I would like to offer you an option.
When you say whiskey, you blurt out a single Malt of Scotland, as if there were only Scotch whisky in the world. Is Scotch whisky the best without a doubt? Yes, sales are good and the quality is superior, but that doesn't mean other whiskies are inferior to it. Like Tasmania in Australia, a dark horse in whisky, known as the "newly born Islay of Ere", its future development is unlimited.
A few months ago, I didn't know the words Tasmania. Until a friend traveled to Australia, not to Sydney, not to see the opera house, only to Tasmania. When I heard her talk about it, I still had a look: What? where? where? I searched quickly, and it turned out to be "the heart of the world" and "the end of the world".
She is like the protagonist in the song "Free Travel", "Sad to travel." From the pictures she sent, the pigeons strolling in the meadows, the dandelions not moving, the golden trees in early autumn, I could feel that everything there was quiet.
"Iceland also has no escaped town", but Australia has an escaped island, Tasmania! I want to go to Tasmania, blow the sea breeze there, smell the whiskey floating in the air. On an early autumn afternoon, the sun is warm and the breeze is gentle, so I sit on the floor with a bottle of whiskey and drink it like this.
Tasmania is the newly born Island of Ere
Scotland has a whisky sanctuary – islet of Islay, and australia also has it, called Tasmania. Tas (an intimate name that Australians like) is very similar to the Scottish islet of Ere, with a mild and pleasant climate. The breeze is cool, the blue sky is clear, the plateaus, valleys, pastures, rivers are everywhere. There is also peat in the swamp. It's like God copy-pasting with one click, bringing Islay to the end of the world – Tasmania.
Around 2006, a Tasmanian winemaker took his whisky to France to show the world whiskies from Tasmania. At that time, everyone in The European whiskey did not look at his whisky, "The wine is not bad, but it is not Scotch whisky." ”
In 2014, tasmanian whisky – Sullivan's Cove French Oak won WWA's World's Best Single Malt Whisky. It was the same whisky that was not favored by Europeans that year, and the winemaker, Patrick Maguire, was the owner of sullivan Bay Distillery and one of the founders of Tasmanian whisky status.
The color is syrup-like gold, and when it is just put into the mouth, it chews the liquor as if it is chewing on the wine gum, and the French oak barrel enhances the fruit aroma. There is also a faint aroma of white pepper and herbs. Then, the taste of white pepper becomes more pronounced, and together with the jam, it sets the main tone of the wine, which is full of molasses, and the caramel and cinnamon are intertwined in your mouth, and you can feel the strong oak flavor. The aftertaste of crushed chili peppers lingers in the mouth for a while, ending with a hint of spice.
Winning the award this time is a great encouragement for Tasmania and Australia, and it is not Scotland and Japan that finally won the award. This small bottle of whisky suddenly became a major turning point for Australian whisky. Today the world chases after Patrick Maguire for wine.
The whisky industry has pulled Tasmania, once a quiet place, out of hibernation and become more vibrant. As all Tass people firmly believe: "Tasmania is the newly born Island of Airey!" ”
crisis? inexistent
With international accolades pouring in, many Tass people have joined the winemaking list. In 2006, Tass probably had only 3 wineries. This increased to 22 in 2016. Now, there are a conservative estimate of 200 distilleries, at least 100 of which are brewing whisky. Working with local barley farmers, the distillery produces in small workshops, each with a small yield, often supplying only local bars, restaurants, or selling directly to regular customers.
More than one Australian has expressed "apprehension" about whisky production. "The only crisis in Australian whisky is that it outstrips supply," says the owner of a Sydney whisky distillery. Tasmania's governor, Will Hodgman, said in an interview: "The only bad thing is that we can't keep up with production. ”
Excuse me? Is it too rare for me to buy? The winery owner continues, "Quality is no problem, we have won international awards and our whisky can be ranked among the best whiskies in the world." But people can't buy it because the yield is too small. "Is short supply a crisis? Boss, you're sneaking a laugh. Now that the market has been opened, there is no fear of increasing production. The rhythm of brewing whisky can't keep up with the rhythm of selling whisky, isn't that more attractive to whisky drinkers?
This small island of seclusion is gradually becoming known, and in 2016, 220,000 non-local people set foot on this pure land, a significant increase of 13% over the previous year. The beauty of Tasmania is amazing, with sea breezes, skies, isolation attracting crowds and, of course, whisky. A paradise for living and free, it is a paradise for whisky. Whiskey drunkards are passed down by word of mouth, and I'm a little hesitant to tell you, oh, I really want to go there and drink whiskey.
Next time, visit the holy land of single malt whisky, don't go to Islay, go to Tasmania!