Iniquity Solera Peated Shiraz

From one of our (and Australia’s) favourite distilleries comes a peated wonder of a whisky! Primarily aged in Barossa Valley Shiraz barrels and created using the Solera method of maturation the Iniquity Solera brings a whisky where the smoke notes from the peat definitely add a depth to this whisky’s character and add a delightful counter to the sweetness that abounds.

Ian Schmidt of Iniquity fame is no stranger to the Single Malt Whisky Club – in fact, he’s a member! We were talking in late August and I mentioned we were going to run the Starward Solera for September. He was very interested as Tin Shed Distilling now offer a Solera expression of Iniquity and he hadn’t managed to try the Starward Solera for comparison. I revealed that I hadn’t been able to try his Solera but that the Starward was bloody nice!

So anyway, he sent me up one of his, and we sent him one of theirs. And it was a very interesting experience to be able to side-by-side compare two fantastic Australian Distilleries take on an old aging method. And it struck me – what a perfect opportunity to run a ‘comparison’ between two different examples of a Solera matured whisky.

So here we are – in the spirit of expanding our knowledge of this wonderful spirit, we’re offering the Iniquity Solera as our ‘Members Extra’ so our members can taste the two head-to-head (whilst there is still some of the Starward Solera left in your drinks cabinet we hope..?)
The Iniquity comes in a 500ml bottle at under a hundred bucks so it’s great value to be able to compare it to last month’s Malt of the Month. Keep in mind that this is a peated spirit, so for you peat nuts (and we surely do know you’re out there!) this is an extra bonus month!

Nose: Lovely Oakey notes first up, then salted caramel and fragrant florals with mild smoke wafting through the cracks.

Palate: Mild, but instantly apparent smoke at first, then sweet yet savoury smoked meat notes, like prosciutto-wrapped melon.

Finish: Lush, rich and satisfying with a mild spice that lingers – daring you not to pour another.

The smoke notes from the peat definitely add a depth to this whisky’s character. Certainly not ‘over the top’, instead they add a delightful counter to the sweetness that abounds adding a depth to this whisky that begs you to investigate again…and then once more!

A Solera style whisky primarily aged in Barossa Valley shiraz barrels.

A well-balanced whisky that is delicious neat or over ice, but has sufficient character to be excellent in both cocktails and served with mixers.

Nose: On the nose there is instant smoke, a campfire after rain. There is a hint of well aged wine and a winter bush BBQ with smokey bacon on the hot plate.

Palate: There is a gentle, round, full mouthfeel with sweet smokiness. There is tell tale evidence of the Shiraz influence, but with no astringency. Lastly there are some stone fruit and orange citrus flavours.

Finish: Long and lingering that initially builds before fading away over time.

Tin Shed Distillery was established in 2010 by Ian Schmidt and long-time drinking buddy Vic Orlow. Ian is a straight talker with little time for fake extravagances – and his distillery certainly reflects this attitude. From the unassuming front door, through to the utilitarian stacks and rows of ageing whisky, to the small stills – this is grassroots craft distilling at it’s finest!

There’s no ‘Visitors Centre’ here (although Ian welcomes visitors by appointment) – the distillery is the visitors’ centre. What you get is plain and simple – almost spartan. A distillery, bond store, bottling plant and office all under one roof. It’s all about the spirits at Tin Shed Distilling.

What Tin Shed Distilling lacks in size, flashyness or ‘pomp’ it certainly makes up for in the quality of its products. Ian and Vic’s philosophy is ‘only bottle what we like to drink’ – and the results of this attitude were apparent from day one. The very first batch of their Iniquity Single Malt Whisky made the Whisky Bible’s ‘Liquid Gold’ list in 2015 with a score of 94 –described as “a gorgeous experience”. Subsequent whisky bottling have won many accolades and now the Tin Shed crew have also turned their attention to rum and vodka!

Whilst awards are great, with a distillery as small as Tin Shed, they don’t drive sales. As Ian puts it – “by the time the results are out, we’ve sold all of the spirit we entered”. What’s more important to the boys at Iniquity is feedback from ‘the Den’ (Tin Shed’s members club) and the drinking public at whisky shows.