Australian whisky with a point of view at a level-headed price might sound like an oxymoron, but that is what the Coastal Stone project is all about. For some time now, Manly Spirits Co has been distilling and maturing these affordable and approachable whiskies, which aim to reflect the beauty of Sydney’s Northern Beaches. And given the number of medals they’ve scooped up over the last couple of years (including a coveted golds at the World Whisky Awards and San Francisco World Spirits Competition), you might say they’ve hit the bullseye.
The Xplore Whisky is the perfect intro to the house style, an easy-going blended whisky matured in American ex-bourbon casks and Australian ex-shiraz barrels. Big whiffs of caramel, molasses and tropical fruits give way to a bold and broad palate here, stacked with butterscotch and cinnamon-laced apple strudel. Milk chocolate and more crunchy red apples poke through on the long finish, meaning you’ll get as much out of it from a neat pour as you will a well-mixed Highball. A weeknight whisky in the very best of ways (not least of which is the $81 price tag).
All you single-malt diehards out there, meanwhile, might want to consider the fuller, richer Nor’easter Whisky, aged in charred red-wine barrels from the Barossa. Upfront, you’ll get ripe stone fruits and pears galore, with hints of honeysuckle and Scotch Finger biccies; from the middle to the back, it’s all milk chocolate, panna cotta creaminess and Chinese five spice with chewy dried fruits and a little tannic tug on the way out. All this for less than $100? You better believe it.
The good folk from Manly Spirits will be here at Newtown HQ pouring these this coming Saturday, 17th August, from 2-5pm, so come on down, say g’day and have a taste or three!