Whipper Snappwr Wheatbelt Series Rye

Nose: Deep and expressive cereal aromas, molasses, port wine, vanilla, oak wood. There are the baking spices and minty-menthol notes typical of rye spirit, but they are very elegant and rounded. If it were not for the presence of these spice notes the nose would be very like that of a sherry matured scotch whisky. There is a slight floral note and a faint suggestion of wet paper, but it does not spoil the nose. 9/10 Palate: A very interesting combination of rich cereal flavours and sparkling bright rye spices (clove, fennel, cardamom and most notably caraway). The palate is initially sweet then gains heat and intensity in the early development with ginger showing through, but finally turns sweeter and more sophisticated in the later palate with orchard fruit emerging. The texture is creamy and oily. 8.5/10 Finish: Medium/Long. Fruity rye spice that fades into sweet-and-sour cereal. There is a note of mint and wintergreen in the aftertaste together with a briny taste. There is just a hint of cardboard, which was the single questionable characteristic I noticed. 8/10 After the two previous Whipper Snapper whiskeys I tasted I was almost dreading this one, but in fact it turned out to not only be the best of the samples by far but a very good dram full stop. There have been several Australian rye whiskeys that have gained praise over the last few years but until now the only one that has really impressed me has been the Archie Rose Malted Rye. As luck would have it I have a bottle of that open at the moment so I was able to taste it in comparison with this whiskey. It is a close thing but I still prefer the Archie Rose. It is more balanced and complete and the profile as a whole is “deeper”, more polished and just a tad sweeter. The aromas of the Whipper Snapper are lighter and sharper but that’s just a difference in profile and not one of quality. On the whole Whipper Snapper compares very well and I’m rating it just one percentage point lower than the Archie Rose Rye. (As a comparison I rated Rittenhouse Rye at 85/100 and Bullett Rye at 80/100). Tasted from a 30ml sample. Recommended. “Very Good” : 87/100 (4.25 stars)

It’s been a hot minute. The quest to hit 300 by the end of the year isn’t looking to hot anymore. Still, first whisky since the 8th of July, I have been waiting patiently and hopefully some locally produced goods hit the mark tonight. Whipper Snapper is a very small independantly run distillery just outside the Perth city centre. Starting out producing ‘Upshot’ a cute take on traditional bourbon style whisky they have done well for themselves. Accolades, for what they’re worth, have been given by the World Whisky Awards for their grain whiskies, both Wheat and Rye now have won the top gong in their categories. The wheat belt series that includes Wheat, Rye, and now a Single Malt Barley are intended to showcase the heritage of Western Australian farmers and premium grain provenance. Born from Whipper Snappers connection to the Western Australian Wheatbelt Rye in this liquid comes from the Fuchsbichlers. The family farmers, originally from Emmering in Bavaria, grow a unique heirloom German Rye. Now into the fourth generation of growers, the Fuchsbichlers continue to grow the heritage rye first planted in 1911. Whipper Snappers rye whiskey has a high ratio of rye at 85% (with 15% malted barely) believing it to be a true reflection of the Western Australian environment and the heritage of the 100 + year-old grain. The whisky was aged for 4+ years in charred, virgin American Oak barrels. N: Thick, oozing rye spice with clove, cardamon, molasses, dark cherry and citrus zest. Menthol quality comes out the longer I sit with it. P: Medium body that gains presence through the palate. Star anise, cinnamon, cardamon, ginger, buttery caramel, soft vanilla. Fresh crisp and juicy stone fruit and apple bring some brightness. F: Long. Ginger and heavily perfumed cardamon just stick around beyond what should be considered reasonable. Slightly oily and perhaps the vaguest notion of a whisper of salt? Whatever is there, this just keeps lasting… I am pleasantly surprised. I was expecting a spicy bomb of a rye, indeed that is definitely here. What I wasn’t expecting though was bright and softening influences of virgin wood that added creaminess through vanilla and buttery caramel. Nor was I expecting the juicy crunch of fresh fruit. I certainly didnt expect myself to be thinking that this is on par with Archie Roses Rye. In some respects Whipper Snappers is easier to sink into and more ‘enjoyable’ but its also maybe with a little roughness in the endless spice and with just a touch of thinness of palate that you could quibble over. This is still excellent though, and with a nice touch of ‘terroir’ and authenticity about it. Distiller whisky taste #282 [Pictured here with a Toodyay Quartzite. Toodyay is a town about 85 km east of Perth in the Wheatbelt Region of Western Australia. This Quartzite is a well known rock in Perth, being used as dimension and flagging stones across the city. The rock cleaves into sheets due to the presence of thin green fuchsite mica layers throughout the metamorphosed sandstone (quartzite).] Whipper Snapper Running Scores Crazy Uncle Moonshine: 3/5 Crazy Uncle Barrel Aged Moonshine: 3.25/5 Upshot: 3.5/5 Upshot Cask Strength: 3.5/5 Upshot Red Corn: 3.25/5 Project Q: 3.25 Wheat Belt Series Wheat: 3.75/5 Wheat Belt Series Rye: 4.25/5