An EXCLUSIVE WORLD FIRST ‘Ocean Aged Matched Boilermaker’ that not even Tassie Whisky Week can get their hands on!
Yes an exclusive MATCHED PAIR from Tassie heavy hitters – Iron House. Both exclusive to the SMWC, both absolutely stunning in their own right, each one half of a world first – an Ocean Aged Matched Boilermaker!
The Iron House Maverick Portside Single Malt Whisky and the optional matched Iron House Portside Red Ella Red Ale with the Red Ale being finished in the very same Portside whisky barrels!
The Iron House Portside Ocean Aged Single Malt Whisky started its journey as ocean-side matured Iron House whisky – distilled in Feb 2019. A bit over a year ago it was decanted into some port barrels and strapped outside the port side of the wheelhouse of the Tasmanian abalone boat ‘Maverick’. For the next twelve months it braved over two-and-a-half thousand nautical miles of the worst that the Southern Ocean, Bass Strait and the Tasman Sea could throw at it. 6 metre seas, Antarctic storms, barometric range between 910 to 1040HPa etc.
The constant movement of the ocean churns the spirit with greater interaction with the wood, extreme temperature and barometric ranging creating a hyper ageing effect taking you on a sensory voyage like no other. And finally – a year after its maritime sojourn began, it was decanted, cut with pure Tassie rainwater, and bottled at 45% in 700ml bottles exclusively for the best single malt whisky club in the world! (that’s us in case you’re wondering 🙂
Now Iron House/Tasman Whisky and the SMWC have shared an awesome relationship for some years now. We’ve had hugely positive feedback from members following each colabboration we’ve released together and it seems that each year they just keep getting better! We really thought we may have peaked last year with the ‘Maverick’ – a whisky finished for 12 months in the hold of the same working Tasmanian abalone boat – ‘MV Maverick’. I mean how do you beat a whisky that spent a year on a Tassie Abalone boat, travelling thousands of nautical miles in raging seas taller than a double story house, howling Antarctic gales and the barometer dropping to near-record lows from dizzying highs? How could you possibly top a story like this? Well… as it turns out – it’s pretty simple, actually.
JUST. ADD. BEER.
It was staring us in the face all along. We’ve done a ‘matched boilermaker’ with the Iron House boys before back in 2020 and it was a HUGE success. We did a matched Whisky and Pinot Noir wine in 2022 and last years twin ‘Maverick’ releases (a 700ml Muscat cask version and a 500ml Port Cask expression) were a massive hit. And not just within the club – the 700ml Maverick Muscat Cask has travelled the length of Australia ‘representing’ at Whisky and spirits shows all over and it’s been our customers stand-out favourite at all of them!
And so for 2024 – and our FOURTH Iron House/SMWC collaboration – we are all so very proud to present the world’s first OCEAN-AGED SINGLE MALT WHISKY/RED ALE MATCHED BOILERMAKER!
So what is a ‘matched boilermaker’ you ask? Well it’s pretty simple. We all know a ‘Boilermaker’ is a dram of whisky with a beer on the side. (Or is it the other way around?) In 2021 we took that concept and extended it to have the beer spend some time in the cask which the whisky came out of and the ‘Matched Boilermaker’ was born!
This year, once the Maverick Portside whisky was decanted from its casks, we re-filled one of the casks with Iron Hose Brewery’s ‘Red Ella’ Red Ale and let it mellow for 6 weeks before canning it…what came out is an utterly beautiful, malty, creamy ale
OUR TASTING NOTES
Nose: Lots of delightful biscuit spice notes first, then the fruit (especially dried apricot) jumps out, with a cloak of cola, coffee, caramel and a little cask (oak) adding to the complex melange of aromas to be found here.
Palate: For me the palate is even more fruit driven than the nose. Lovely and oily mouthfeel with peppery hit right off the bat, but it’s quickly quenched by quince-paste jammy notes. All those port matured num-nuts are there in spades. Big, luscious, fruity and biscuit-spicy.
Finish: Unsurprisingly, there is a definite salty note in the finish which pairs beautifully with an unexpected nutty flavour – think back to after school dobs of peanut butter on salty crackers (Nabisco ‘Premium’ for me it was )… And wrapping all this up is a long goodbye from the fruit and spices as it fades into pouring another dram.
This isn’t just easy drinking whisky, this is easy-peasy drinking whisky. So many layers of flavours here to chew and cogitate on at length – fruits, spices, nuts, sweet, salt… even umami – but on the surface it’s just sooo damn easy to drink. Once again, the Iron House boys have really excelled with this novel, big-flavoured and muscular, yet genuinely easy-going whisky.
With a Portside Red Ella on the side (aka an Ocean-Aged Matched Boilermaker) I can tell you the conversation quickly becomes pretty flavour oriented… it’s genuinely interesting trying to pick apart, and link, flavours in the two. Have no fear though – sometime around half-way into the second pair, you find you’re not really trying to pick them apart anymore…rather just enjoying how well they go together. By the third round – well ‘the conversation drifts a bit’ is a good way to describe it. 🙂
PLUS, as part of our ‘Portside Month’, Iron House and the Single Malt Whisky Club are giving away a weekend for two at the White Sands Resort which is located in the distillery estate! This includes accommodation, a dinner for two at the onsite restaurant and a personal distillery/brewery and winery tour!
The worlds very first Ocean Aged Matched Boilermaker. You’re Welcome!
FROM IRON HOUSE
The constant movement of the ocean churns the spirit with greater interaction with the wood, extreme temperature and barometric ranging creating a hyper ageing effect taking you on a sensory to Satisfy your senses with this beautiful and delicious whisky.
The inherent maltiness of the whisky blends seamlessly with the sweetness derived from the port barrel, creating a harmonious balance. A delightful mix of raisins, plums, and blackberries, with a toffee undertone reflecting the Port influence. Complex layers work together to deliver a truly beautiful drop. Indulge in this full-bodied whisky and relish the Dark fruit compote complemented by layers of caramel and molasses.
The result is a symphony of flavours that unfolds with each sip, offering a rich and rewarding experience for the discerning palate. Whether enjoyed neat or with a drop of water, this whisky is a testament to the artistry of ocean aged cask maturation; complex layers work together to deliver a truly beautiful drop.
Appearance: Portside Single malt aged in Port barrels presents a deep, inviting mahogany hue. Its rich colour hints at the extended interaction with the fortified wine barrels. Swirling the glass reveals thick, slow legs, indicating a full-bodied and robust texture.
Nose: The nose opens with an enticing blend of dried fruits and sweet oak. A symphony of raisins, figs, and dates mingles with luscious toffee sweetness, reflecting the influence of the Tawny Port casks. Undertones of vanilla and a hint of nutmeg add complexity, creating an indulgent and sophisticated bouquet.
Palate: Upon the first sip, the whisky imparts a velvety and decadent experience on the palate. Dark fruit compote, including plums and blackberries, takes centre stage, complemented by layers of caramel and molasses. The whisky’s inherent maltiness intertwines seamlessly with the port-derived sweetness, creating a harmonious balance. Subtle traces of oak tannins provide structure and depth to the palate.
Finish: The finish is long and memorable, gradually transitioning from the fruity sweetness to a warming, lingering embrace. Notes of dark chocolate emerge, accompanied by a delicate hint of vanilla, contributing to the complexity of the whisky. The interplay between the whisky’s inherent richness and the port barrel influence leaves a lingering sweetness that invites contemplation.
Mouthfeel: The mouthfeel is opulent and full-bodied, coating the palate with a velvety texture that enhances the overall drinking experience. Integrating Port characteristics contributes to a luxurious sensation, inviting enthusiasts to savour the whisky slowly and appreciate its nuanced layers.
ABOUT IRON HOUSE
The Iron House Brewery is a central feature of the White Sands Estate. The Estate boasts a resort, brewery, distillery, winery, restaurant, bar, vineyard, trout lake, and boat ramp – not to mention the private McIntyre’s Beach that it sits adjacent to. Apparently, that boat ramp was the clincher when the current owner purchased the Estate back in 2003. As a keen boatie and fishing-tragic myself I thoroughly endorse, and commend, this logic.
The ‘Iron House Brewery’ is named after the first structure erected on the land the property sits on in the 1800’s – a tin roofed drover’s hut known as ‘The Iron House’ and is run by Michael Briggs. It commenced brewing operations in 2007. In 2015 a 1500L hybrid Kothe still from Germany, was purchased and once they worked out how it went together (it came with no instructions whatsoever so the story goes) they had a brewery/distillery!
The decision to add a distillery was a no brainer. They could easily make more beer than they could sell locally – so instead of looking to market outside Tasmania – they chose to add a distillery to use that extra wash! Beer’s loss – whiskies gain! These days the distillery is producing about 8000l of new make a year.
