FAQs

Why Do you only sell American spirits? 

We started Whiskey Hunt Australia to help Aussie's get access to more unique, rare American whiskey!  While there were plenty of great retailers and distributors, none were really focused on American whiskey exclusively. We take this one step further by visiting the awesome distilleries in American, forging the great relationships that have allowed us buy entire barrels of whiskey, uniquely and exclusively bottled for Australia. We were the first to this and in our many years we've bottled over 35 single Bourbon & Rye barrel picks for Australia.

 

What is a barrel pick?

A "barrel pick" is a single barrel or private release that's been chosen by a person, store or group from a selection of samples either on-site at the distillery or by samples sent out.  Barrel picks have become one of the hottest things in the US whiskey market due to their uniqueness, rarity and collectability.  We here at Whiskey Hunt Australia are proud to have released over a 35 barrel picks so far and have helped opened the door to others in Australia following suit, brining even more amazing whiskey into Australia!  A huge thank you to the amazing teams behind Old Forester, Buffalo Trace, Wild Turkey, 1792, High West, Barrell Craft Spirits and others for making this crazy dram a reality!

 

How can I buy your single barrel releases?

As single barrels usually only yield 130 - 160 bottles we often sell out almost immediately on release.  The best way to get access is subscribe to our Whisky Hunt Australia mailing list.  No membership, no opt out, no mandatory purchase, you'll just get a heads up when our releases go live!  We also post plenty of warning on our socials so follow us on Instagram and Facebook if you have! 

If you've missed out on any release you can always check in with one of our VIP partner retail bottleshops across Australia, they might have one hidden away in the back for you!

 

What's the difference between bourbon and whiskey?

All bourbon is whiskey, but not all whiskey is bourbon!  Now that I have you confused even more; for a spirit to be classified as bourbon by law it must adhere to the following rules:

• Geographic region: All bourbon must be distilled and aged in the United States. It is closely associated with Kentucky and the Southern US, but it can be made anywhere in the country.

• Grain makeup/mash bill: Bourbon is a grain whiskey. To meet the legal requirements, it needs to be distilled from at least 51% corn. The remainder can be any other type of cereal grain such as rye, barley, or wheat. This combination of fermented grain is called the mash bill. 

• Aging process: Bourbon must be aged in new, charred barrels made from American white oak. Aging in the barrel is what gives bourbon its colour, along with added flavour from contact with the wood barrel. The aging process can last anywhere from a few months to many years. Whiskey bottles are often labelled with the number of years they are aged in the barrel. This is called the age statement.

• Proof: Bottled bourbon must be at least 80 proof (40% alcohol by volume). There are standards for what proof the bourbon must be at other points in the production process, too. Legally, bourbon must be distilled to no more than 160 proof (80% ABV) and must be at 125 proof (62.5% ABV) when the barrel aging process begins.

 

What's the best bourbon in the world?

Some bourbon's have become what the community refers to as "unicorns" after winning awards.  Pappy Van Winkle 20 year bourbon is the most famous example of this. The Pappy craze didn’t start until 1996, after the Beverage Testing Institute rated the 20-year Pappy Van Winkle a 99 out of 100 — the highest rating for a whiskey ever given by the institute. Bottles of Pappy van winkle have been hunted by fans around the world, meaning bottles are commonly seen for thousands of dollars above RRP, even getting press such as "The Bourbon So Exclusive That Even Billionaires Can't Buy It"! 

Price doesn't always mean quality, and every persons palate is different, so going to events and trying samples is a great way to find out what you enjoy best.  

 

Can Whiskey Hunt Australia help me do a single barrel pick?

Yes! We work closely with several suppliers and have access to some incredible single barrel whiskey.  Selection process can be done in person or via remote samples, with the final bottled product usually taking 4-6 months for delivery.  Single barrel picks can be a great way to put your club or store on the map for bourbon hunters Australia wide. Each single barrel is rare and unique in its own way, including customisation with your store or club branding. Learn more about our single barrel program here

 

How can I buy rare Bourbon whiskey when in stock?

A few times a year we release "unicorn whiskey's", including Pappy Van Winkle, Old Forester Birthday Bourbon, Barrel Gray Label, Michter's limited editions etc.  Our socials are the best place to keep an eye out for what's coming soon.  We try to keep things as fair as possible, first in best dressed once they go live online! Also make sure you're subscribed to our mailing list for rare whiskey and new release notifications.