If nothing else and no matter if you like whisk(e)y, this series should have gotten you excited about not only the big-ticket Australian spirit emissions, but especially about the more boutique-y offerings away from what is forced down your hatch by the mainstream industry.
Every now and then when I naively think I’ve covered most, one pops up seemingly out of nowhere that enriches the spirit centric landscape.
Case in point – the launch of the new rye whiskey range called “The Gospel”.
Created by founders Ben Bowles and Andrew Fitzgerald created the range’s first drop, a Solera Rye, which is based on a solid foundation of locally sourced Australian ingredients but made in the tradition of American tried and tested distilling.
Ben and Andrew have previously dabbled in the making of moonshine and moving on to rye whiskey seems to have been a natural progression, which makes sense giving rye’s recent surge in popularity.
The evolution of The Gospel took four years has been in the making for four years, a time which saw many challenges for the brand from sourcing the grains to the distillate in their self-built homebase.
Upon a first sip, the solera character shines through dominantly and the fact that both American oak and Australian wine barrels were used, does not go unnoticed and adds depth, complexity and a taste experience that offers much more than the relatively short maturation period would have you expect.
The palate is caressed by an interesting melange of caramel, chocolatey highlights and nuances of coffee and minty flavours. Texturally and in terms of mouthfeel, it is on the oilier side of things and the there is a spicy twist to overarching sweet rye character, which keeps things interesting.
Clocking in at 42.5%, the Gospel’s Solera Rye is a near perfect entry level rye that offers something for something for both the aficionado as well as the newbie and especially for the maturation in The Gospel’s solera system makes it a must for anyone who has a weak spot for red wine and wants to enter spirits territory.
I like my spirits neat and sipped but it does take a lot of imagination to see how it would marry perfectly well with ginger ale and other additions.
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Image from company website
