Amber Lane Sleigh Bells 2023 Australian Single Malt Whisky

This complex expression is a worthy second release of Sleigh Bells, the original of which was a Gold Medal and Small Batch Category Winner at the World Whiskies Awards 2023. This superior expression showcases Amber Lane’s skilled use of Pedro Ximenez, Oloroso and Apera casks to create sublime Australian sherry cask whisky.

Official Tasting Notes:

Nose: Opulent nose of honey, raisins and brandy, accompanied by stewed pear, cinnamon, cardamon, and dried orange peel.

Taste: A delicious and balanced combination of toffee, honeycomb, dark chocolate, dates, rhubarb, brown sugar, pecan pie and salted caramel.

Finish: Long, rich and deeply satisfying

Amber Lane is a whisky distillery based in the Yarramalong Valley on NSW’s Central Coast. It was founded in 2017 by two amateur astronomers and friends, Rod Berry and Phil Townsend. The duo have since committed themselves to crafting excellent spirit and spared no expense in sourcing top quality, large format ex-bourbon barrels (primarily sourced from Heaven Hill) and bodega ex-Pedro Ximenez casks. They took their time with maturation, waiting until the whisky was ready for bottling, rather than rushing to market after the minimum 2 years. 

Amber Lane’s Ethics:

– Consistent high-quality mash bill that creates pleasing new make with an emphasis on the original barley together with a creamy sweetness;

– Double-distillation using a pot still designed to maximise copper-contact, thus producing more complex flavour chains;

– The very best seasoned barrels, sourced from premium producers of Spanish Pedro Ximenez and Oloroso Sherry and Kentucky Bourbon;

– Maximised ageing  to produce more complex flavour profiles, using larger barrels than many other Australian whisky producers (mainly 200-250L casks)

– Skilled blending of individual barrels to produce consistently delicious whisky; 

– Non-chill-filtration in all expressions to preserve as many of the flavour-producing esters and congeners as possible; and

– A conscious preference for releasing our whisky at higher alcohol strength.