Cape Byron Peated Chardonnay Cask

The first PEATED release from the legendary Aussie Distillery, Cape Byron, founded by a whisky legend.

Yes, that’s right Jim McEwan MBE – 52 years in the whisky industry, three times international ‘Master Distiller of the Year’, Master Distiller Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement Award Winner 2014, 15 years head distiller at Bruchladdich, and now… co-founder of Cape Byron.

So here are with their first peated release – Cape Byron Peated Chardonnay Cask. This whisky was crafted using unpeated malt that was matured in an ex-Bourbon cask and finished in ex-Chardonnay cask, and then married with peated ex-Bourbon cask for that extra dash of flavour layered in.

Bottled at a satisfying – but not over-the-top 51%abv. A lick of smoke, nothing overbearing, just enough to go hmmm…. WOW!

Cape Byron Distillery is one of those distilleries that seemed to ‘hit the ground running’ so to speak – coming from obscurity to ‘Aussie whisky headliner’ in a matter of weeks. Of course whilst it may seem that Cape Byron ‘bolted out of nowhere’, that couldn’t be further from the truth. This is a distillery that has undertaken its build and subsequent operation with much planning and consultation from industry experts with one of the co-founders being the absolute whisky industry legend – Dr Jim McEwan.

The other half of the Cape Byron equation is Eddie Brook. Eddie grew up regenerating rainforest on his family farm in the hinterland of Byron Bay, where the Distillery now lies. With more than 10 years of experience in the spirit industry and 15 years in the food industry, Eddie has been trained in the art of distillation and mentored by Jim McEwan.

Nose: The chardonnay lineage jumps right out on the nose. It’s dry with very little sweetness at all except for a slight flower petal note and a little vanilla – and just a hint of the peated percentage of this whisky with a mustiness sitting in the background waiting to be noticed.

Palate: Much oilier and much less astringent on the palate than I was expecting form the nose. Positively creamy, in fact! The peat comes out to play a lot more in the palate – but it’s still by no means imposing. It sits very comfortably around the citrusy vanilla flavours – by no means just a spectator, but certainly no bully.

Finish: A lovely chewy finish – with more of all the above… and then a curtain of fresh nut-butter descends and changes it al up as it slowly fades. Wow…. I was NOT expecting that nuttiness here.

We’re incredibly proud to unveil Cape Byron Distillery’s, first peated release and first over 50% ABV whisky.

If you are a fan of our Chardonnay cask, then we know you’ll enjoy this limited edition release. It’s packed with extra body, flavour and a hint of savoury smoke from the peat, making it super chewy and complex. Way too drinkable. Especially at 51% ABV.

For those who don’t know the Cape Byron Distillery story, Scotch Whisky industry legend (ex-Bruichladdich) Jim McEwan came over to help setup the distillery at Cape Byron. His decades of making some of the best whiskies in the world have been passed down to the next generation, including Co-Founder of Cape Byron Eddie Brook. On taste the quality of their whisky is immediate and this release is a wonderful nod to the partnership of Jim and Eddie, and the vision of Cape Byron Distillery.

An Aussie take on Islay, which we know you’ll love.

The majority is from an unpeated Bourbon cask finished in Chardonnay cask, but there’s a choice amount of peated Bourbon cask married into it to give earthiness and complexity.

At Cape Byron Distillery we keep true to the time honoured traditions and art of distillation whilst creating spirits that capture and showcase the unique terroir of the Northern Rivers (greater Byron Bay region). We have a passion for excellence, sustainability and giving back to our local community. We are here to create a new chapter in the book of Australian Distilleries.