Timboon Distillery Christie's Cut Cask Strength Single Malt Australian Whisky (500ml)

The South West Coast of Victoria has a colourful history of illicit distilling. When the Government decided to stamp out the practice, the man chosen to round up the 'Nirranda Distillers' was Detective Inspector Christie, champion boxer, champion sculler of Victoria, and one time personal bodyguard of H.R.H. Prince Alfred. Christie was also a master of disguise. Posing as a travelling tinker, he set out to catch the rogue moonshiners, Delaney and his associate, Jim Love. Shots were fired, the distillers escaped, but not for long and soon enough, whisky production in the area came to an end. That was until Timboon commenced distilling. Located sixteen kilometres inland from the famous Twelve Apostles, this small micro-operation has reluctantly submitted to the excise man with an aim to produce whisky of "quality not quantity". "Christie's Cut", so named after the aforementioned Inspector, is a core addition to Timboon's range. Aged 5 + years in 200 litre French oak casks, it's deep mahogany in colour with strong port-influenced aromatics suggesting Turkish Delight, glace cherries and dried cranberries. The palate offers a fair degree of oak and oomph; spices abound, too, though not without a juicy port-malt combination surfacing towards the finish. It's bold stuff - just like the man himself. 60% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.

Other reviews... Far too much tangy bitterness on the finish here for its own good. But as for the delivery... Wow! An improbable mix of jammy fruit notes and honey mixed almost into a thick paste. That is such a delicious and huge combination. 88.5 points - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2022