The legendary Adelaide Plains heritage distillers are back with a special edition whisky just for our Members!
Made from 100% local barley with a long ferment and matured initially in American Oak and finished in Sherry cask before being cut with water from the aquifer that runs under the Distillery…the result, a Single Malt that oozes complexity, deep character and flavour for days. Welcome to the 36 Short Sherry Cask SMWC Edition.
36 Short Whisky is a proud expression of South Australian craftsmanship, distilled from 100% locally grown, malted barley. Each batch is given the time it deserves, undergoing a slow two week fermentation that allows the wash to build deep, layered character. The result is a whisky that carries the flavour of its region – rich, distinctive, and unmistakably authentic.
The 36 Short Sherry Cask SMWC Edition was made from a 100% South Australian mash bill. Fermented for 14 days (quite long by whisky standards) which encourages deeper ester development and flavour complexity. Primary maturation was carried out in American oak for 3.5 years with a 4 month stint in a first fill ex-bourbon cask before being filled into a sherry cask for a year of finishing. Decanted only two months shy of being 5 years in wood, with a cask strength of 63.5% abv – it has been cut to 46% abv for bottling with water sourced from an aquifer that runs directly underneath the distillery.
36 Short Distillery is – at it’s heart – an ode to family heritage. The very name of the distillery is a tribute to owners Jon & Con Lioulios’ dad – it was his suit size and a running family joke. The brothers started the distillery, kicking off with rakia made to their own Macedonian family recipe handed down over generations, and passed on to the brothers by their dad, Pando. It was Pando’s dream to someday sell the family’s pride and joy – and the boys realized his dream in 2014 when 36 Short first opened its doors.
At the heart of 36 Short’s distilling process is ‘Pando’ a custom-built 1200L copper pot still designed specifically for their spirits. This bespoke still plays a crucial role in shaping the flavour and texture of the range. For their single malt whisky, Pando works exclusively with Australian malted barley before the spirit is matured in a variety of oak types and previous fill barrels to develop a complex, full-bodied profile. Together, the still and the considered maturation approach give 36 Short’s whisky its signature South Australian identity – smooth, characterful, and uniquely expressive.
This is a sensational Aussie whisky from a small (but growing) family owned and operated brand. We’ve done a fantastic deal with Jon and Con to allow us to offer a 700ml bottle of our 36Short Sherry Cask SMWC Edition for less than a 500ml costs through their own cellar door! SMWC for the win!
OUR TASTING NOTES
Nose: This seems to be one of those ‘fast-evolving’ noses. The very first pour from the bottle gives a fairly one-dimensional acetone-ey nose – legacy of the long fermentation 36 Short uses, designed to maximise those esters. But… leave the dram for 5 minutes and it magically opens right up into rich dried sultanas, dates and toffee with leathery oak notes underlying the fruit.
Palate: Lovely, sweet and mouthcoating first up – with a slow-build medium pepper that works its way through the sweet fruit and caramel notes as it drys on the palate leading into the..
Finish: This chameleon really goes dry in the finish as those fruit num nums on the palate evolve into espresso coffee, licorice and even develop a salted beer-nut quality along the way.
It’s the evolution of the notes and flavours that gives this whisky a certain x-factor that few whiskies can match. They don’t so much interplay with each other as they do lead each other into the spotlight. Fruits, lollies, delightful musty leather, sweet, dry and salty-umami all share the stage with elegant sophistication.
An incredible ‘Malt-ernative’…a rum! Oh, but not just any rum, the Dead Reckoning Barbados
FROM 36 SHORT
Distilled on the Adelaide Plains using locally malted South Australian barley, this small-batch release from 36 Short highlights a spirit driven by grain character and layered sweetness.
The nose opens with soft honey and vanilla, followed by dried fruit. With time in the glass, baking spices and cinnamon develop alongside dried raisins and malted biscuit, giving the aroma warmth and depth.
On the palate, the whisky presents a creamy mouthfeel, carrying flavours of honeycomb, butterscotch and golden syrup. The malt remains central, bringing a rounded cereal sweetness, while gentle oak spice provides structure through the mid-palate.
The finish is medium in length, warming and balanced, leaving lingering notes of dried fruit, sweet spice, and soft vanilla, with the malt character persisting.
Bottled at 46% ABV, this expression delivers a well-integrated interplay of malt sweetness and subtle spice, offering a composed and approachable Australian Single Malt Whisky.
ABOUT 36 SHORT
36 Short is a family business, started by two brothers, to honour their dad, Pando. He taught them how to distil and, before he passed, asked them to share his Rakia recipe with the world.
The distillery is named after Pando’s suit size, a long-running family joke that felt like the perfect fit. In 2014, they became the first to license and sell Rakia in Australia.
Since then, 36Short has gone on to pioneer Australia’s first blood orange gin, create a best-selling limoncello (voted Australia’s favourite), and earn world-class recognition.
Every product in our range is made by us, in-house, using honest ingredients from our family farm or sourced locally, with NO artificial colours or preservatives
