Whiskey, whisky, scotch, bourbon, Canadian whisky, Irish whiskey; list of whiskeys is longer than your arm. It’s a tradition that’s crossed decades, centuries, even millennia. It might have started with one man drinking fermented grain mash, but today there are more ways to wet your whiskey whistle than days in the year– blue label, black label, Yamazaki 55-year old Japanese whisky, Chivas Regal scotch whisky. It’s a good thing then that someone’s run the numbers. Here’s the top ten that Australian whiskey lovers are buying for their weekly pours.
1. Johnnie Walker Black Label 12 Year Old
Black Label is a weekly pour for some, a daily pour for others, and maybe just a mixer for the aficionados, but every whiskey drinker and their father has drunk a tumbler of the Black Label. The savants will tell you that the flavour is slightly smoky, with a tinge of toffee and even vanilla– it’s the balance between flavour and price that makes this such a high seller. But if you want more smoke, try the Double Black Label or jump to the Green Label for a real treat.
Fun Fact: Johnnie Walker Black Label is a blend of about 40 different whiskeys, each aged for a minimum of 12 years.
2. Jameson Irish Whiskey
Jameson’s standard is another Australian staple, being found in every bar across the country. As an Irish whiskey, it’s aged and distilled in Ireland over in County Cork. The flavours are most often described as lightly floral, with sweet and woody notes.
Fun Fact: Jameson is the best-selling Irish whiskey in the world, with over 20 million bottles sold annually.
3. Monkey Shoulder Blended Malt Scotch
Monkey Shoulder is a step up in price, but the quality has fans swearing by it. This scotch is a blend of three of Speyside’s best, and drinking it you’ll enjoy a rich, creamy spirit with light flavours of acidic citrus and cool vanilla. This is a scotch that makes for a great weekly pour, neat.
Fun Fact: The name “Monkey Shoulder” harks back to a condition suffered by malt men when turning barley by hand.
4. Canadian Club 100% Rye
Canadian Club’s 100% Rye blend is spicy, robust, and very butterscotch. Toasted nuts, grains, and caramel also make up its flavour profile, with fans calling it a fairly mild and simple whisky. This Canadian classic is certainly one for your days off, for your nightcap, or for your dinner pairing.
Fun Fact: Canadian Club has been around since 1858 and was a favourite of Al Capone during Prohibition.
5. Jack Daniel's Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey
When it comes to whiskey, it all comes back to Jack Daniels No. 7. For many it’s the iconic whiskey bottle– and one that’s been in endless movies. Full of southern charm, it has a smooth, smoky flavour, with touches of vanilla and caramel. And if you’re looking for something a little richer, darker, and fancier– try the Jack Daniels Bonded series.
Fun Fact: Jack Daniel’s is filtered through 10 feet (~3m) of sugar maple charcoal, a process known as the Lincoln County Process.
6. Chivas Regal 12 Year Old
Once a whiskey hits twelve years olds, it earns its stripes. It becomes recognised as a drink for the more sophisticated palettes. For many, the Chivas Regal 12 Year Old, is their event pour– the break-out-the-bottle pour. Rich is the key word here with herbal fruity flavours in the mix. Between caramel, vanilla, oak, lemon citrus, green apple and pear, there’s a balance struck that has made it a mainstay in many cupboards and on display on many shelves.
Fun Fact: Chivas Brothers was granted a royal warrant to supply goods to Queen Victoria in 1843.
7. Glenfiddich 12 Year Old
Single malt scotch. Hearing those words brings one drink to mind more than any other– Glenfiddich 12 Year Old. It’s floral, it’s fruity, and it’s a rich and ripe scotch to savour. There’s a subtle mix of vanilla, apples, white pepper, alcohol, and elderflower notes hidden in here, and each sip reveals new secrets.
Fun Fact: Glenfiddich is one of the few remaining single malt distilleries that is family-owned and operated.
8. Johnnie Walker Blue Label
The Johnnie Walker colours range goes red, black, double black, green, gold, platinum, then blue. Blue is the head of the Johnnie Walker line. It wears a hefty price tag, but there’s no denying its flavour. It crosses through luxurious hazelnut, sherry, and dark chocolate notes. Each tumbler is to be sipped slowly, slightly and with reverence.
Fun Fact: Only one in 10,000 casks is deemed good enough to be part of the Blue Label blend.
9. Talisker 10 Year Old
Scotland’s most famous island is the Isle of Skye. It’s a magical place that has filmmakers clamouring to film there– Prometheus, Stardust, and Highlander owe their success to the place. And on the Isle of Skye there’s only one distillery– Talisker. Their signature whisky is the Talisker 10 Year Old. Like a true scotch, it packs a peaty punch and tastes richly smoky, sweetly malty, and finishes peppery. Like the highlands, it’s an adventurous drink, and you might even be able to taste the sea salt from Talisker’s seaside distillery.
Fun Fact: The name Talisker comes from the old Norse for Sloping Rock, ‘Thalas Gair’.
10. Nikka From The Barrel
Japanese Whisky stands alongside Irish, Canadian and Scottish Whisky, so this list wouldn’t be complete without one. Nikka From The Barrel is a blend that leaves an impact with its high ABV, but is pleasantly balanced with the taste of toffee, spice, and vanilla. It’s Australia’s most popular Japanese whisky, and with the countries being just a stone’s throw away from each other, it’s an impressive achievement.
Fun Fact: Nikka From The Barrel is bottled directly from barrels and is often considered one of the best value for money whiskeys.
Conclusion
Picking a good whiskey might not always be easy, but drinking one sure is. Australia’s whiskey fans clearly know this. Their favourites include the top of the range, and the everyday classics– and knowing these drinks, that’s not likely to change anytime soon. So take a page out of their book and buy a bottle, pour out a dram and enjoy the golden juice that has kept mankind warm for millennia.
