Backwoods Distilling Co. – Stout Cask Single Malt Whisky

Distillery: Backwoods Distilling Co.
Edition: Barrel Lane Release #5
Featured Month: October 2023
ABV: 47%
Bottle Size: 700ml

About This Release

From their home in Yackandandah, Victoria, Bree and Leigh Attwood have built Backwoods into one of Australia’s most exciting small-batch distilleries. Inspired by their love of barrel-aged stouts and the breweries of Northeast Victoria, they set out to capture that same rich, chocolate depth in whisky form.

This release began in White Oak ex-Corn Whisky casks from Whipper Snapper in Perth, seasoned with stout beer from Bright Brewery before being filled with Backwoods new make at a robust 55% ABV. Four years of maturation in the High Country’s wild climate – from freezing winters to scorching summers – brought the whisky into balance, refined to its most expressive form at 47% ABV.

Tasting Notes

• Nose: Sweet notes of caramel, cocoa pops and earthy hay bales.
• Palate: Milk chocolate, vanilla and earthy cereal grains.
• Finish: Smooth and coating, with lingering chocolate that carries through to a long finish.

Why It Matters

The Stout Cask release is a celebration of both community and creativity – uniting Backwoods’ whisky with Bright Brewery’s craft stout. It shows how Australian producers can innovate within tradition, drawing on local partnerships and bold ideas. Released in Edition #5 exclusively for Barrel Lane members, only a limited number of bottles remain from this early and highly regarded chapter of Backwoods’ story.