Sips & Sites & Bites

Rare Hare Spirits, an ultra-premium collection of rare and unique whiskies from around the world brought to us by the world of Playboy, recently dropped its latest limited release, this one from the island of Tasmania.

They call it “The Tempest.”  

A little primer for this outstanding whisky, Tasmania itself has a storied history of producing outstanding single malt whiskies, not just little devils. 

The small, yet rugged island just south of mainland Australia and east of New Zealand is home to a pristine micro climate and unique wildlife. And it’s also home to several renowned small batch whiskies.

History tells us that Tasmania had its own prohibition, a rather long one, from 1830 lasting up to the 1990s. And that ground all booze to a halt, at least until a scotch-loving land surveyor, inspired by a fishing trip in the Tasmanian highlands, lobbied the government to reverse the ban. 

Fast forward to today with this fourth ultra-premium release, Rare Hare partnered with Tasmanian whisky makers Hellyers Road Distillery, one of Australia’s oldest.

In fact, Hellyers Road Distillery is Tasmania’s first single malt whisky producer to emerge in their post-prohibition era. 

They named the new expression “The Tempest,” which is a nod to Shakespeare’s tale of nature’s power and deliverance. 

The distiller’s notes show that The Tempest is smooth and mellow, yet delivers a punch of flavor and a long finish. It features aromas of fresh baked biscotti and vanilla nougat to elder flower and citrus marmalade. On the palate are velvety layers of ginger, apricots, and citrus.

The whisky at Hellyers Road Distillery goes through a pot still distillation process that spans three days, followed by a secondary slow still distillation. The malt and barley are sourced locally.

The air currents that bring rain to Tasmania’s western shores originate in Antarctica, traveling thousands of miles across the open ocean before reaching the island. That brings a sort of soft rainwater. 

Hellyers Road aged the whisky for 17 years in bourbon casks, then aged it for another three years in port casks. 

“It’s not often you get to experience the first run of something this unique and exceptional,” said Alex Moore, Rare Hare Spirits’ master blender. “Tempest is a celebration of the Tasmanian terroir. It should be on the bucket list of any serious whiskey collector.”  

Rare Hare’s Tempest has a suggested retail price of $999 and is available for purchase online at www.RareHareSpirits.com and at fine spirits purveyors across the U.S.