Nullaki ‘Tawny Cask Matured’ - September 2026

🌊 From the Wild South Coast of WA… Straight Into Your Glass

Nullaki Distillery doesn’t do shortcuts. They don’t do mass production. They don’t do “good enough.” They do craft, obsession, and world‑class whisky – and this month’s ‘Malt of the Month is the perfect example.

This is Nullaki Tawny Cask Matured, a small‑batch Australian single malt aged in 20+ year old Swan Valley Tawny casks, matured in an underground bond store carved into a hill overlooking the Southern Ocean. Yes… it’s as cool as it sounds.

Only 330 bottles exist. We got our hands on it. Now it’s your turn.

🥇 Award Season Royalty

This whisky didn’t just show up – it dominated.

Gold Medal – International Whisky Competition 2026
Best Australian Whisky – International Whisky Competition 2026
Silver Medal – World Whiskies Awards 2026

This is the kind of whisky people brag about owning. This is the kind of whisky people regret missing.

The Nullaki Tawny starts its journey as Western Australian grown malted barley which is milled into grist before being fermented by a mix of ‘Distillers Yeast’ plus an unnamed yeast producing a ‘highly aromatic wash that produces a balanced profile of phenolic notes and fruity esters) for 4-5 days at 25 degrees C. All water used in the process is the local spring water. The wash is double distilled in Nullaki’s small copper pot-still. The new make spirit is cut to 60%abv before being added to barrels (in this case, 20 year+ Tawny Casks from Swan valley just outside Perth).

Why 60%abv, you may ask? Simple – the distillery sits at the same latitude as Kentucky and Tennessee so Nullaki have followed the lead of those American whisky distilleries. The barrels are aged for four years plus in an underground bond-store built into a hill. The aim is to keep maturation temperature as stable as possible, whilst still catching all the winds from the Southern Ocean. Nullaki Tawny is bottled in limited batches at 44%abv. And what a striking bottle and cap it is!

🔥 Why Members Will Go Wild for This One

Tawny cask richness without heaviness
44% ABV for smooth, all‑day sipping
WA barley + spring water for purity and provenance
Double‑distilled in a boutique copper pot still
Matured at Kentucky/Tennessee barrel strength (60%) for deeper flavour extraction
Crafted by two lifelong friends obsessed with quality
A bottle design that looks like it belongs in a gallery

This is Australian whisky done properly – thoughtful, slow, and bursting with character.

🍇 The Vibe in the Glass

“A highly aromatic wash producing a balanced profile of phenolic notes and fruity esters…” “…matured in 20+ year Tawny casks from Swan Valley…”

Expect:

Dark fruit warmth
Tawny sweetness
Soft oak
A silky, elegant finish
A whisky that opens beautifully with a few drops of water

This is the kind of dram that makes you close your eyes for a moment.

🌪️ A Distillery Like No Other

Nullaki’s bond store is literally built into a hill, catching the cold winds off the Southern Ocean. Their still is steam‑coil heated – one of the few in Australia. Their spirit is light, refined, and shaped by a tall, lean still designed for purity. Their barrels are first‑fill French oak, chosen deliberately to complement their delicate new make.

This is boutique whisky at its absolute best. This one will sell out. Not “maybe.” Not “probably.” Definitely.

If you love Australian whisky, Tawny casks, boutique distilleries, or simply owning something rare – this is your moment.

EVERY MALT OF THE MONTH ORDER GOES IN THE DRAW TO WIN THE ULTIMATE WHISKY EXPERIENCE FOR 2!

WHISKY INSIGHTS VIDEO

OUR TASTING NOTES

Nose: Immensely satisfying fruity num-nums, Allens Red Frogs and biscuit spices. Deliciously rich and sweet.

Palate: Rich and luscious mouthfeel with a little pepper. Warming minced fruit with all the Christmas cake you could ask for.

Finish: Long, Chewy and utterly contemplative. This fruit notes turn to a nut-butter that fades leaving a little pepper around the edges and a strong urge to pour another.

This is textbook fortified-cask maturation with just enough ocean influence to add those -almost savoury – nutty, buttery notes at he back of the palate. This is ‘big flavour whisky’ – fruity sweet with a touch of salt in the tail. Moorish, scrumptious and absolutely perfect for Spring dramming!

THE MEMBERS EXTRA WHISKY

a clean cut, bourbon cask beauty from New Zealand – exclusive to SMWC

FROM NULLAKAI DISTILLERY

Founders Story:

Founded by two friends passionate about whisky who’ve known each other since childhood
Took time visiting all over Tasmania, meeting producers, suppliers, Stillsmiths studying different styles and approaches.
From the beginning quality and pride in Western Australia produce and provenance was a priority – went for a 1800L still from Stillsmiths.
- Sized to barrique capacity
One of the few boilers in Australia that is steam coil heated – research lead to consistent better distilling outcome

Operations Decisions:

Climate was going to be warmer than Tassie, but if in 100L casks angels share would have been too high despite the winters.
1000L 2 washes into a spirit run into a full barrique.
Decided to go to for a steam coil over electric pursuing purity, quality of the low wines runs.
Wanted to be a single malt whisky from day one – not distracted by Gins and the building phase – has taken five years to build stocks to the quality wanted.
Style of spirit: Stillsmiths in Westport
Wanted a very long neck – long and lean to give a lighter spirit
If scaled to the same size as a standard Scottish still (say 10 times larger or 20,000 litres), would be one of the tallest around

Tawny Cask Matured : 44%

Popular with bourbon drinkers and those used to sweetness
Vintages: Normally last 4 years per barrel – most are 2+2 and 3+1. Extract a lot of the oak but infuses with Pinot
OAK: Majority are French Oak – felt the lighter new make spirit could handle the French oak. (American and ex bourbon need a bit longer to get the flavours.) A lot use bourbon to show off the spirit opposed to the barrel – we went the other way.
Try mostly only to use first fill barrels
Really opens up nicely – especially with a few drops of water to open it up

Casks:

In at 60%, bit lower than normal – we see a little rise in ABV
Latitude is same as Tennessee – note that Kentucky and Tennessee barrel at 55-60% so following their lead.
Some go straight in – others we char and add – still maturing.

And More:

Not going for mass – craft, boutique and quality are at the forefront.
Different styles for everyone – this is the sum of the founders passion – making great whisky grows the Australian Spirits category and if that does well – everyone does well.
Big emphasis on packaging that keeps surprising you as you get to the liquid and showcases the philosophy.

Barrel store:

Sunk into the hill – goal to have stable temperatures and balance summer season
Arguably one of the best views on the south coast of Western Australia – in the hinterland and looking over the Wilson inlet and Nullaki Peninsula to the southern ocean.
Captures the winds coming up off the ocean on Mt. Shadforth.

Grains & Mash Bill: