Purchasing Bourbon in Australia

[HD 335]

I'm hoping to get some info about where to purchase specialty bottles in Australia, near Canning Vale. I have a friend out there and wanted to ask him for a favor if he can find some limited bottles. Are there any good spots close to him?

[Vietish]

There are no real limited bottles that spring to mind apart from the Jim Beam Small Batch. Everything we get here is pretty much the same as the USA, but usually watered down. Unless you want that sorta thing..

[camduncan]

You could ask your friend to try Dan Murphys or First Choice if he has them in his area. Products unique to Australia (and/or Asia) that he will find at either of these two stores:

Blantons Family Reserve (Green Label, 80 proof)

Blantons Gold Label (online purchase only at Dan Murphys)

Jim Beam Bonded No 12 Formula (Gold Label)

Jim Beam Small Batch with Port added

Jim Beam 1795

McKenna Bourbon (74 proof export version made by Four Roses, where as the US version is made at Heaven Hill)

Cougar Bourbon

Standard Heaven Hill (White Label) products bottled under different names at 74 proof:

Nelson County

Kentucky Gold

Iron Horse

You might also like to look at the Dan Murphys and First Choice sites - both have a good range of Australian made whiskey that you may not get in the US..

Edited June 11, 2014 by camduncan

[Vietish]

Well that right there is why he is Bourbonian of the Year and I am just a schmuck.

[camduncan]

Well that right there is why he is Bourbonian of the Year and I am just a schmuck.

Nah, you're definitely no schmuck.... I've just been regurgitating that reply in various forms for a few more years

[HD 335]

Thanks to Vietish and camduncan for the information. Looks like everything is taxed quite heavily there and a premium even for standard bottles. I was hoping to possibly have my friend find a BTAC bottle for me.

[camduncan]

You can get them, but one bottle of BTAC here would set you back the cost of an entire set (at retail) in the US!

[bjbronwyn]

BTAC is easy enough to find, not hard to guess why,average price is about $250-$280 per bottle.

[HD 335]

Wow, this is expensive. My friend would still need to ship it so it's an easy pass.

[kickert]

I will be in Melbourne next week (transitioning through Perth). Any suggestions on a good place to get a decent pour? I will be staying around Malvern.

[camduncan]

Hopefully someone from Melbourne can reply (I had to Google Malvern to see where it was).... One tip - bring some warm clothes. Melbourne will be VERY cold at this time of year!!

[kickert]

Thanks Cam! I am coming straight across the Southern Hemisphere, so I am already in "Winter Mode." However, from what I have been told, Swazi winter is nothing compared to the damp cold of Melbourne in July.

[tanstaafl2]

Thanks Cam! I am coming straight across the Southern Hemisphere, so I am already in "Winter Mode." However, from what I have been told, Swazi winter is nothing compared to the damp cold of Melbourne in July.

"damp cold of Melbourne in July"

Gotta say, having grown up not far from Melbourne, Florida that just sounds weird to me!

[Duxnutz]

I have some superfluous bottles of Crown I'm offloading if anyone in Sydney has a thing for it.

[Guest]

Not familiar with the bar scene around Malvern, to be honest I dont imagine there would be much of one going. I live in the city so admiteddly I am spoiled and oblivious to alternatives.

Highly reccomend heading into the city and going to Whiskey and Alement, quite easily the best stocked whisky bar in melbourne with 300-400 whiskys to choose from in a nice cosy environment, very helpfull staff, they host themed tastings from time to time if you check their website.

In case you are short of ideas consider the following options:

My usual go to after a few whiskys is Crazy Wings down to road from W&A for some intensive chinese char grilled skewered chicken wing feasting, word of warning if you go, crazy hot is exactly as it sounds.

After if you have the energy, which you should after all that msg and chilli, consider heading up to The Melbourne Supper Club, its a late night bar (4am) bit of an istitution, slightly upmarket feel, second story bar with views of Melbournes parliment which can be enjoyed from well worn leather Chesterfields.

Whatever you end up doing, enjoy yourself and make sure you got to the MCG and watch a game of Australian Rules Football (just dont barrack for Collingwood)

[Guest]

And if you want to stay kinda local I can highly reccomend Baranows in Hawthorn (10 minutes away).

Cigar and whisky bar, only place in Melbourne that allows indoor smoking as far as I know.

[kickert]

Not familiar with the bar scene around Malvern, to be honest I dont imagine there would be much of one going. I live in the city so admiteddly I am spoiled and oblivious to alternatives.

Highly reccomend heading into the city and going to Whiskey and Alement, quite easily the best stocked whisky bar in melbourne with 300-400 whiskys to choose from in a nice cosy environment, very helpfull staff, they host themed tastings from time to time if you check their website.

In case you are short of ideas consider the following options:

My usual go to after a few whiskys is Crazy Wings down to road from W&A for some intensive chinese char grilled skewered chicken wing feasting, word of warning if you go, crazy hot is exactly as it sounds.

After if you have the energy, which you should after all that msg and chilli, consider heading up to The Melbourne Supper Club, its a late night bar (4am) bit of an istitution, slightly upmarket feel, second story bar with views of Melbournes parliment which can be enjoyed from well worn leather Chesterfields.

Whatever you end up doing, enjoy yourself and make sure you got to the MCG and watch a game of Australian Rules Football (just dont barrack for Collingwood)

This is excellent. Thanks so much for the insider knowledge. My schedule is pretty booked up with the conference I am attending (also responsible for several other staff members who have never traveled before), but I am sure I can break away for a bit for some good whiskey.

As for footy, I hate to tell you this, but I have been a Magpies supporter since before they won their last Grand Final. Unfortunately, the only AFL match at MCG while I am in is Hawthorne and Sydney. It should be a good match, but I would have loved to see Collingwood play in person.

[deathevocation]

I will be in Melbourne next week (transitioning through Perth). Any suggestions on a good place to get a decent pour? I will be staying around Malvern.

Barranows Lounge on corner of Burwood Road and Glenferrie Road, Hawthorn. Next suburb from Malvern. It is also a cigar bar, so be warned if you do not like the smell of tobacco smoke.

[deathevocation]

Thanks Cam! I am coming straight across the Southern Hemisphere, so I am already in "Winter Mode." However, from what I have been told, Swazi winter is nothing compared to the damp cold of Melbourne in July.

It's freezing at the moment.

[deathevocation]

Not familiar with the bar scene around Malvern, to be honest I dont imagine there would be much of one going. I live in the city so admiteddly I am spoiled and oblivious to alternatives.

Highly reccomend heading into the city and going to Whiskey and Alement, quite easily the best stocked whisky bar in melbourne with 300-400 whiskys to choose from in a nice cosy environment, very helpfull staff, they host themed tastings from time to time if you check their website.

In case you are short of ideas consider the following options:

My usual go to after a few whiskys is Crazy Wings down to road from W&A for some intensive chinese char grilled skewered chicken wing feasting, word of warning if you go, crazy hot is exactly as it sounds.

After if you have the energy, which you should after all that msg and chilli, consider heading up to The Melbourne Supper Club, its a late night bar (4am) bit of an istitution, slightly upmarket feel, second story bar with views of Melbournes parliment which can be enjoyed from well worn leather Chesterfields.

Whatever you end up doing, enjoy yourself and make sure you got to the MCG and watch a game of Australian Rules Football (just dont barrack for Collingwood)

Crazy Wings - took some blokes from work there. Was a laugh.

[Guest]

This is excellent. Thanks so much for the insider knowledge. My schedule is pretty booked up with the conference I am attending (also responsible for several other staff members who have never traveled before), but I am sure I can break away for a bit for some good whiskey.

As for footy, I hate to tell you this, but I have been a Magpies supporter since before they won their last Grand Final. Unfortunately, the only AFL match at MCG while I am in is Hawthorne and Sydney. It should be a good match, but I would have loved to see Collingwood play in person.

Haha hows that for coincidence! Well collingwood plays my team on Sunday arvo, if its isnt raining I will be heading to it with a hip flask of WT101 at the ready.

Enjoy your visit.

[kickert]

Highly reccomend heading into the city and going to Whiskey and Alement, quite easily the best stocked whisky bar in melbourne with 300-400 whiskys to choose from in a nice cosy environment, very helpfull staff, they host themed tastings from time to time if you check their website.

In case you are short of ideas consider the following options:

My usual go to after a few whiskys is Crazy Wings down to road from W&A for some intensive chinese char grilled skewered chicken wing feasting, word of warning if you go, crazy hot is exactly as it sounds.

After if you have the energy, which you should after all that msg and chilli, consider heading up to The Melbourne Supper Club, its a late night bar (4am) bit of an istitution, slightly upmarket feel, second story bar with views of Melbournes parliment which can be enjoyed from well worn leather Chesterfields.

Whatever you end up doing, enjoy yourself and make sure you got to the MCG and watch a game of Australian Rules Football (just dont barrack for Collingwood)

Just got back to Swaziland from Australia, and while I had a pretty intense schedule for most of the trip, I was able to set aside a Saturday for general debauchery in the city with a friend.

Started the day at a cool African Themed non-profit bar called Shebeen (http://www.shebeen.com.au/about) and had a couple Tuskers. Then moved down to Fed Square to watch some footy at Transport Bar where we had some local stuff as a well as a pair of Chimays. Next it was to the MCG to watch an excellent match between Sydney and Hawthorne (and down several peronis). From there we headed to Whiskey and Alement. Thank you so much for the recommendation. I was very impressed with their selection and the manger on duty was very helpful and kind. We ran through some BT stuff for comparison with ETL, BT and GTS. Then went to the dark side with some Lagavulin 16. Last pour there (after a long discussion of craft distilling in America) was a tot of Few Spirits Bourbon. It tasted a bit rushed (small barrels), but didn't have any off notes in it I found it enjoyable. We ended the night at Siglo Bar (rooftop of the supper club) where I enjoyed a Monte Christo along with some Diplomatica Reserva.

I didn't make it back back home until after 2a where I found myself locked out of the flats and had to sleep on the concrete stoop until 4a and I could get someone inside to answer the phone.

Despite the rough ending (although honestly, at that point, I wasn't feeling much at all), it was an incredible day in the city. Thanks so much for the suggestions! I hope to make it back to Melbourne soon!

[deathevocation]

Hawthorn were sensational on Saturday night.

[kickert]

Hawthorn were sensational on Saturday night.

It really was an excellent game. Started a bit slow, but the back and forth was super entertaining!

[bjbronwyn]

AFL is the best game on earth!

Come back soon, theres more to see than Melbourne!