Sydney Whisky Fair 2012 in retrospect

The Woodford Reserve selection of offer

 Sydney Whisky Fair has now come and gone and now with a wee bit of reflection it is a good time to give some comment on the experience. With 3 prime whisky events now scheduled in Sydney each year one such as myself needs to make a choice as to what to attend and why. Not only do I not want to take part in yet another same old same old whisky consumption, rubbing shoulders with the same faces that pop up over the years, but I also do not want to over indulge something I have so much come to love. Is there such thing as too much whisky?

Some of the lads enjoying a few brews and chips prior to entry

My choice this year was again Sydney Whisky Fair hosted and produced by Oak Barrel Sydney. This years fair saw a remarkable expansion in the available premises with 2 extra rooms opened up to vendors. Though the event was sold out, ample room was available to sample a dram in a quite corner and contemplate the flavours or chat with fellow members in where to score your next whisky hit. Certainly there is room to accept more patrons but I was hesitate that this would simple return to a cramped, hot, uncomfortable environment. Why not put on an extra show instead might be a better choice.

The Oak barrel rooms before the crowds decended

Whisky, whisky, and more whisky was everywhere with many new distilleries on display and many of the old regulars we have come to expect. Staff hosting the stands were well educated in the products they were serving which makes for good conversation. At the same time it is a little off to be seeing so many non-whisky products out for tasting and makes me think what is going on. I am not interested in trying gin, rum, liqueurs and so on at a self titled Whisky Fair but I am sure there are those that do. Still if you don't want to try it then move on which is what I did and there is no problems with that.

A great show was put on by many of the Australian distillers and I was particularly impressed with The Nant's progress and really looking forward to where they go in a few years. I was also pleasantly surprised with where Lime Burners is now going and found it quite humorous to be speaking with the Great Southern Distilling Company rep as he even agreed what they had been outputting over the last few years was not great in comparison and the early stuff was just 'rough' to quote.

Tiger Snake by the Great Southern Distilling Company

I was intrigued more by the Bourbon Sour Mash style whisky, called Tiger Snake, Great Southern Distilling Company had on offer. Incredibly overpriced (as most Aussie whiskies are) but I think the Bourbon style has a long long way to go before it becomes something special. Still if you have an opportunity to try it then do so.

George T. Stagg

I did find myself becoming quite picky about what whiskies I was going to try and at the end of the night counted only 6 whiskies I actually had totally consumed, while the rest I had quick sips and poured the rest. I guess when you start to have as many whiskies as we have sampled over the last few years this is what comes of it. Another reason not to be attending too many events in one year. I did manage to snaffle a wee dram of a Woodford Reserve white dog, and also a dram of the rather rare and reserved George T. Stagg. To be honest there was nothing overly special about the George T. Stagg but I was happy for the opportunity and at over $250 a bottle being quoted I think I will leave a purchase for another to make.

To add to the fun we were all treated to a well served dish of haggis which was actually quite delicious (though I have had it many times before this one I must say tasted the best). To announce its arrival a Piping In and a well delivered recital of the famous poem by Robert Burns 'Ode To A Haggis'. Thanks to Oak Barrel Syndey a recording of the recital has been made available to viewing below:

Following is the complete transcript of the poem as I am sure you will be wanting to have your own recital at your Burns Super on the 25th January:

Fair fa’ your honest, sonsie face,
Great Chieftan o’ the Puddin-race!
Aboon them a’ ye tak your place,
Painch, tripe, or thairm:
Weel are ye wordy of a grace
As lang’s my arm 

The groaning trencher there ye fill,
Your hurdies like a distant hill,
You pin wad help to mend a mill
In time o’need
While thro’ your pores the dews distil
Like amber bead 

His knife see Rustic-labour dight,
An’ cut you up wi’ ready slight,
Trenching your gushing entrails bright
Like onie ditch;
And then, O what a glorious sight,
Warm-reeking, rich! 

Then, horn for horn they stretch an’ strive,
Deil tak the hindmost, on they drive,
Till a’ their weel-swall’d kytes belyve
Are bent like drums;
Then auld Guidman, maist like to rive
Bethankit hums 

Is there that owre his French ragout,
Or olio that wad staw a sow,
Or fricassee wad mak her spew
Wi’ perfect sconner,
Looks down wi’ sneering, scornfu’ view
On sic a dinner? 

Poor devil! see him owre his trash,
As feckless as a wither’d rash
His spindle-shank a guid whip-lash,His nieve a nit;
Thro’ bluidy flood or field to dash,
O how unfit! 

But mark the Rustic, haggis-fed,
The trembling earth resounds his tread,
Clap in his walie nieve a blade,
He’ll mak it whissle;
An’ legs, an’ arms an’ heads will sned,
Like taps o’ thrissle 

Ye pow’rs wha mak mankind your care,
An’ dish them out their bill o’fare,
Auld Scotland wants nae skinking ware
That jaups in luggies;
But, if ye wish her gratefu’ pray’r,
Gie her a Haggis!

A fine selection of Bourbons to dram through

This year did not see food served as part of the event which we assume was to keep costs down to a minimum and you are at this stage guaranteed Whisky Fair is the most cost effective of all the events held in Sydney. Still in saying that the food (personally) was not up to scratch and advisable to eat before you arrive. What I saw were burnt offerings that did not really gel with tasting whisky. Fellow members who did purchase did not seem satisfied with the end result. Honestly though the problem of the food is not for a lack of trying and when you are relying on a 3rd party to deliver satisfaction is not always guaranteed.

Water was in ample supply as always and really good to see.

Real disappointments on the night for me was in fact Bruichladdich. Bruichladdich was made available only to VIP guests the hour before and then locked down but left out on the tables for all to view. Pride of place on the table was the elusive Laddie 10 and for such an now iconic release for Bruichladdich, and following the sale of Bruichladdich only months before, to withhold it from everyone was a real shame and a bit of a piss off. In saying that I was still able to sample a dram for myself due to entering right on the close for the VIP session and the guys manning the table had not resealed the bottles. In the one dram I had  there was extreme measure of Aniseed on the pallet. Very different to previous vintage Bruichladdich 10yo and I would like to have more. Honestly though if the product is not for tasting and infect nothing from that distiller is not for tasting then pull down your signs, get the hell out of my way and stop wasting our time, we are not paying to look but not touch.

Overall though a good time was had by all. I really enjoyed myself and the intimate experience offered by the smaller venue at The Oak Barrel. I will be looking forward to next years event. If I was to give a dram for the event a good 6 out of 7.

The Baron


This is a non-sponsord promotion. For any further details please defer to the Whisky Fair website.

Is Whisky Live Sydney Back? I hope so.

Is Whisky Live Sydney back for good and better? An email this morning by the WL crew say yes. But have we seen all this before, early date releases, promises of what to come and then all but fades away? Yes we have but this time it might just be different as tickets also go on sale this Wed 21st November 2012 a good 9 months in advance.

Reports from members that did attend (though failed to post about it for the rest of us) indicate 2012 was a really good time and packed to the walls with people and whisky. Indications the food was well and truly up to scratch and management was on top of it all (unlike the previous years we had attended).

The 2013 Sydney event will see itself being hosted at the Paddington Town Hall, Sydney City, with 2 nights scheduled for the event being 2nd and 3rd of August 2013.

Currently the early bird email indicates tickets include the whisky tasting (of course), food, whisky cocktails, a Glencairn Crystal whisky glass (hopefully they really do mean true crystal this time which would be nice).

So from all indication Whisky Live Sydney management here in Australia looks like it is starting to get up to scratch with what the Official Whisky Live World site promises events are supposed to be.

Current Whisky Live Sydney release info is:
Dates – Friday 2nd and Saturday 3rd August 2013
Venue – Paddington Town Hall
Tickets on sale: – Wednesday 21st November 2012
Cost – $95 per person
Website – Whisky Live Sydney

If anything keep an eye on the Whisky Live Sydney facebook page for updates if you do not plan to buy tickets early incase they begin to sell out. Hopefully the facebook page will also be managed better than in the last debacles which made me unlike it a year ago.

Ok yes I am extremely cynical and did not attend this years event needing a reprieve from the oh so poorly staged event previous and rightly so I feel for the price paid and the distance travelled. Next year I think it is time to get my boots on and see what it is like.

Keep in mind Whisky Live will also see events in Perth, Melbourne, Canberra and Brisbane as well so it is not just local. I cannot comment though on what the dates are for these other city events as I do not have info sorry.

For D.T.W.C. members that did attend this years event it would be nice to get a review up and some photos as there is less than scant information posted by others here in Aus about these events.

Maybe see you there...

The Baron


This is a non-sponsord promotion. For any further details please defer to the Whisky Live website.

Demolition Edition aka The Malted Weapon – The Old Malt Cask 36yo Dallas Dhu

The Old Malt Cask 36yo from Dallas Dhu Distillery

The malted weapon of choice was The Old Malt Cask 36 year old from Dallas Dhu Distillery (herein referred to as DDD).

This D.T.W.C. meeting was pre-labelled 'The Demolition Edition' because of imminent building works at my place.

A fortuitous selection of words, with the contents of the chosen whisky knocked down by members in quick time. If only my renovations were finished this quick, and approval from council this tasty.

This hallowed water comes from a deceased distillery. In fact the DDD is now in state ownership, comrade. It closed down after a long drought. I say they should have run a pipe from the nearest Loch to this venue and rode it out until the heavens opened.

Of course the positive take on state ownership is that it brings a cask full of apathy with it. What does one do with a closed down distillery? I could imagine the various committees gathering to advise Historic Scotland what to do with the now heritage location and stock, only to hold another meeting a year later after resolving nothing. And then another year. Which plays greatly into the very simple task of ageing whisky. They knew their assets were going nowhere. In fact, only getting better. So, what’s the rush? Well, god bless the public service’s modus operandi because at 36 years, this is living proof that patience has its rewards.

Their miserly dispensing of the remaining stock is disciplined too. Much like that other Scottish wonder, the Dundee Cake, you don’t want to give away greatness too quickly even if you've got tonnes.

Dallas Dhu 1971 / 36 Year Old / Cask #4106

Alcohol: 46.2%

Region: Speyside

Bottler: Douglas Laing

Bottling Status: Discontinued

Bottling Date: Jan 2008

This DDD expression received a mere 161 bottles. I’m guessing there must be some cracking 40+ year old coming out at some stage.

The drinking experience is glorious in it’s build. The nose promises sweetness. Not, I’d like to note, in a Glenmorangie kind of way though. The bottle notes mention citrus as well.

The palette is full bodied sweet. Bottle notes say syrupy. I’m going to say honeycomb. Maybe even a Violet Crumble, pre 1995.

The finish is lingering. The sweetness disappears, the mouth feels clean and I’m left dreaming of middle eastern orange cake.

The Alchemist

The Proxy Edition & A Glenglassaugh 26yo

The evenings members selection

The long awaited Dog hosting of a D.T.W.C. whisky night took place at Bondi in mid October 2012. It was three years in the making and rather than using the somewhat rudimentary and limited facilities at the Cave, the Dog convinced all that the event be held in the apartment of the latest addition to the D.T.W.C. clan - The Proxy. This was an unprecedented move by The Dog that resulted in a spectacular night of whisky drinking and fine food that was enjoyed by all.

The choice whisky for the evening was a Glenglassaugh 26yo from the previously mothballed Highland distillery of the same name. The Glenglassaugh distillery was closed in 1986 and only recently purchased and re-opened in 2010 under the ownership of the newly formed 'Glenglassaugh Distillery Company Limited'. The Glenglassaugh 26yo is a marriage of of casks filled in 1983 under previous owners.

Glenglassaugh The 26yo (or what was left of it)

Glenglassaugh The 26yo
Distillery: Glenglassaugh
Location/Region: Scotland Highlands
Alcohol: 46%

The nose was a lovely mélange of cereals, wood spice, honey vanilla and wood. It also revealed hints of lemony or citrus peel. One member even felt there was banana involved.

A yummy and complex dram. Really lovely, and makes you come back for more. Alas the bottle finished all too quickly. Luckily there were many other fine whiskies on the table and The Proxy was sporting enough to even open the bottle of the new and limited release Ardbeg Galileo.

Much like what was happening with Bruichladdich when it was reopened, older casks of a previous era are being bottled and sold with only very recent and young releases of new whisky now hitting the shelves. This bottling is a bit of history that will soon pass so if you are interested in a sample there is still time to grab a bottle.

A few members enjoying the delights of the evening

In terms of food, the Proxy designed a lovely three course feast opening with a Salmon Gravalax, followed by Beef Cheeks and an Eton Mess for desert. Indeed the D.T.W.C. has come a long way from exploding hot dogs in the inaugural event in 2009.

The end of the night saw a palpable sense of relief as the obligation and willingness to host a D.T.W.C. event has been plaguing The Dog for some time now and has now been fulfilled in a successful manner not even he could have imagined. Many thanks go out to the Proxy for his involvement in the food preparation and provision of facilities which allowed the Dog hosted event to take place.

The Dog