750ml: 60%alc
Country: Australia
Region: Kentucky, NSW
Cask type: Ex shiraz/madeira/chardonnay
Bottler: Dobson’s Distillery ‘Eastview Estate’
This triple distilled Dobson’s Empire 8 cast strength single malt whisky is quite the revelation. Made with a Celtic-Irish touch (note the ‘e’ in whiskey), the whiskey is first matured in stainless-steel with oak slabs for approx. four months before being matured in a shiraz cask for two years, a madeira cask for two years and a chardonnay cask for an additional two years.
It took a few tastings to warm to this beauty but once it revealed all its secrets, we were hooked harder than a jewfish in the Hawksbury. 😉
NOSE: Sweet aromas of candy cane and caramel fudge followed by rum balls, tapering off into the intoxicating fragrance of growing gardenias with a touch of spice. Pure and fresh.
PALATE: Lots of pepper and spice – Orange rind and vanilla with some possible tropical fruit sweetening the palate from the chardonnay finish.
FINISH: Long and bittersweet. Full frontal on the spice with a distinct malt tail fading into dark chocolate.
John Atkins (verified owner) –
This is like no other whisky you’ve ever tasted. It’s greatest strengths are it’s weaknesses.
So on first meeting…you’ll think it a bit odd….but don’t judge too early. For those of my vintage, you’ll remember that vinyl album you bought, with that third track between the two singles that you just couldn’t take to….but you couldn’t skip it…so you listened to it…and then….something happened….(Remember trying to put the needle down right on the track and scratching your favourite LP?) Funny thing is…once you got to know the track…it became your favourite. Well that’s Empire 8.
Once you’ve spent some time to get to know it…you’ll love it for all it’s idiosyncratic independence. It’s not ambiguous or bipolar…it knows what it is…and you can take it or leave it. Madeira and Chardonnay casks – can you imagine? The orange peel is right there for me. Remember playing football and at half time, and getting oranges (before the invention of sports drinks and the sweeting of our palate)…parched as a dry sponge – you over-bit into the rind?…Okay take a seat…I have an idea. Rather than fight it…and think about my idea of what I think a whisky should be…I just went where it took me. I sat here in Australia, in my space (not on a Scottish Loch) and just sipped and introduced myself to Empire 8. I listened to it’s tune.
A segment of orange, squeezed into the glass… add the rind of the section of orange….50 Ml of Empire 8 and 25 ml of sparkling water. Add some sunshine and some great music…(preferably an old familiar “third” track you’ve got to know well) and you have the perfect recipe for something truly unique. This is for the brave and adventurous…but you won’t be disappointed. I’m conflicted….I’m enamoured, excited, and conflicted all at the same time….Sounds to me I just might have found a new favourite song.