Spirit Thief American Oak Cabernet

To celebrate the upcoming Tasmanian Whisky Week (2-10 August) we’ve got a stunning Tasmanian single malt from a (sadly) now-deceased (known as ‘ghost’) distillery. Bottled exclusively for the SMWC, the Spirit Thief French Oak Cabernet is an amazing whisky presented at a luxurious 55% abv.

Sadly, 2022 saw the closure of the Spirit Thief but were happy to be able to offer our members ‘one more turn’ of what was an amazing distillery and maturation program and for the bargain price of $99!

This whisky was made exclusively for the Single Malt Whisky Club, aged in Cabernet casks from a renowned Clare Valley winery and bottled at a premium 55% ABV for our members. The Spirit Thief American Oak Cabernet is a viscous single malt and is a rich journey into fig jam, vanilla, fresh tobacco, rice-pudding and Italian expresso.

Our Spirit Thief American Oak Cabernet was aged in 25L American Oak casks that have previously held premium Cabernet wine. The Cabernet casks were hand-picked by Spirit Thief from a renowned Clare Valley winery. They have been ‘refreshed’ (shaved, toasted and re-charred to the Spirit Thief specifications) before being filled.

Now the fellas at Spirit thief have called themselves ‘Gypsy Distillers’ in the past for a good reason. They spent their ‘formative’ whisky years distilling alongside and with various Australian legends and independently bottling the result. So they weren’t just buying spirit from these distilleries for their independent bottling, they were actively involved in the brewing, distilling and maturation process, and most importantly – selecting their own unique casks from their ties to the wine industry. All the while watching, listening and learning from their various mentors along the way. And not just ‘some people’ – names like Casey Overeem, Peter Bignell, Damian Mackey, Anthony White and the two Adams from Adam’s Distillery to name a few!

Nose: Stewed fruit and oak strait away but there’s a beguiling sweetness over the top as well. I say ‘wizz-fizz’, my dear old dad says boiled lollies and my son  says lemonade. Whatever it is, you can (and will!) nurse this one under your schnoz and argue about it for ages!

Palate: A fantastically luscious moutfeel – rich and oily. Nice and fruity without being too sweet – but there are jammy notes as well. At full strength (55%abv) it does provide a fair pepper, but if that’s not your thing, a dash of water settles that right down. Coffee and nutty notes flow on into the finish.

Finish: Settles in for a while this one. Coffee and dark chocolate rolls around roasted nut brittle and sweet pipe tobacco in the tin as it fades out with a lovely warmth.

The Spirit Thief American Oak Cabernet is one of those whiskies you bring out after a good dinner with good company. Then sit back and bask in the ‘wows’. It’s big and bold, but well behaved and with a finish that you’ll chew on with a smile.

Made exclusively for members of the Single Malt Whisky Club, this is a pure representation of Spirit Thief single malt whisky and is our first expression using an Abbaye ale yeast during fermentation.

Matured in 100% American Oak Cabernet, sourced deliberately from South Australia’s Clare Valley wine region, where Cabernet is renowned for producing bold, elegant fruit to rival the best in the world. These casks have been shaved, toasted and re-charred to our Cellar Reserve Series specifications.

Bottled at a Club-members exclusive 55% abv, this viscous single malt is a rich journey into fig jam, vanilla, fresh tobacco, rice-pudding and Italian expresso.

Try it with porchetta on rye for a great food-pairing combination!