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Two of the biggest trends in Australian drinks right now are consumers trading up to premium offerings and wanting to support local producers.

Sales of Australian single malt whisky at Dan Murphy’s have soared 150%, which Spirit’s & Premix Category Manager James Duvnjak attributes to the spirit neatly ticking both those boxes.

“Trends we expected to build over the next three to five years happened in three months following the first lockdown in March 2020,” he noted. “With everyone staying home due to COVID, we saw customers really start to think about their drink choices differently. Just as people started to make sourdough and pasta at home, they needed better drinks to match with them.

“Single malt was one of the main trends that has been growing over the past five years that was all of a sudden at the forefront of people’s minds.”

Single malt whisky is made from 100% malted barley and distilled at a single distillery.

“Even though some single malts from similar regions can have common characteristics, each individual distillery’s expression will have its own unique methods which deliver flavours, aromas and traditions that cannot be replicated,” Duvnjak explained.

Father’s Day whisky sales soar

Sales of single malt whisky increased by more than 50% in the week leading up to Father’s Day last year at Dan Murphy’s, with the retailer expecting a similar uplift this year.

“Single malt is the true expression of a distillery, and is a good choice for dad on Father’s Day as it is top shelf whisky,” said Duvnjak.

Dan Murphy’s currently stocks almost 200 single malts and more than 120 Australian whiskies in its range across online and stores, which can make it tricky to decide which one to choose.

Here are Duvnjak’s top 5 single malt suggestions for Father’s Day:

Lark Classic Cask Single Malt Australian Whisky ($179.99): “Made in Tasmania and double-distilled in locally crafted copper-pot stills and aged in carefully selected small casks, Lark Classic Cask Whisky features citrus and butterscotch with a hint of Tasmanian peat. A great balance of sweet, spicy and savoury elements make this the perfect dram for whisky-lovers.”

Hellyers Road Pinot Noir Finish Single Malt Australian Whisky ($98.99): “Tasmanian grown malted barley and pure rainwater are harnessed along with casks previously used to mature fine Tasmanian Pinot Noir to produce this truly tailored malt whisky. Richness, texture and an eternal length of flavour will provide any true malt lover with a new world whisky experience to remember.”

Glengoyne 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky ($89.99)” “Bridging the boundary of the Highlands and Lowlands, Glengoyne is a unique distillery in that they don’t use peat smoke to dry their barley, rather they simply use warm air. This gives the whiskies they produce a feel of grace and subtlety. Their 12 Year Old Single Malt has a nose of lemon rind and candied apples and glimmer of coconut. The palate is dense and flavoursome courtesy of the hand-selected sherry casks that also impart a textured, long lasting finish.”

Tamdhu 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky ($84.99): “Pour yourself a dram of this 12-year-old expression and you’ll appreciate why Tamdhu mature their spirit entirely in the finest sherry oak casks. The luxury box reveals the stylish bottle, allowing the natural amber spirit to shine from within. You’ll taste the intense richness on the palate and enjoy the deep, long
finish it delivers.”

Glen Moray Cask Single Malt Scotch Whisky ($53.99): “This Classic Port Cask Scotch Whisky is a new addition to the Glen Moray Single Malt Family. It has the perfect combination of rich wine flavours with vanilla oak notes because it is matured from the finest American oak barrels then matured for another 8 months in Port pipes. This whisky is specially selected by the master distiller due to the fact that it is well balanced and full of character.”

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