Black Gate ‘Liquid Sunrise’

The whisky industry has an uncanny ability to attract characters. It seems like you never get to the end of a long and winding road in an out-of-the-way place and find some boring bean counter manning the still. If you ever find yourself out back of Dubbo in the the town of Mendooran (pop. 559) you won’t be disappointed. Brian Hollingworth and his wife Genise are characters in the best sense of the word. Getting into the distilling game back in 2009, Brian and Genise have made friends all across the Australian whisky scene with their laidback demeanour and no nonsense approach. Not to mention their big and rich whiskies. Starting with their own wash brewed on site they distill over direct fire in a couple of small copper pots producing a grainy and oily new make spirit. Maturation is on fast forward in the dry air of New South Wales’ central west with huge interaction between whisky and wood and an angels share north of ten percent each year. What remains for us mere mortals is a big and rich whisky with beautiful balance between spirit and barrel. Our selection was matured in a re-coopered Buffalo Trace barrel and bottled at 54.8% ABV. Amber to the eye there is a hint of peat, plenty of vanilla and a little leather on the nose. The palate is subtle with honey upfront followed by some peppery spice. The finish is subtle clean peat. Quality spirit matured in a quality cask from one of our favourite Australian distilleries. Exclusive to Barrel & Batch Whisky Co-op