Six years ago, beneath the eerie crimson glow of MONA’s Dark Mofo—a festival where art and darkness tango under the Tasmanian sky—fate played a clever hand. It was at Hobart’s Evolve Bar, where the smoky peat of Laphroaig lingered in the air like a whisky-scented promise, that we clinked glasses with two men who would go on to alter the course of Tasmania’s whiskey world forever. John Ibrahim and Rizk Mawass weren’t just toasting the night; they were toasting the start of a journey that would turn into a legacy of liquid gold.
Ibrahim, perhaps inspired by the dram in his hand and the mystique of Tasmania’s distilling history, dove headfirst into the world of whiskey-making.
The story’s backdrop?
The historic Dysart House in Kempton, which Ibrahim acquired, a grand old manor with walls that seemed to hum with the whispers of the past. But this wasn't just a real estate purchase—it was the birth of something much bigger.
Enter Bill Lark, the Godfather of Tasmanian whiskey, who swept into Ibrahim’s life like a benevolent whiskey wizard. With Lark’s guidance and mentorship, what had once been a spark of curiosity turned into a roaring fire of ambition. Ibrahim didn’t just want to dabble in whiskey; he wanted to reshape the distillery landscape of Tasmania, and with Lark’s encouragement, he was about to make his mark.
Fast forward to today, and that dream has become a reality. Nestled in the charming, timeworn village of Oatlands stands Callington Mill Distillery, a shimmering example of what happens when passion, innovation, and craftsmanship collide.
But Callington Mill isn’t just any distillery—it’s a temple to the whiskey gods, a place where history meets high-tech wizardry. With locally sourced highland water, barley grown in the heart of Tasmania, and state-of-the-art distillation technology, the distillery churns out more than whiskey; it crafts stories in a bottle.
And while the whiskey steals the show, Callington Mill Distillery itself is an attraction all on its own. Visitors don’t just come for the tasting—they come to immerse themselves in the craft. With guided and unguided tours, interactive storytelling, and the opportunity to blend your own whiskey, Callington Mill is as much about the journey as it is the destination. Each corner of the distillery seems to tell a tale, whether it’s the history of Oatlands or the state-of-the-art technology quietly humming in the background.
What Ibrahim has built isn’t just a distillery—it’s a love letter to Tasmania, written in oak barrels and aged to perfection. Callington Mill has raised the bar, crafting whiskey that doesn’t just honor tradition but propels it into the future. It’s a place where the past and present swirl together like a fine whiskey in a glass, each sip a nod to those who came before and a wink to those yet to come.
Callington Mill Distillery’s Holyrood House Tasmanian Single Malt Whisky: A Prescription for Time Travel
Holyrood House Tasmanian Single Malt Whisky is in essence a time capsule, a liquid love letter to Oatlands’ storied past, sealed with a cork and kissed by the spirits of yesteryear. This second release in Callington Mill’s Heritage Series does more than just pay homage to a grand old house; it distills the very essence of history into each and every drop. With only 350 bottles available, it’s as rare as finding a forgotten diary in a dusty attic—and just as intriguing.
Step inside Holyrood House and the past comes alive. The creak of its Georgian floorboards and the stately façade of its three-bay brick architecture seem to whisper tales of a time when law and medicine mingled under its roof. It’s a house that has seen it all—once a seat of justice, then a school where minds were sharpened, and later a haven of healing as the residence of doctors. Much like the building itself, this whisky is complex and full of secrets, waiting to be savored.
On the nose, it’s like walking into a rich tapestry of scent—a smoky maple bacon aroma curls around you like the inviting scent of breakfast at dawn, but there's an unexpected twist, the sweetness of musk sticks weaving in like a mischievous grin.
Imagine sitting in a Victorian study, fire crackling in the hearth, as the scent of toffee and butter whispers from a silver tray nearby. This whisky doesn’t just greet you; it pulls you in, hands you a warm robe, and tells you to stay a while.
The palate, however, is where the magic truly unfolds. Taking a sip is like stepping through a grand, oak-paneled doorway into a world of flavor.
Rich, buttery textures glide over your tongue like velvet curtains drawing back on a grand stage, revealing notes of cream caramel that are so smooth you might just mistake them for an encore of dessert at a lavish banquet.
There’s a subtle nuttiness too, like the quiet murmur of well-worn leather books lining the shelves of Holyrood’s scholarly past.
But this is no ordinary dram—it’s a whisky that knows how to make an entrance and linger long after the applause. The finish is sweet, with an elegance that doesn’t rush to leave the party. It’s the lingering smile after a good conversation, the warmth that stays with you on a cold night. Aged in Port and Cream casks before a final, transformative dance in a large Tokay cask, Holyrood House wears its age like a crown, its character as multi-layered as the centuries-old stories etched into the walls of its namesake.
This whisky isn’t just crafted—it’s curated, with as much care as one would take restoring a grand old manor to its former glory. Each sip is a footstep through time, from the days when magistrates upheld the law to the quieter moments when doctors cared for the ailing. It offers both the wisdom of age and the excitement of new beginnings, all wrapped up in the burnished copper hues of a Tasmanian sunset.
Holyrood House Tasmanian Single Malt is a reverie, a liquid lullaby to days gone by and the promises of tomorrow. You don’t just drink it—you experience it, much like how you’d walk through the door of an ancient house and feel the weight of history settle around your shoulders.
A Yuletide Symphony in Every Sip: The Christmas Exclusive Release 2024 Tasmanian Single Malt Whisky
Deck the halls with... whisky? Absolutely!
Ah, Christmas—when the air hums with the scent of spices, the world glows in amber hues, and at least in the northern and eastern hemispheres, even the frostiest of evenings feels warm with the promise of festive cheer.
But what if you could bottle that feeling, that unmistakable holiday magic?
Enter the Christmas Exclusive Release 2024 Tasmanian Single Malt Whisky, a liquid ode to the most wonderful time of the year, as though someone distilled holiday spirit, wrapped it in gold, and handed it to you in a 700ml vessel.
This whisky is no ordinary festive fling. It’s a tale of yuletide splendor, aging gracefully like the finest of Christmas traditions. Imagine it as Santa himself, not delivering gifts in a sleigh, but gliding in with barrels of Oloroso, Pedro Ximénez, and Moscatel casks. These casks, like old friends gathered around a fire, impart their wisdom—fragrant, sweet, and seasoned—into the spirit within.
The nose is your invitation to Christmas morning.
As you uncork the bottle, the aroma swirls out like the scent of holiday baking in full swing. You’re greeted by dried fruits—sultanas, figs, and apricots—each note like a verse in a carol, accompanied by the choir of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. It’s a sensory sleigh ride through a market brimming with festive treats.
And just when you think you’re basking solely in warm, spiced nostalgia, a playful twist of caramelized orange peel and vanilla joins the party, as though a sugar plum fairy is dancing on your nose.
Take a sip, and you’re diving headfirst into a Dickensian feast—Christmas cake, dripping in richness, served with the warmth of a roaring hearth. The palate is a celebration of textures and tastes, each layer peeling back like wrapping paper from a gift.
Rich, buttery fruits mingle with toasted nuts and spices, evoking the warmth of a cozy kitchen where something decadent is always in the oven.
The Moscatel cask, like the enigmatic uncle with a twinkle in his eye, adds a luscious syrupy depth to the experience, but just when you think it might get too indulgent, a burst of citrus zest snaps you back—crisp, fresh, and bright, like the crackling of a winter morning underfoot.
This whisky has been on its own journey—aged in Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez casks, where it soaked up all the elegance of Spain’s finest sherries. Oloroso, ever fragrant and floral, lends its rich bouquet, while the Pedro Ximénez—known as the sweetest sherry on Earth—imparts a velvet sweetness, thick with memories of holiday desserts. Then, after two years evolving in Moscatel casks, the whisky emerges, transformed, ready to shine like the star atop the tree.
The finish is as long and satisfying as a Christmas night spent by the fire, the embers glowing long after the last carol has been sung. Sweet oak and dark chocolate linger, like the final notes of a festive symphony, with a teasing hint of spices that remind you the season’s joy isn’t over yet.
But just as you think it’s about to drift into a deep, dark winter’s sleep, a citrusy breeze lifts you up again—fresh, bright, and ready for another round.
Summa summarum, the Christmas Exclusive Release 2024 is a concerto of festive flavors, wrapped up with care and crafted to bring merriment and magic to every glass. This is no fleeting holiday fling—this is the embodiment of Christmas spirit, ready to be sipped, savored, and shared.
Forget mistletoe and eggnog, this is how you make merry with style and toast to the season—because with this whisky in hand, it’s always Christmas somewhere.
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Words by AW.
Photos courtesy of AW and Callington Mill Distillery.