The Tempest - (Draft 04.08)

Tasmania, a small and rugged island south of mainland Australia, is more renowned for its pristine microclimate and unique wildlife than its distilleries. But for whiskey aficionados, this island harbors a special secret: it’s a veritable Eden for small batch whiskies. 

For its fourth ultra-premium release, Rare Hare partnered with one of the pioneers of Tasmanian whisky making, the acclaimed Hellyers Road Distillery, one of Australia’s oldest and most revered distilleries. We named this special expression “The Tempest,” a nod to Shakespeare’s tale of nature’s power and deliverance.  The Tempest is smooth and mellow yet delivers a tour de force of flavors and a long finish to savor. It is the perfect embodiment of Tasmania’s temperate maritime climate, where hot summers, short cold winters, abundant sunshine, and low humidity create the perfect storm for producing exceptional single malt whiskey.

The malt and barley used to create this small batch elixir are locally sourced and benefit from the rich soil and unique Tasmanian climate. Hellyers Road Distillery employs a centuries-old pot still distillation process that spans three days, followed by a secondary slow still distillation to yield a whisky of unparalleled quality and character.  Moreover, while most Tasmanian whiskies are aged in small barrels to accelerate maturation, Hellyers Road Distillery aged this whisky for seventeen years in standard-size bourbon casks, and then aged it for another three years in port casks, crafting the ultimate celebration of the Tasmanian terroir.