The batch one release from Australia’s Belgrove distillery, bottled by Scotland’s That Boutique-y Whisky Company.
This Batch 1 is part of the independent bottler’s inaugural Australia series, which features eight whiskies from downunder distilleries, released in April 2021.
Aged four years in an ex-Tassie whisky barrel.
309 bottles in the release, with approximately half of that allocated to Australia.
TBWC’s take on Belgrove:
“Belgrove is known for its internationally renowned Ryes made by ‘Mad Scientist’ Peter Bignell, a Tasmanian farmer turned distiller. Peter is known for his unconventional equipment and techniques, you may recognise him from a certain celebrity chef’s recent TV series…
“Belgrove’s still is built from reclaimed copper from fallen power lines, and is direct fired using cooking oil from a local roadhouse. The grain is malted in a reclaimed tumble dryer, and milled it in an old meat mincer. The distillery came into being in 2008 after harvesting an unexpectedly large crop of rye.”
Nose: Barbequed pineapple, smoky mezcal, earthy with green fruits and peppery rye malt.
Palate: Fireplace embers, lemon and honey, milk chocolate and white sugar.
Oak Barrel comments from a preview tasting of the series:
A classicly dry but aromatic nose, violets and cut grass abound – this is a very pretty expression of the distillery. Farmyard on the palate and back end spice, this is a very good Belgrove by our taste.
TBWC on the label:
“Our label is a whiteboard (a colourful one) flow chart of the process Peter uses to make his 100% Australian Rye Whisky.
“It starts with his Belgrove Farm rye, malted in a modified tumble dryer. The Grist is indeed ground in a reassigned meat grinder. After mashing an industrial sewage separation machine separates the wort from the draff.
“Chip shop oil fires the homemade still, and the whisky matures in his farm buildings.
“The Chef? Well those lines on the forehead and colourful language should say it all…”
One of Scotland’s most prolific independent bottlers, Boutique-y share an ethos with The Oak Barrel that whisky is meant to be drunk, whisky is meant to be fun. Known for their bright labels and excellent juice, they have bottled most distilleries in Scotland and are increasingly expanding to include whiskies from around the world – which is where this series of Australian whiskies fits in.
Their limited-edition labels are designed by Emily Chappell and reference interesting elements (or in-jokes) about the distillery. Their batches, which can be single casks or married from a number of casks, are bottled at the strength they deem the whisky is most enjoyable at.
