachie 13 Year Old
Made in the same manner and style that it was when it first came off the stills in 1891, Craigellachie is a rich, textural dram with an unabashed hit of sulphur to it — it’s a complex and challenging whisky, one for the true believers. Bacardi-Martini
78 Degrees Australian Grain Whisky
Sweet notes of caramel and vanilla, along with dried fruits, such as fig and apricot. Some obvious spice notes of Cinnamon, ginger and vanilla. On the palate it is chocolate crackle cake, toasted muesli, with some cooked banana and dried apricot on top. A lingering spicey finish, with a spike of sweet caramel and vanilla right at the end. Something familiar that just warms the soul. SouthTrade
Monkey Shoulder
Monkey Shoulder has become a bartender favourite in recent years, and that’s thanks to its versatility in cocktails. This is a blended malt whisky, employing three Speyside single malts in the mix. There’s zesty orange and vanilla aromas, a hint of spice on the palate, and a smooth finish to cap it all off. William Grant & Sons
Talisker 8 Year Old 2011 Single Malt Scotch Whisky Rum Finish Special Release 2020
A very special Talisker, released as part of the Diageo Special Releases 2020. This has been finished in pot-distilled Jamaican rum casks, adding extra layers of flavour to the distillery’s classic salt-and-pepper maritime notes. Rich, sweet and very tasty. Diageo
The Glen Grant 18 Year Old Scotch Whisky
Matured in the highest quality, handpicked oak casks, which creates a radiant golden colour and seductive floral and oaky aroma. Deeply layered and complex, this rich and vibrant whisky delivers beautifully intricate flavours of malted caramel, vanilla and raisins and lingers with a long, sweet and pleasantly spicy finish. Campari
Glenfiddich Fire & Cane
Think you know peaty whisky? Think again. Surprisingly sweet and smoky dram that blends rich caramel and spice notes with fresh green fruit and soft pillowy smoke. Interesting to pair with different types of food – try it with spicy sausage or ice cream, for example! William Grant & Sons
That Boutique-y Whisky Company Starward 3 year old
Matured in a re-charred ex-Australian wine cask this Riverbourne single malt is clean, complex and carefully balanced. Riverbourne favour ‘less active’ casks, aiming to encourage the development of complex, carefully balanced flavour profiles. The nose is crème caramel, red currant and mince pies. The palate is red fruit leather and soft biscuity oak. Proof & Company
Laphroaig 10 Year Old
There’s really no other whisky like Laphroaig. Big, smoky, briny, the 10 Year Old is the flagship bottling from the distillery. The nose is big and smoky, with seaweed and medicinal notes; on the palate, it’s full-bodied and surprisingly sweet, with a nice spice and a long, lingering finish. CCA/Beam Suntory
Highwayman Whisky
This newest batch was distilled in November 2016 by Dan and the team at Young Henry’s in Newtown. Aged in 100L French oak heavy char Apera cask before being transferred to Byron Bay. Then aged in four twenty litre French oak refill wet tawny casks and finished for 3 months in the peak of the Byron Bay summer before being bottled at a cask strength of 54.3%. This is the gentlest Highwayman whisky bottled to date. AWAS.COM.AU