I shouldn’t be reviewing this whisky.
It’s not that I believe I’m underqualified, or that Lark have obtained a stop and desist order to cease me. Lark Rising Tide was an unique launch to Australia’s The Whisky Membership, and I’m not a member. I got here to acquire a bottle by way of a present from my spouse for a current birthday. I can assure she shouldn’t be a member of the membership, and I’ve not quizzed her about no matter subterfuge she carried out to accumulate this beneficiant present; finest I depart her to her mysterious methods in order that they could be repeated.
The opposite purpose I most likely shouldn’t be reviewing this whisky is that as a rule I are inclined to keep away from the “large boys” of Tasmanian distilling, Lark being the grand outdated daddy of the scene.
Nonetheless, I’ll permit myself this indulgence because the bottle has fallen into my possession, and to be frank it’s nearly comical that Malt doesn’t up to now have even one assessment of Lark. No assessment for the OG of recent Australian distilling?
Invoice Lark is broadly credited because the founding father of Australian whisky as we all know it right now. Within the early Nineteen Nineties he famously lobbied the Federal Authorities to amend the 1901 Distillation Act to permit him to open the primary distillery in Tasmania since 1839 and to provide Australia’s first single malt whisky in 154 years. Scores of distilleries have adopted.
There’s been loads of water underneath the bridge since Invoice Lark blazed the path 30 years in the past. Lark Distillery has now been acquired by Australian Whisky Holdings, which later re-branded to Lark Distilling Co. (LDC), and Invoice is now solely concerned in an ambassadorial capability. I appear to see extra of Invoice than ever earlier than, and there he was serving to promote this launch for The Whisky Membership. The implication is evident: if Invoice is giving his approval, every part is A-OK.
For the primary assessment of Lark on Malt, I don’t have a single malt Lark launch. Rising Tide was blended from six completely different Tasmanian single malts as a celebration of Tasmania’s whisky scene and Lark’s 30 yr anniversary. To search out out extra about this launch, I put some inquiries to Seamus Carroll, Whisky Purchaser and Ambassador for The Whisky Membership.
Malt: Rising Tide is a mix of 6 completely different Tasmanian single malts. Had been they blended in pretty even proportions, or is there better illustration of sure distilleries primarily based on mixing necessities?
Seamus: It’s an amazing query and also you guessed it, over 50% inventory included was sourced from Lark’s Cambridge web site, which served as an apt basis for the celebration of 30 years of Tassie whisky making beginning with Lark. The remaining 5 elements make up the remainder of the wedding. We labored intently with Chris to make sure the tip outcome was a whisky that delivered on decadent ingesting and offered the complexity of the one malts included inside it.
Whereas we’re not in a position to disclose the distilleries included due to industrial agreements, watching members decide aside the complexity of the whisky in tastings has truly been a spotlight of this launch. As stated by Invoice in our preliminary pattern assessment, “I’m having fun with the nostril a lot, I haven’t even tasted it but. It’s a kind of whiskies, you might sit right here and nostril for fairly some time, simply attempting to know what’s gone into making it.”
Malt: What was the outturn for this launch?
Seamus: Fairly large! Because the world’s largest whisky membership, we’ve over 35,000 members and guarantee each member who needs a bottle is ready to safe one.
Malt: The place did the thought for the Rising Tide launch originate? Please describe the development in the direction of with the ability to launch it.
Seamus: The idea for “The Rising Tide” was born out of a celebration of 30 years of Tasmanian whisky making, and Invoice and Lyn Lark’s affect on the business. Whereas Invoice was out on the earth representing Lark he didn’t draw back from championing each Tasmanian producer. From working at Sullivans Cove as supervisor to exhibiting off Hellyers Highway at Whisky Reside Paris, Invoice at all times championed the sentiment for Tassie whisky, “a rising tide lifts all boats.” The well being of our increasing business displays that.
To rejoice that sentiment, we labored with Invoice and his successor Head Distiller Chris Thompson to create a whisky that encapsulated Invoice’s legacy. Predominantly matured in Australian port and sherry casks, The Rising Tide is a wedding of single malts from six Tasmanian distilleries near Invoice’s coronary heart, and exhibits off the distinctive whisky character developed within the island’s distilleries. That includes single malts that symbolize the sticky toffee plums, vibrant apple florals, and coastal malty honey notes all of us love in Tasmanian whiskies. The outcome was a whisky that exhibits distinctive character at every layer of the glass. Whereas we had been ingesting it with Invoice and Chris, all of us discovered ourselves ending our glasses as we had been digging via the layers of the dram.
Earlier within the yr, Invoice known as our Lark 30th Anniversary launch his “favorite ever Lark,” so it was an absolute deal with to ship once more with this bottling.
Malt: The pricing, by Tasmanian single malt requirements, is kind of truthful. Was this at all times a objective with Rising Tide?
Seamus: An incredible value and nice worth are at all times key to what we ship to our members. It’s due to our wonderful members we had been in a position to make sure this Tasmanian whisky was no exception.
Thanks to Seamus for taking the time to reply my questions. There may be actual talent in mixing completely different single malts right into a coherent blended malt. An esteemed model counts for nothing if the alchemy isn’t there. I’m glad to see this has been bottled at both cask power or shut sufficient to it. With that in thoughts, let me see how good this mix is.
Lark Rising Tide Tasmanian Blended Malt Whisky – Evaluate
51.7% ABV. Blended predominantly from Port and Sherry Casks. Accessible to members of Australia’s Whisky Membership for $140
Color: Gold.
On the nostril: Upon first impressions, that is pretty. I’m unable to place the glass down for a number of minutes to start out typing as I’m simply having fun with it a lot. There’s honey and vanilla, strawberry jam, and honey roasted figs. There’s custard tarts and shaved coconut. Extra syrup notes and baked apple pie. I anticipate this can translate to the palate.
Within the mouth: Just a little warmth from the alcohol, these candy notes emerge upon a second sip. However I believe there’s one thing else working to stability it, some earthiness, or dense foliage. There’s some toffee within the mouth and treacle syrup. Caramel and maybe espresso flavoured ice cream. Barley sugar and the end is medium size. Water reveals milk chocolate and boiled lollies.
Conclusions:
Is that this Tasmania in a glass? Somebody extra acquainted with Tasmania who has tried it must inform me as a result of I’ve not been down there in 9 years. I believe it is a dram that will make Invoice Lark proud and glad to be launched in a bottle bearing his title. It’s maybe the very best Australian whisky I’ve reviewed for the location, a minimum of the equal of Shene’s Elixir of Life.
On the difficulty of pricing, the state of affairs Down Beneath is that $140 for a 500ml bottle (equal to round $200 for 700ml) of a whisky with Lark on the label is taken into account good worth. For NAS, blended malt underneath nearly every other label? I’d be deducting a degree for value. Let’s name it the Lark Tax.
My solely want is – industrial issues however – that The Whisky Membership and LDC had the flexibility to be absolutely clear with this launch. The cynic in me assumed that there can be an over-representation of ex-Nant inventory to assist shift alongside extra remnants from that tainted distillery underneath the quilt of the Lark title. I’m very happy to see from Seamus’s replies that the unique Lark distillery makes up over 50% of the mix. There nonetheless could also be a wholesome portion of Nant within the remaining 40-odd %.
Whisky customers are more and more demanding full disclosure. Take a leaf from Compass Field and inform us what’s within the mix, the odds from every distillery and ages of the malts. Put all that data on the labelling, offering full disclosure… then we’d have a real celebration of 30 years of Tasmanian whisky. Let’s rejoice these part components, not depart them within the shadows.
As an alternative, I’ve a bottle prominently labelled as “Lark,” with “Blended Malt Whisky” (as they are saying within the newspaper enterprise) beneath the fold. I would’ve have hoped LDC may’ve listened to the suggestions round this subject.
Regardless, my spouse selected nicely.
