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Dobson’s Belle Epoque Cask Strength Single Malt. New England Highlands, New South Wales, Australia. ABV: 60.0%. Tasted at Saint John Craft Beer Bar (Launceston, Australia), $15.
Happy ‘Straya Day! Being our national day and celebration of all things Australian, it’s only appropriate that we take a look at an Aussie whisky. I came across this bottle of Dobson’s Belle Epoque at a craft beer bar in Launceston, Tasmania.
Colour: Burnt copper.
Nose: Lightly peated with a slight nose prickle. Almost some meaty peat aromas; like sticking your nose over a pot of fresh bolognese sauce cooking on the stovetop, but with a hint of sweetness as you pull your nose away.
Palate: Opens up on the mid & back palate then the heat slides down as your swallow. My mate Joel gets some burnt toffee notes; I get a spicy, peppery sweetness with some campfire smoke.
Finish: An extremely dry finish. Warmth tingles on the front of the tongue and the roof of your mouth.
Comments: I hadn’t previously heard of Dobson’s, which is understandable as it is a tiny operation located in the village of Kentucky NSW, about 5.5 hours drive north of Sydney and situated at Eastview Estate where they also have a winery, brewery, restaurant and speakeasy bar. And a spectacularly irreverant back story on their website (check it out here at http://www.eastviewestate.com/whiskey.html).
For such a small operation, this is a cracking whisky. Complex, with great depth of different flavours and mouthfeel, overall it’s great drinking. I’d be keen to track down some more of this one.
Handmade in “absurdly small quantities”
Whisky #392: New World Projects Double Cask Release #1 Single Malt - Whisky a Day
[…] was Australia Day and we took a look at a lesser known Australian whisky, Dobson’s Belle Epoque Cask Strength Single Malt. I thought bugger it, let’s make this Australia week. All Aussie whiskies, all week. […]