Most whisky stories begin in Scotland or Kentucky. This one begins on an island south of Australia, where whisky making went quiet for more than 150 years before a distillery called Hellyers Road helped bring it back.
The Tempest is what came out of that comeback. It is a 20 year Tasmanian single malt that spent seventeen years in bourbon casks and three more in port casks, in a place with clean rainwater, cold Antarctic air and volcanic soil. Ex-bourbon wood tends to give vanilla and caramel, and port casks tend to add dark fruit, so those are good notes to hunt for when you pour it.
Rare Hare 7 Year is a blended bourbon, and that word trips people up. Blended simply means whiskey from different barrels brought together to hit a target flavor. The Rare Hare team spends its time tracking down exceptional barrels from around the world and releasing them in small batches, so blending here is closer to composing than mixing.
Why put them in one box? One is a patient single malt from the far side of the planet. The other is an American bourbon built by choosing and combining. Taste them side by side and you learn how differently two whiskies can arrive at excellent.
The Tempest on its own lists at $999.99 on our site. This pairing is $999, which means the Rare Hare 7 Year comes along at no extra cost.
Who it's for. The collector who already owns plenty. The person who says they don't want anything. A milestone birthday or a big thank you.
A tip before you pour. Use a Glencairn or any tulip shaped glass, and try the Tempest neat first. Then add two or three drops of water and notice what opens up.
Have you ever tasted a Tasmanian whisky? And are you a bourbon person or a single malt person? If you can't decide, this pairing settles the argument.
Please enjoy responsibly. Must be 21 or older to purchase.
