Amber Lane Equinox Single Malt Whisky
Equinox is one of Amber Lane's flagship releases, bottled at an approachable 46% and reasonably priced at $139 for 700ml. Matured in a combination of Spanish Pedro Ximénez barrels, Australian apera barrels and American bourbon barrels, this whisky shows careful blending of different cask types, something Australian distillers have paid precious little attention to until recently (with some notable exceptions). It's nice to see careful batch creation has been at the heart of Amber Lane's approach since day dot. This whisky is full of flavour and vibrance, wanting to jump out of the glass at you, which is what you'd expect from something at this relatively young age. But after a moment to let the alcohol settle, notes of honied fruit and forest-floor oak waft out of the glass, along with green apple and orange blossom freshness. The PX casks show their jammy hand up front, leading to apricot jam softness and creamy texture through the palate and finish. Like a teenager still learning to control their emotions, the alcohol is just a little too present and the integration isn't quite there, but underneath, there's an incredibly enjoyable whisky with a bold fruit character that will keep me coming back to the glass and the bottle, over and over.
