Amber Lane Single Bourbon Barrel: A Symphony of Flavour

A Pioneering Achievement

This bottling marks the first Amber Lane Distillery whisky fully matured in a single bourbon barrel, and what a remarkable achievement it is. Amber Lane Distillery has earned recognition for their premium barrel program and their longer maturation cycles. They also carefully apply European distilling principles (from Cognac, France), previously unseen in Australia. As a result, they’ve established themselves as innovators in the Australian whisky landscape.

The Collaborative Journey

Working with co-founders, Rod and Phil proved to be a genuine pleasure. Their approach reflected both joy and integrity, and we couldn’t have hoped for a better collaboration. The selection process was quite simple; we focused on Amber Lane’s first-fill bourbon barrels. Rod and Phil gave us full access to their entire cask program. And after quiet deliberation, we chose a robust Heaven Hill first-fill bourbon barrel. We also decided the whisky needed a few more months to reach its peak potential. And what a great decision that proved to be. The whisky didn’t only sing; it bellowed out a soothing Gregorian chant.

The Tasting Experience

The aroma doesn’t merely hint at sweetness. Rather, it hums with warmth. Distinct notes of honey on toast mingle with burnt butter complexity. Additionally, a hint of candy cane provides contrast to these warm foundations. The spirit-to-wood synergy is absolutely bang on with biscuity characters forming the base. This is complemented by bright orange peel adding a citrus zing. Delicate white cocoa rounds out the experience, bringing subtle creaminess and depth.

As a result, the finish is perfectly calibrated. It’s medium in length with lingering warm oak. Never overpowering, with every element remaining in perfect harmony, creating the perfect storm in ex-bourbon maturation.

Pure Australian Craftsmanship

We bottled this Amber Lane masterpiece straight from the cask at 61% ABV. We left it non-chill-filtered with no added coloring, using a simple sieve to catch any sediment from entering the bottle. This represents whisky in its most natural form – pure and distinctly Australian.

This limited release embodies everything special about Amber Lane’s approach. They value patience, precision, and respect for the spirit’s character. Finally, each sip offers a testament to Australian whisky craftsmanship. It shows how local expertise with traditional methods can create a truly world-class dram.