If you’ve ever wanted to taste Kangaroo Island itself — the wind, the wild, the quiet magic of a place that refuses to rush — this is your moment.

This month’s Members Extra isn’t just a whisky. It’s a story. A family story. An island story. And a “blink and you’ll miss it” kind of release that will have anyone who sleeps on it kicking themselves for years.

Because this is Kangaroo Island Spirits’ flagship single malt, matured exclusively in South Australian tawny casks, made from 100% Kangaroo Island-grown barley, distilled in the largest copper pot still in SA, and crafted by Charlie Schmidt — son of Ian Schmidt, whose own whisky is our Malt of the Month. Father and son. Two distilleries. Two styles. One month. One club. You won’t see a pairing like this again anytime soon.

🌊 THE WHISKY

This Tawny Cask release is everything you want from a Members Extra: decadent, rich, and dangerously drinkable.

• Nose: Dark fruit, sultanas, figs, cherries, chocolate, almonds, toffee.
• Palate: Silky, full-bodied layers of plum pudding, caramelised sugar, toasted nuts, cocoa and sweet malt.
• Finish: Long, warming, elegant — dried fruit, dark chocolate, gentle spice, soft oak.

It’s Christmas cake on a sea breeze. It’s dessert without the guilt. It’s the kind of whisky that makes you close your eyes for a second longer than you meant to.

And yes — it just won Gold at the IWSC 2026. Ninety-five points. One of eight medals the distillery picked up this year. This isn’t hype. It’s hardware.

🌾 THE ISLAND IN THE BOTTLE

Everything — everything — comes from Kangaroo Island. The barley. The rainwater (straight from Antarctic weather systems). The slow maritime maturation. The team who mill, mash, ferment, distil, barrel, bottle and label every drop.

This is whisky with a postcode. Whisky with a heartbeat. Whisky that couldn’t be made anywhere else.

The whole process – milling, mashing, fermenting, distillation and maturation is all done in-house by small team at Kangaroo Island Spirits. The Tawny Cask expression (like all their whiskies) is made from 100% Kangaroo Island produce. The Barley is grown there, the water used is some of the purest rainwater on the planet coming straight up from the Antarctic. Fermented on M1 Yeast for 7 days, the wash is then distilled in the largest copper pot still in South Australia (4500 litres!). Matured (for four years) exclusively in South Australian Tawny casks in the windswept, maritime environment of Kangaroo Island and then bottled at 43% abv.

🔥 WHY MEMBERS WILL LOVE IT

• Flagship whisky from one of Australia’s most awarded craft distilleries
• Gold Medal winner — already a champion before you even open it
• Pure Kangaroo Island provenance
• Father–son distilling duo releasing side-by-side in the same month
• Exclusive Members Extra allocation — extremely limited
• Perfect contrast to the Malt of the Month (Iniquity Silver Batch 24)

This is the bottle members will brag about owning. This is the bottle non-members will wish they hadn’t missed. This is the bottle that will vanish — fast.

If you love Australian whisky, this is essential. If you love fortified cask whisky, this is irresistible. If you love collecting meaningful releases, this is unmissable.

And if you love the idea of tasting two generations of Australian distilling passion in one month… well, you already know what to do.

Nose: Rich and layered – yet not over-sweet or cloying. The ‘usual suspects’ of a tawny maturation are here (rich fruit, espresso and chocolate) – but the surprise was the jasmine notes floating around the top.

Palate: Nice and viscous with just a bit of French-oak pepper to offset the delightful fruit-mince & Chrissy cake sweetness and toffee notes that abound in the palate. The sweetness turns slightly maritime-salty as the palate turns to the finish.

Finish: The finish (for me) cements the maritime influence with a salty plum twist. There’s a lovely nuttiness (salty-sweet peanut butter) as well that rounds out the finish in a delightful way.

Easy to see why this scored so well at the IWSC. It’s a nicely layered whisky with a delightfully clean (yet not astringent at all) finish. There’s no overpowering flavour or trait – but a kaleidoscope of nicely balanced flavours and notes that complement each other perfectly. The lovely, subtle nuttiness in the finish is really the ‘chef’s kiss’ for me.

At Kangaroo Island Spirits, every whisky we make begins with the island itself. Our single malts are crafted using Kangaroo Island-grown barley, fermented with pristine rainwater collected at the distillery and matured in the island’s unique maritime climate. It’s a slower, gentler maturation that develops remarkable balance while allowing the character of the spirit to shine.

Our Tawny Cask Single Malt is a whisky that’s particularly close to my heart. Matured exclusively in premium Australian tawny casks, it was the first whisky we distilled to receive Gold at the International Wine & Spirit Competition. It captures everything we strive for at Kangaroo Island Spirits, richness without heaviness, complexity without losing elegance, and a true sense of place.

This release is especially meaningful as it sits alongside my dad Ian Schmidt’s Iniquity Silver Batch 24 as the Single Malt Whisky Club’s August releases. While our whiskies have been crafted independently, they share a common thread, a family passion for Australian whisky. Dad’s Silver Batch showcases the bold fruit and chocolate notes that have become synonymous with Iniquity, while our Tawny Cask explores how island maturation and carefully selected tawny casks create a whisky of softness, depth, and refined complexity.

I hope you enjoy comparing the two. It’s a rare opportunity to experience two distinct Australian whisky styles, crafted by father and son, each telling its own story.

Cheers,

Charlie Schmidt – Head Distiller – Kangaroo Island Spirits

 Tasting Notes from Kangaroo Island Spirits

The richest and most decadent, its bold character comes from our Tawny casks. The nose is dark fruit and sultanas. A full and rich palate, with Christmas cake, plum, and sweet spices. The Finish is pleasant, long-lasting and consistent.

Appearance
Deep polished amber with copper highlights.

Nose
Rich sultanas, dried figs and dark cherries lead into milk chocolate, roasted almonds and toffee. Gentle baking spices, orange peel and subtle oak sit beneath the fruit.

Palate
Silky and full-bodied with layers of raisin, plum pudding and caramelised brown sugar balanced by toasted hazelnuts, cocoa and sweet malt. The tawny cask delivers richness while allowing the spirit’s fruit-forward character to remain vibrant.

Finish
Long, warming and elegant with lingering dried fruit, dark chocolate, gentle spice and soft oak.