When the new batch of Highwayman Whisky is released this week it will mark the first time that this incredible spirit is available in Japan. Distilled in the heart Byron Bay, Highwayman Whisky is made by Dan Woolley, one of Australia’s most influential whisky ambassadors, and it is some of the most incredible whisky you will ever find. Dan lives and breathes whisky, having worked for decades with whisky venues and a number of top global whisky brands. Highwayman Whisky is hand made in micro batches at the Byron Bay distillery and bottled at cask strength (55%) in its purest form. Dan uses a variety of carefully selected casks to age his whisky, including American whisky, tequila, Spanish sherries and even experimental local honey and coffee seasoned casks. Being aged in Byron Bay’s tropical climate gives Highwayman Whisky a distinct character and speeds up the aging process, so whisky that is aged for 3 years in Byron Bay is the equivalent of a 10-12 year old Scotch whisky. Dan carefully tends his barrels, regularly checking and tasting each one, and typically releases a batch of Highwayman Whisky every month. Every batch of Highwayman Whisky is unique in terms of taste, smell and colour and there are both peated and unpeated releases. Dan’s whisky is silky and extremely well balanced with deep sweetness and a long finish – it is a unique and serious whisky for serious whisky lovers.

The first Highwayman barrel was filled in 2016 and Dan’s whisky quickly became a cult favourite, with each release selling out within minutes. Highwayman Whisky can be found in whisky bars, high-end restaurants and specialty whisky retailers in Australia and around the world, and Dan often collaborates with whisky societies and festivals on custom-batches. This Friday 1st August the latest batch of Highwayman Whisky – Tokyo Nights – will be released and, as the name suggests, it is an exciting collaboration between Dan, Tokyo Whisky Bar Aloha Whisky and Japanese Whisky Influencer Armando Cornejo Sandoval. Dan will be in Tokyo launching the new batch and pouring Tokyo Nights by the dram this Saturday 2nd August at Aloha Whisky, the first time that an exclusive batch release of Highwayman Whisky is unveiled in Japan.

Tokyo Nights is an incredible peated single malt whisky aged in a combination of fino, apera and bourbon casks and bottled at 55%. It is a smooth, sultry whisky with a deep sweetness that lingers long after the first sip, best served neat and sipped slowly, preferably in front of the fire a cosy whisky den. With only 240 bottles available across Australia and Japan, stock is limited so if you want to get your hands on a bottle log on to the Highwayman Whisky website at 1pm on Friday 1st August when it is launched to the public.

Dan runs private distillery tours, whisky tastings and masterclasses by appointment at Highwayman HQ located at Lord Byron Distillery, as well as regular ticketed whisky events and dinners at top restaurants. Attending one of Dan’s events is a thoroughly entertaining and informative experience and I highly recommend it. The tasting room at Highwayman HQ is a cosy space with the feel of whisky den, with dark interiors, soft lights, dark wood and leather couches surrounded by barrels of aging whisky and bottles of past Highwayman releases. Here you can try different batches of Highwayman Whisky and learn more about the process behind its creation. Be sure to make an appointment to visit Highwayman on your next visit to Byron Bay.

Website: www.highwayman-whisky.com
Instagram: @highwaymanwhisky

Recent Highwayman Releases

The Dark Side Strikes Back
Cask – PX cask / Chocolate Coffee Porter Cask

Nose
Chewy chocolate fudge accompanied by sweet malt, tart berries and fire place smoke.

Palate
Milk chocolate up front with a burst of umami savouriness across the mid palate. Gentle
wisps of integrated campfire smoke. Toasted molasses meets tiramisu and red cranberries
with crumbled cocoa nibs and soft white pepper towards the finish. Finish – long, creamy
and oily with umami notes rising to a crescendo

The Dark Horse
2nd fill bourbon barrels

Nose
Salted vanilla syrup, crushed oyster shells and white pepper spice. Soft subtle hints of earthy peat smoke, salty beach bonfires and hay bails.

Palate
Sweet vanilla drizzled over Portuguese tarts up front with salted butter and white chocolate across the mid palate ending with a savoury earthiness, with a finish that has oily long length and a lingering earthiness.

By Cat Jones aka @byron.bay.eats
After many years of incredible gastronomic experiences across the globe, Cat has returned to the region. Inspired by the excellent produce, local products and restaurants in the area, Cat started Byron Bay Eats in 2020, capturing the essence of Byron’s unique culture to become the leading food voice in the region.