At 36 degrees south latitude, comfortably nestled in Victoria’s countryside is the Morris of Rutherglen; a region that receives its fair share of hot summer days and cool, wet winter nights. The  temperature variations provide the conducive conditions that help age their whisky, promoting greater wood to whisky interactions. The geographical location also serves as inspiration, lending it to the distilleries’ more recent expression, the 36 South – my pick during my recent visit to Melbourne. The oddly shaped bottle with its sharp, angled sides is quite unorthodox, with a look that’s either gonna tease or have you running for the keys.

The Morris family began their experimental venture into whisky in 2016 and though recent, they had their doors open to the public shortly after by 2021. The family, however, comes bearing over 160 years of experience in winemaking, having established themselves in 1859. And it’s this rich history that is married into aging their whisky, through the use of their very own wine barrels.

The 36 South is made from locally sourced malted barley and wheat, with water from the snowy mountains. The distilled spirit is matured in American casks that previously held Aussie shiraz, produced at the distillery itself.

Abv : 40%

Eye : Tawny, Natural Colouring

Nose : Sweet caramel, red apples and raspberries; plums, dried fruits, coupled with hints of dark chocolate. There’s a mild earthiness enanating from the charred wood. Sweet aromatics with hints of pepper, cinnamon, and a mild spice.

Taste : Vanilla with a bit of char and caramel. Wine soaked raisins, plums with some depth from bay leaves and pepper. Woody and well rounded, with a bit of heat.

Finish : Medium to long | Warm and spiced; with raisins, caramel and winey influenes.

The 36 South is beautifully concocted with such a lovely, rich character to it. It checks a lot of boxes, being well rounded, buttery and complex with good depth. It does lack a bit of breadth but delivers and more than compensates on the nose, the palate and the finish, offering a gratifying experience.

At AUD $ 75, it isn’t priced too high and is a pretty dandy whisky that celebrates the marriage of whisky and wine (barrels). At 40% strength, it surely isn’t going to burn your throat and the price isn’t going to burn your pockets either, a double whammy! I see myself pouring another one in the short term and would like to hear if you do too!
Slainte!