Grab your board and some mates for a single-cask, Aussie single malt that captures the maritime soul of the NSW Northern Beaches – The Coastal Stone Tawny SMWC Edition!
EXCLUSIVE and hand-picked by the Single Malt Whisky Club as a unique and rare expression of local craftsmanship, the 6 year old (nearly 7 actually) is the very first age statement whisky from Coastal Stone available outside their cellar door!
The Coastal Stone 6yo Tawny SMWC Edition was one of the first casks the distillery laid down and is just a smidge under 7 years old. A single cask expression – this one matured in a French-oak 2nd fill Tawny cask (from a famous Tassie distillery with an ignoble end) . Bottled at 48% and exclusive to the Single Malt Whisky Club.
This is a truly unique whisky that can only come from small-batch distillation, coastal aging, and the rich depth of port cask influence.
Manly Spirits Co. (MSC) has been in operation since 2017 and released its first whisky (under the Coastal Stone brand) in 2021. Originally the brainchild of husband-and-wife team Vanessa Wilton and David Whittaker, MSC was born on a dream of producing spirits that ‘reflected the Australian coastal lifestyle’. This dream was realized by use of local ingredients and coastal aging. MSC use an extensive pantry of Australian natives in their gins, and their whisky is produced solely from Aussie barley and local water.
In October last year, David and Vanesa sold MSC to Matt Tapper . Now Matt knows a little about the booze game having headed up Lion Little World Beverages (Little Creatures Beer, XXXX, Tooheys, Swan and more … the brands just go on and on). Matt knows the importance of a solid team and so appointed Manly-local and ex-Diageo bigwig Adam Ballesty in the CEO role. Their head distiller remains Dave Richards. Everything at MSC is produced onsite, from brewing to distillation, maturation and finally bottling.
Interestingly, the relatively dry climate of Sydney (despite recent weather events to the contrary) has seen the ABV of this cask increase from the 63.5% it was laid down at, to a final reading of 70.3% at disgorging. This ‘dry climate aging’ phenomenon (where the abv increases in the cask) is disputed by those who have never witnessed it – but from my perspective (having witnessed the phenomenon several times now, over several producers and indy bottlers), it is definitely a real thing.
OUR TASTING NOTES
Nose: Luxurious, creamy salted caramel is my first impression with notes of old-school hubba bubba original, unburnt cigar tobacco and a pleasant dusting of oak.
Palate: Lovely viscous mouthfeel, a touch of white pepper with rich and sweet fruit mince, more rich salted caramel and those fruit mince spices giving the whole palate an adult ‘Fruit-Tingle’ fizz
Finish: Long warm and chewy as you could ask for! Delicious waves of fruit, dark chocolate, espresso shots, boiled lollies and pepper roll around each other creating a kaleidoscope of notes that wax and wane over several minutes of chewing.
Complex, oily and totally fruit-elicious – and above all very easy to dram! Big enough to seriously satisfy those who like to really get their teeth into a dram, but not at all overbearing or ‘in your face’ for the beginner. Nice pepper without being overriding. And there definitely is a salty, maritime tang for those who go looking!
Kung Fu? Another superb single cask, 100% first fill bourbon cask matured Highland Whisky from Rolling Cask!
FROM COASTAL STONE
Just shy of its 7th birthday this single malt delivers decadent aged caramel, interwoven with bold vanilla a rich wave of salted caramel and tobacco hits the front palate, flowing into smooth vanilla and velvety hazelnut at the mid palate. Beneath it all hints of charred oak and worn leather add depth to a lingering intriguing finish
The decadent sweetness of aged caramel, gracefully interwoven with robust vanilla character.
The influence of the ex-port cask is immediately evident on the front palate, with an indulgent wave of salted caramel and tobacco leaf washing over the front palate, seamlessly transitioning into sweet vanilla bean.
This leads to some mild nuttiness, almost a velvety smooth hazelnut, and dried fig emerge in the mid-palate.
Just beneath the surface, a whisper of charred oak emerges, alongside a subtle, yet tantalizing note of worn leather, adding depth and intrigue to the long, warming finish.
This is a dram to be savoured.
ABOUT MANLY SPIRITS
Coastal Stone Whisky comes to life at Manly Spirits Co. Distillery in Brookvale — a Northern Beaches distillery driven by innovation, quality ingredients, and a deep connection to the coast.
We take a hands-on approach to every part of the process. Using 100% Australian malted barley, we brew, distil, and mature everything on-site. Our custom-built 1500L Wash Copper Still & 800L Spirit Copper Still were designed and made with unique upward sloping “Swan Necks”, allowing us to produce a cleaner, lighter, and more refined spirit with real character. Every step is done with care, patience, and an eye for quality.
Our approach blends traditional techniques with a modern edge. Fermentation takes place over a five to seven day period, and relatively low temperatures, using a mix of brewing and distillation yeast strains, allowing complex fruit flavours to develop slowly.
All head, hearts and faints cuts during distillation are made via taste, not numbers, so the ultimate expressions of distillation are done by our distillers. Handmade at its finest.
Maturation happens just minutes from the ocean, where Sydney’s changing coastal climate naturally influences the whisky as it expands and contracts in a mix of cask types, from traditional ex-Bourbon and Fortified casks, to Australian white and red wine barrels, adding richness, texture, depth, and a nod to our ex winemaking team of Distillers.
We don’t chill filter or use any additives. What you pour is exactly what came from the cask — full of natural oils, flavour, and the small variations that come with true craftsmanship.
Our Coastal Stone bottles are sculpted from glass is inspired by the weathered sandstone cliffs of our coastline, and it’s and sealed with wooden stopper and Portuguese corks.
Grain to glass, every part of Coastal Stone inspiration is made right here in Brookvale.
This is whisky made with intention. Crafted to be distinctive, expressive, and above all, enjoyable.
