Lark Single Malt
The island of Tasmania has a history of whisky making yet there was a 150 year gap because of old 19th century laws that went unchallenged until Bill Lark founded Lark Distillery in 1992. Since then, Lark has been producing whisky and liqueurs. The distillery was the first in Australia to become carbon neutral in 2021 and while originally started in the Tasmanian capital, Hobart, production has recently moved to a new distillery in nearby Pontville. Before their portfolio expanded, the American market would only receive limited single barrel expressions, such as this Lark Single Malt bottled at 86 proof. Other expressions are different individual barrels at slightly differing proofages but remain the same base spirit. This particular barrel was aged in a small cask that formerly held Australian port.
Redbreast 15 Year
The first Redbreast whiskey was released by W&A Gilbey, a wine merchant and importer, in 1903 under the name “John Jameson & Sons Castle JJ Liqueur Whiskey 12 Year Old” though it wasn’t known under the Redbreast name until 1912, so named due to the chairman of Gilbey’s being a bird enthusiast. While the sourcing of Redbreast has changed more than once it is currently distilled at the New Midleton Distillery after the Jameson Bow Street Distillery closed. The Redbreast line is the largest selling single pot still Irish whiskey in the world. The Redbreast 15 is comprised of malted and unmalted barley and has been matured in a mixture of both ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks, like all Redbreast whiskies.
Glen Grant 15 Year
Glen Grant was founded by James and John Grant, two brothers who had previously made whisky illegally but were finally granted a license in 1840. The Grant family had a number of successful generations that followed to expand the business and even though primary ownership eventually passed out of the family, they still maintain a stake in the company. The Campari Group owns the distillery now and it is one of largest selling single malts in the world, with an annual output of 5.9 million liters. Four tall, slender pot stills create a core line of six single malts – though a good deal also goes into Chivas blends – that features 5 age expressions, including this Glen Grant 15, that range from 10 to 21 years old.