An ex-Bourbon cask, 5 year old, Tasmanian Single Malt for the fantastic price of $125! Matured at sea level in Australia’s southern-most municipality, the Huon Valley, Tasmania and filtered with pristine Tasmanian rain water to bottle this Single Malt Whisky Club EXCLUSIVE summer ex-Bourbon bomb at a perfect 44%abv.
This is Tasmanian Single Malt at its very finest – The Island Coast Whisky ex-Bourbon SMWC Edition
This month, it gives us great pleasure to be featuring a whisky by one of very own members, Kirk Pinner and his ‘Island Coast Whisky’. Island Coast Spirit’s story is one of hard work, hands-on quality control and cask selection, fantastic business sense and tirelessly working to get his 100% Tassie products stocked all over Australia.
If you’re fearful (on reading that this is a peated whisky) that you’ll be stuck with a mouthful of burnt rubber, iodine and bandaids you can rest easy. This is lightly peated Tassie spirit – the already-malted and dried barley is then infused with peat smoke. This is gives a much lighter ‘peat profile’ than a huge Scottish Islay whisky where the peat smoke is used to heat and dry the malted barley (thus arresting the germinating process). Think distant beach campfire rather than burning hospitals! The notes from the peat are a part of a bigger picture – not the star of the show.
Kirk has been recognised in Tasmania and nationally with awards such as ‘Tasmanian Entrepreneur of the Year’ and ‘National Small Business Owner of the Year’. But even MORE importantly – his Island Coast Spirits range (vodka, gin, whisky and rum) are winning state, national AND international awards with almost alarming frequency now!
Up until recently, Kirk’s Island Coast brand was unashamedly made from a mix of rented-still distillation, plus acquisition and maturation of casks from other distilleries in Tasmania and also some contract distillation. But in 3rd qtr 2025, Kirk has officially ‘dived in’ and has acquired his own still and distilling premises. We can’t wait to see the fruition of the Island Coast label releasing it’s own whisky, from its own still, distilled in its own distillery!
OUR TASTING NOTES
Nose: Soft sweet fruits, with a hint of fig and apricots. Spices with a nutty creaminess with a very mild and light smoky character and touch of leather.
Palate: The typical French Oak Oloroso spice with a hint of the peat smoky flavour with is barely discernible. With dried stone fruit apricot, a sweet oily caramel, and light Christmas cake appeal.
Finish: A tingle of sea-salt (matured at sea level inspired perhaps), a dry smoky influence with nuttiness and raisins, sweet tones of bold honey.
A LIMITED EDITION, SINGLE CASK bottling of a 14 year old Speyside whisky masterpiece!
FROM ISLAND COAST
Matured at sea level in Australia’s southern-most municipality (Huon Valley, Tasmania). Amazingly after 5 years, the ABV had increased to 64.1%. We then filtered with pristine Tasmanian rain water to bring this Single Malt Whisky Club exclusive Summer Sherry bomb to 44%.
Island Coast Spirits first launched in 2022, with whiskies laying down to mature from 2017. With Tasmanian distilleries known for whisky and gin, Island Coast Spirits flipped that business model to focus on Vodka and Rum, then with select seasonal Gins, and Whiskies which are all micro in release, from 20L to 200L barrels, and no barrels blended or married together. Meaning every whisky release is never to be repeated.
Winning World Gold for its Vodka; World Silver for its Rum; World Silver for its Premix Cans; and Tokyo Silver for its Sherry and Bourbon cask single malt single cask whisky releases.
ABOUT ISLAND COAST
Based in Margate, Tasmania, Island Coast Spirits is specifically focused on producing Tasmanian Rum, Whisky & Vodka. With innovation and entrepreneurial flair, creating something unique and boutique, Island Coast Spirits is the brainchild of Kirk Pinner. Using a mixture of contract distilling, renting still and wash-tuns and also cask acquisition and maturation, Kirk has evolved Island Coast Spirits into one of Tassie’s premier brands all without actually owning his own still!
Industry recognised awards for his whisky, rum and vodka have cemented the reputation of this little Tassie producer who’s consistently punching way above his weight grade.
