Limeburners
I came across Limeburners at a recent whisky tasting. Given that the other drops on offer were nothing to write home about, it not difficult for Limeburners’ expression stand out, however, it stood out in epic measures.
Situated in Western Australia, Limeburners have continuously upped their game – be it the sourcing of barrels with a history that can be traced back nearly a hundred years in the new world before they helped mature port or sherry for a number of decades and eventually found their destiny helping refine Limeburners’ emissions, or securing their own local peat supply along with building their own customised peat smoker, aiding in peating their own barely.
Limeburners flagship is without a doubt their Single Malt Whisky.
In 2012 “Tiger Snake”, a ‘sour mash’ mixed grain whiskey, was launched, i.e. an expression inspired by the better Kentucky and Tennessee whiskies.
Whisky-wise, Limeburners’ focus is firmly set on single barrel releases with variants clocking in at a range of ABVs and in peated and unpeated varieties with the occasional cask strength of wine cask expression.
The blessing and curse with Limeburners is that due to the limitation of their releases and cask sizes, the drops are crafted using traditional techniques and paid meticulous attention to yet they are increasingly hard to come by due to the wider whisky loving public catching on to it.
With the Western regions of Australia having not only ideal water for whisky brewing but also a borderline ideal climate whose low evaporation rates and humidity levels are conducive to distilling the quality drops they have become known for.
If I had to pin down the character of Limeburners across the board of its releases and find an equivalent in Scotland, it would be the whiskies from the Speyside region.
Given the fact that Limeburners has only been on the map for less than ten years and seeing what they have accomplished, there is no doubt in my mind that within a short period of time they will not only become a force to be reckoned with on international terrain but also high quality whisky house that does not have to hide behind the great Tasmanian whiskies we have recently covered.
Limeburners’ Single Malt Whisky Sherry Cask is an exercise in complexity exhibiting spicy fruit aromas, hinting at honey-esque vanilla notes and a long smooooth finish.
My favourite is the Peated Small Batch Australian Single Malt Whisky variant, which clocks in at 48%. The smoky flavour is framed by a bouquet of spices and citrussy floral notes with a sheer never-ending finish that is reminiscent of licorice, tannins and blueberries that makes me smack my lips.
Definitely one of my favourite Australian expressions.
Subtle, soft yet flavourful, complex, nuanced and difficult to not abstain from pouring yourself another dram.
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Photo by T
