Why celebrate Christmas when you can celebrate Whiskmas instead? That’s the question every self-respecting boozehound should be asking themselves this holiday season. Here with a very rewarding answer is the iconic Lark Distillery, one of the best and brightest stars from Tasmania’s thriving whisky scene. They’re spreading all kinds of festive vibes throughout Australia with ‘The Spirit of Whiskmas’, a range of holiday-themed gift ideas for you and your favourite whisky lover. It sees the return of the distillery’s acclaimed Christmas Cask Single Malt Whisky and that alone is something worthy of celebration. Merry Whiskmas everybody!
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Hailing from Pontville, Tasmania, Lark Distillery is arguably the region’s most prominent name in premium single malt whisky. An ever-growing fanbase sends the brand’s inventory flying off the shelves so don’t hesitate to snag a bottle of the limited-edition Christmas Cask whilst you still can. It picks up where last year’s award-winning release left off but with an “added layer of fortified tokay notes bringing complexity and depth”. Considering last year’s edition was named Whisky of the Year at the 2021 Australian Whisky Awards, it’s little wonder we’re pumped about this one.
A holiday-themed dram if there ever was one, it comes “infused with the flavours of pâtisserie Jean Pascal’s fruit mince pies and Frogmore Creek’s red wine barrels, aglow with notes of comforting gingerbread, traditional Christmas spices and fruits mingling with vanilla custard atop a scrumptious plum pudding.”
If those tasting notes sound a bit too abstract, allow us to flesh out the experience that’s waiting inside every bottle of Lark Christmas Cask Single Malt Whisky. What opens on a nose of vanilla custard, baked apples, and traditional Christmas spice gives way to a decadent palate of butter toffee, plum pudding, and fresh-baked gingerbread twinkles.
It all rides out on the kind of rich and lasting finish that will make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. You should be seeing visions of chestnuts roasting on an open fire and gifts under the Christmas tree right about now and the whisky drives home those vibes with every toe-curling sip. In other words: it’s another Lark classic!
Lark’s Christmas Cask makes up part of the distillery’s larger ‘Spirit of Whiskmas’ celebration, which delivers a curated selection of “spirited gift ideas across the range.” Additional examples include a 350ml Slainte Whisky Liqueur and a collection of whisky-tasting gift packs, available either online or in select retailers across Australia.
The Tassie distillery has also set up limited-time personalisation stations with premium retail partners such as Liquor Emporium, Valore Cellars, and Cellarbrations, as well as select independent retailers in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, and Hobart. Purchase a Lark bottle at one of these locations and someone will personalise it on your behalf.
Since there’s really no such thing as too much celebration, Lark also teamed up with a mixologist and a chef (respectively) to create a series of whisky-infused cocktails and recipe ideas. Campbell Nicol, Head Bartender of The Still Whisky & Cocktail Bar, put a holiday twist on traditional classics like the Old Fashioned and Highball. Meanwhile, Chef Jamie Yates—previously of cult wine bar Sonny and Templo in Hobart—crafted a Worcestershire sauce, ham glaze, and custard, all using Lark whisky as an ingredient. Yum.
“For Lark, the festive season has always been a special time. Last year, our Limited Release Christmas Cask took home Australian Whisky of the Year, and this 2022 dram is even better,” Lark head of marketing, Jason Whalley said. “We are passionate about creating products that bring people together, and are excited to launch a collection that will make whisky the spirit of choice, from gift-giving, crafting the ultimate Christmas lunch, or mixing drinks with friends, whether a whisky novice or a true connoisseur—we invite you to join us in celebrating The Spirit of Whiskmas.”
‘The Spirit of Whiskmas’ is upon us and so too is Lark’s delicious Christmas Cask Single Malt Whisky. Score a bottle for yourself or a loved one (or both) and raise a dram to the holidays. Here’s to celebration done right.