Banter Over Whisky

This week on Banter over Whisky, we’re joined by Simon from Southern Spirit Syndicate and Vic from Vic.Whiskey to talk about their very first Australian whisky barrel pick!

🔥 A 5-year-old, 58.2% ABV single malt from Corowa Distilling Co. A big, bold PX sherry cask whisky that brings plenty of flavour, a long finish and some serious Aussie whisky character.

But this episode is about more than just the dram…

🇦🇺 We dive into the story behind Southern Spirit Syndicate, the years of planning, the hunt for the perfect barrel and the patience it took to bring this release to life.

🥃 What’s on the tasting table?
• A 30-year-old PX sherry cask from Spain.
• A big, rich, sherry-influenced Australian single malt.
• 58.2% ABV, bottled at cask strength.
• An oily texture, long finish and plenty of character.
• A whisky that pairs beautifully with a cigar.

We also chat about the Australian whisky industry, supporting local distilleries, future releases, and why Simon and Vic are passionate about keeping things Australian, small-batch and as natural as possible.

And of course… plenty of banter, laughs and a few controversial whisky opinions along the way! 😂

Is this a winter whisky? Or would you mix it with a lemon and ginger kombucha? 🤔

You’ll have to listen to find out!

🎧 Tune in now and join us for another cracking episode of Banter over Whisky.

🥃 Cheers!

This episode came together at the last minute... and it turned into one of our most entertaining chats yet!

We're joined by long-time friend of the show Ray Daniel from Whisky Wayfarers for an honest, hilarious conversation covering everything from favourite pours and bourbon obsession to whisky clubs, bottle allocations, travel, and the community that makes whisky so much more than what's in the glass.

Expect plenty of laughs, stories from the road, behind-the-scenes insights into Whisky Wayfarers, and some passionate discussion about iconic drams like Eagle Rare and the legendary Buffalo Trace Distillery.

If you enjoy good whisky, great conversations, and a bit of banter between mates, this one's for you.

Now Live! Grab your favourite dram, jump into the chat, and let us know:
What's the one bottle you'd want to be remembered for?

This week on Banter Over Whisky, we're joined by Tim Freeman from Western Tiers Distillery to uncover one of the most unique origin stories in Australian whisky.

What started as a way to showcase distillery engineering capabilities quickly became a passion project that evolved into one of Tasmania's exciting whisky producers. Tim takes us behind the scenes of building a distillery, crafting triple-distilled single malts, and why Western Tiers has chosen to do things a little differently.

🎙️ In this episode:

• How Western Tiers was originally built to sell distilleries—not whisky!
• The journey from engineering and fabrication to award-winning spirits.
• Why every Western Tiers whisky is triple distilled.
• The story behind bottling their signature range at 49% ABV.
• A guided tasting through their Highland Lakes, Port, and Sherry expressions.
• The challenges and rewards of building a whisky business in Tasmania.
• Plenty of laughs, whisky banter, and a healthy dose of Tasmanian rivalry.

💬 Memorable quote:

"Anybody can make a brochure. Not everybody can build a distillery." – Tim Freeman

From bourbon casks to bold decisions, this episode is packed with great stories and insight into one of Australia's most interesting distilleries.

🎧 Tune in now and pour yourself a dram as we chat all things whisky with Tim Freeman and the team at Western Tiers Distillery.

This week we're joined by whisky industry favourite Andy Tsai from Brown–Forman, known to many as "the Jack Daniel’s guy", for a fascinating deep dive into the world of Jack Daniel's.

From his journey into brand advocacy to the stories behind some of Jack Daniel's most sought-after releases, Andy shares what goes on behind the scenes at one of the world's most iconic distilleries.

🎙️ In this episode:
• Andy's path from sales into whisky advocacy
• The evolution of the Jack Daniel's portfolio beyond Old No. 7
• The rise of Single Barrel expressions and why they changed the whisky landscape
• The incredible connection between Jack Daniel's and Frank Sinatra
• The story behind Sinatra Select and the famous grooved barrels
• Why whisky is ultimately about people, stories, and shared experiences

💬 Memorable quote:
"If you're going to be busy, be busy with projects that you really care about." – Andy Tsai

🥃 Plus plenty of whisky banter as all three Banter Over Whisky hosts get together with Andy to chat drams, collectability, opening special bottles, and the importance of enjoying whisky with the right people.

🎧 Tune in now and discover why there's so much more to Jack Daniel's than meets the eye.

What does it take to recognise and celebrate the very bestspirits being produced in Australia?

This week we're joined by the man behind Whisky Is My Jam,Mark Teagues, who takes us behind the scenes of the TasmanianWhisky and Spirits Awards and discusses the growing influence of Tasmaniaon the Australian whisky landscape.

From the rigorous judging process and the importance ofindependent awards to the continued growth of Tasmanian Whisky Week,Mark shares why celebrating excellence and bringing whisky lovers together ishelping drive the industry forward.

🔥 In this episode:
• The story behind the Tasmanian Whisky and Spirits Awards
• How Australia's best whiskies and spirits are judged
• What judges look for in award-winning drams
• The growth and impact of Tasmanian Whisky Week
• Why whisky festivals are vital for distillers and consumers alike
• Tasmania's place on the world whisky stage
• Plenty of whisky banter and industry insights

💬 Highlights from theconversation:

"Awards are about recognising excellence and helpingconsumers discover quality."

"Tasmanian Whisky Week has become a celebration of theentire whisky community."

"The quality coming out of Australian distilleriescontinues to reach new heights."

Whether you're planning a whisky trip to Tasmania, followingthe latest award winners, or simply enjoy a great whisky conversation, thisepisode is packed with insights from one of the industry's most passionateadvocates.

After a year off, one of Australia's most loved whisky events is back—and bigger than ever.

This week on Banter Over Whisky, the crew sits down with Shaun Restorick-Barton, founder of Whisky Whisky, to talk about the highly anticipated return of the Brisbane whisky festival for its 5th anniversary celebration.

Expect plenty of laughs, whisky banter, and insider tips as Shaun reveals:

🥃 The biggest lineup of distilleries in Whisky Whisky history
🥃 New and exciting independent Australian distilleries joining the event
🥃 Why the unique "block party" atmosphere makes Whisky Whisky different from every other whisky show
🥃 Dream Drams, claw machines, rare bottlings and festival exclusives
🥃 The best strategy for tackling 26+ whisky tables without missing the hidden gems
🥃 Why small independent distilleries are the real treasures of the festival

Along the way, the crew share what they're drinking, swap stories from whisky events past, and discuss the growing strength of Australia's craft whisky scene.

💬 Quote of the Episode:
"Christmas in July for people who like whisky." – Shaun Restorick-Barton

💬 Another Favourite:
"The small distilleries are where I'd be spending most of my time."

Whether you're a seasoned whisky enthusiast or just looking for your next great dram, this episode is packed with everything you need to know before Whisky Whisky returns to Brisbane.

🎧 Tune in now and discover why this event has become a must-attend date on the Australian whisky calendar.

🥃 OLD & RARE IS COMING TO THE QMWS WHISKY EXPO 🥃

Get ready Queensland… the Old & Rare stand at the upcoming Queensland Malt Whisky Society Whisky Expo is shaping up to be something seriously special.

In this episode, the boys sit down for a preview of some of the incredible drams heading to the expo — from legendary old-school bottlings and independent releases to rare pours whisky lovers almost never get the chance to try.

Expect stories behind the bottles, deep whisky geekery, tasting notes that’ll have your mouth watering, and plenty of banter along the way. Whether you’re chasing big sherry bombs, elegant old malts, peated monsters, or unicorn bottles, the Old & Rare stand is going to be a must-visit destination at the expo. 🔥🥃

💬 “These are the bottles people talk about for years after they try them.”
💬 “Old & Rare is where whisky history ends up in your glass.”
💬 “This lineup is ridiculous… in the best possible way.”

If you’re heading to the expo, make sure the Old & Rare stand is high on your hit list. Some of these pours don’t come around twice.

🎧 Full episode out now — perfect listening before the big event.

This week on Banter Over Whisky, the boys are joined by the legends from Whisky Flight Club for an episode packed with whisky chat, absolute chaos, and plenty of laughs. From tech failures and early swearing records to deep dives into flavour profiles, peated whisky debates, and hidden gem bottles — this one is pure whisky nerd heaven.

The crew talks about how Whisky Flight Club started during COVID, building a community around sharing drams, and why great whisky doesn’t need hype or ridiculous price tags. Expect conversations around gateway peated whiskies, underrated blends, independent bottlers, Aussie whisky terroir, and some seriously tasty pours along the way. 🥃🔥

💬 “You don’t have to buy into the hype to get good whisky.”
💬 “Get more whisky into people’s hands — like it or don’t like it, at least try something new.”
💬 “We do whisky… we don’t do tech.”

Featuring pours from independent bottlers, sherry bombs, smoky drams, and a few bottles that completely surprised the panel. If you love whisky banter with mates, this episode is for you.

🎧 Full episode out now — grab a dram and join us.

Featuring Nullaki Distillery

This episode brings on the crew behind one of WA’s most exciting boutique whisky brands, crafting small-batch single malts out of the Great Southern.

Based down in Denmark, their whole approach is about capturing a true sense of place—using locally sourced barley, wine casks from regions like Margaret River and Pemberton, and even their own spring water to shape the spirit.

They dive into:

• Building a whisky brand from the ground up in Western Australia.
• Why they stick to traditional Scottish methods but give it a local twist
• The role of unique cask ageing (think Tawny and Pinot casks) in creating bold flavours like caramel, spice, and rich red fruit
• What it takes to produce a premium, small-batch Australian single malt

Their whiskies lean into being approachable but complex—lighter in style thanks to their custom copper still, but layered with distinctly WA character.

Guest vibe: passionate, detail-driven, and seriously proud of what Aussie whisky is becoming.

This week on Banter Over Whisky, the boys sit down with Yumi Yoshikawa, Global Brand Ambassador for Chichibu Distillery — one of the most respected names in Japanese whisky right now.

From her recent visit to Melbourne’s whisky scene to an inside look at Chichibu’s incredible rise, Yumi shares the story behind the distillery, what makes their whisky so unique, and why it’s captured the attention of collectors and enthusiasts worldwide.

Expect:
🔥 Behind-the-scenes insights into Chichibu’s production and philosophy
🥃 Stories from whisky festivals and global tastings
😂 Plenty of classic banter from the crew
👀 A deeper appreciation for Japanese whisky craftsmanship

If you’re a fan of world whisky — this one’s a must-listen.

🎧 Listen now and pour yourself something special.