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Great Southern Distillery – Tiger Snake Whiskey (Batch 4). Albany, Western Australia, Australia. ABV: 43.0%. Tasted at the Perth Good Food & Wine Show, $5 (sample).
As Australia’s very first sour mash whiskey, I was very keen to taste the latest offering from Great Southern Distillery given how much I’ve enjoyed the Limeburners whisky releases I’ve tasted so far this year. So I dragged a few of my friends as willing participants to join me for a group tasting.
An Australian sour mash? Yes, made with a mix of corn, rye and barley grown right here in Western Australia.
Whisky a Day: So Rachel, tell us your thoughts on the Tiger Snake?
Rachel: I think it’s very smooth, smoother than Don Draper. Very smooth.
Brett: In fact Todd I’ve forgotten what it tastes like already, could you get me another one please?
Whisky a Day: Bloody cheapskate, tight-arse. Ok then.
Brett: I could murder another one right now.
Rachel: It’s a lot smoother than Raspberry’s belly (Raspberry is Brett’s nickname that he accidentally revealed to us recently).
Whisky a Day: So maybe Raspberry hasn’t waxed recently [lifts up Raspberry’s shirt] – oh nope, he definitely hasn’t!
Brett (aka Raspberry) and Whisky a Day tasting the Tiger Snake
So onto the tasting…
Nose: I’m getting some corn aromas. Brett’s also getting some bullshit aromas potentially from the rubbish we’re all coming out with at the moment.
Palate: It’s quite dry on the palate. Brett: I’d love another one. Rachel: Are you hinting for me to buy you another one?? Brett: No no… Joel: You might need to choose your friends a bit more carefully!
Finish: Medium to short finish. Brett would still love another one. Doesn’t have the residual sweetness that I was expecting.
Comments: Look it’s quite ok, though I don’t know if I’d rush out and get another one…I think that Great Southern are much better at their Limeburners whisky than they are at this sour mash whiskey which is more of a bourbon, spelled with an “-ey”. They sure know how to spell, I’ll give them that! To be fair, this is my first (quite small) tasting so I’d like to give them another crack sometime and get to know the Tiger Snake a little better. I’m sure Brett will be keen to have another with me!