ReWolution in the far East and the land Down Under.
What’s the first thing that pops into your mind when you hear someone say Whisk(e)y?! The golden firewater hailing either from Scotland, Ireland or the US of A, right? ¡Sí, claro! Rich traditions of Whisky making & consumption shaped these three Big Daddies into what they are today - lumbering WHISKY BEHEMOTHS.
They’re not the only fish to swim the high-proof waters though. The past century (but mostly the last few decades) gave rise to several new Whisky powerhouses. The wisdom of Whisky-making spread like wildfire around the globe and the wheels of progress kick-started into motion. The newcomers infused the industry with refreshing new takes on the centuries old craft. Innovation, experimentation & culture-specific tinkering are the name of the game now.
The torch of innovation burns the brightest in the far East & the land Down Under. The Double-U Big Daddies better keep their game up… or we may yet live to see the fall of empires. From the lands of New Zealand, to Australia’s Tasmania, Japan, Taiwan and to India, the story of Whisky sparkles with new momentum.
The rookies shook the foundations of what we perceive as the Whisky truth; the mounting recognition they receive only adds fuel to their fire. If there exists a Whisky playbook then the guys from Asia & Oceania aren’t playing by its rules. History might not be on their side, but time is… and the force they bring to the Whisky battlefront is fresh, new, bold & bloodthirsty.
Salute the flavour platoon standing before you and recognize their battle for the brave new world of Whisky.
Cheers,
Flaviar Whisky Expedition Force
Smartass corner
1) New Zealand got its Whisky around 1830's when first Scottish settlers started distilling on the island. It didn’t take long until the government closed many of the distilleries and it took quite some time for the Kiwi’s to reignite the stills.
2) Taiwanese Whisky has quite a short history. It was just back in 2008 when King Car Group released the first Kavalan Whisky, due to country's huge love for Scottish single malts. Since then they have combined their fruit centred spirit with multiple casks, racked up many awards and never looked back.
3) Distilling Whisky in Australia became legal in 1992 (Surely there were some illicit distilleries operating before, for quite some time). There are 18 distilleries opened now and the largest portion of them is found on the island state of Tasmania. It is funny that Aussie Whisky is better known around the world then in Australia.
4) Drinking Scotch in India goes back to 19th century, when British ruled India. It began in 1820's when a chap named Edward Dyed moved from England to set up the first brewery in Kasauli which was soon converted to a distillery and still operates to this day.
5) India is the biggest consumer of Whisky in the world… But nearly all the “Whisky” produced there is made from molasses-derived spirit (Rum?), which - according to EU and US legislation - isn’t Whisky at all.
6) Whisky in Japan is less than a century old and yet it not only developed its own style, but became quite a world Whisky in miniature. From light and particular to smoky and peated expressions the Japanese blends and malts really have everything.
7) Japan is the second biggest producer of single malt Whisky in the world. Much to general surprise.
8) Simplified, Whisky is basically a beer without the hops that has been distilled two or three times.
9) Haruki Murakami-writer “Whisky, like a beautiful woman, demands appreciation. You gaze first, then it’s time to drink.”