One windswept Tasmanian evening in 2017, under a velvet sky pricked with stars, a campfire cast flickering shadows as whisky gleamed in raised glasses. Amid the salty tang of the sea and the timbered warmth of the flames, a bold question sparked like a stray ember: What if we made whisky—our way? That daring musing didn’t just linger in the air—it ignited an odyssey, one that charted the course for Waubs Harbour Whisky.
Waubs Harbour is more than a place or a label; it’s a tribute to Wauba Debar, a Palawa woman whose courage turned legend. Known for braving the wild seas to rescue shipwrecked sailors, her tale infuses the distillery with a fierce spirit of resilience and respect for Tasmania's rugged heritage. Each bottle isn’t merely whisky—it’s a liquid storyteller, weaving threads of bravery, culture, and the untamed ocean.
Enter the Rum Cask Limited Release: a maritime marvel that captures Tasmania’s essence with an added splash of rum-soaked rebellion. What we have been able to taste ahead of the offical release on Wednesday, 11 December is a tempest in a glass, a spirited salute to tradition with a wink to mischief—a bold voyage for the palate and the soul and a dram that feels like a liquid chronicle of Tasmania’s untamed east coast, whispering tales of salt-laden winds, roaring waves, terroir and untethered as the ocean itself.
Anchored in Maritime Marvels
Forget the rolling hills or grandiose châteaux of whisky lore—Waubs Harbour Whisky flips the script with a distillery perched daringly at the ocean’s edge. Housed in a repurposed oyster hatchery, it’s a place where sea spray mingles with craft, and the relentless whispers of the tide are as much a part of the process as the barrels themselves.
Here, whisky doesn’t just age—it evolves, infused with the spirit of the sea, each cask steeped in salty whispers and coastal charm.
The Rum Cask Limited Release embarks on its journey cradled in Tawny casks, where it luxuriates in layers of rich, buttery decadence. But the plot thickens—its final act unfolds in rum barrels fashioned from the staves of an 80-year-old vat, a vessel that once held oceans of molasses spirit.
The result?
An expression that’s anything but ordinary, i.e. a storm of flavours balanced by the warm embrace of the sea.
Craftsmanship Meets Alchemy
The rum casks, you ask?
Pure legend in stave form. Once the towering walls of a 60,000-liter vat that held oceans of molasses spirit, they’ve been reimagined by a master cooper with a knack for turning history into art.
Not unlike a modern-day Geppetto with wood, this craftsman coaxed new life from ancient timber, using hand tools to sculpt barrels that whisper stories of their storied past.
And oh, what tales these casks tell through the whisky they cradle. The nose is a tropical sonnet, weaving delicate threads of pineapple, vanilla cream, and sun-kissed coconut. On the palate, it’s pure indulgence—a buttery swirl of malt, golden sultanas dripping with sweetness, and a flirtatious flicker of toasted coconut that transports you to the Caribbean, just as a salty Tasmanian breeze reminds you where the heart of this dram lies.
At a robust 51.7% ABV, this isn’t whisky for the faint-hearted. It strides onto your palate with swagger, balancing bold flavors with maritime finesse, leaving an unforgettable impression not unlike the scent of sea air after a storm. This dram doesn’t just speak—it roars.
Treasure Worth the Hunt
With a mere 608 bottles gracing the world, the Rum Cask Limited Release is rarer than finding treasure in a shipwreck. From its bold tropical beginnings to the buttery Tawny whispers and its salty farewell, the Rum Cask Limited Release is a veritable experience. It’s a toast to the Tasmanian spirit, a nod to craftsmanship, and a reminder that some risks are worth taking, especially when they taste this good.
Mark your calendars and batten down the hatches—this seafaring sensation drops anchor on December 11th. Want to be part of the crew that claims this coveted prize? Hoist your sails and sign up at waubsharbourwhisky.com for early access. But be swift—treasures like this don’t linger on the shores; they’re swept away by those who dare to dream.
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Words by AW.
Photos courtesy of Waubs Harbour.