The Lark Distillery Cask Strength Barrel LD75 Single Malt Whisky (500ml)

An absolute belter of a whisky!

We were visited by Lark's founder, Bill Lark, and his offerings confirmed what we'd anticipated in 2003. These are sensational whiskies that have won praise, awards and top reviews world wide from Malt Maniacs, Jim Murray and the World Whisky Awards.

It was an epiphany of sorts that led to the birth of Lark's distillery. Bill Lark, a keen fly fisherman and Scotch whisky enthusiast was drinking Cardhu with friends whilst cooking the day's catch. The conversation naturally turned to Scotch, when Bill suddenly recognised Tasmania's untapped potential to produce whisky. Ample clean water, clean air, some of the world's best barley, as well as peat bogs scattered across the Highlands "ticked all of the boxes." Lark's distillery was founded in 1992, and has produced whisky continuously since. Along with pure Tasmanian water and locally grown Franklin Barley (malted at the famous Cascade Brewery), the grain is also lightly peated using Bill's unique post-malting infusion method, a technique which the Scots themselves are keen to emulate. The spirit is then matured in 200-300 litre barrels previously filled with Australian Sherry or Australian Port. Larks is also home to the world’s youngest female distiller, Kristy Lark, who has followed on as distiller under Bill's careful supervision. Impressed by her results, the International Institute of Brewers and Distillers awarded Kristy a scholarship to visit Scotland, where she had the opportunity to be influenced by the greats of the whisky industry.

Tasting Notes: Gold colour with pale straw hue. An intense sniff! Assertive notes of salty nuts, plum jam, vanilla, liquorice, manuka honey, orange and grapefruit, above fenugreek, tumeric, pepper and anise. The palate is enormous with a rich, almost oily texture, this time contrasted by tannin from barrel, providing an interesting sideshow to the astonishing array of exotic spices that roar through the palate. The fruits and nuts promised by the nose fight for recognition, and for brief moments, succeed, only to again succumb to the tidal wave of spice. An essay in balance, thrillseekers can safely imbibe without the addition of water. Exceptionally long aftertaste, which again features fruits and nuts early, before being bowled over by the spice. Cask LD75 Tasted. 58.0% Alc./Vol.