The second release in our Harvest Whisky series, Dry Grown Rye Malt Whisky, Harvest 2019 uses ancient varieties of barley and heirloom rye, grown by the Whytcross family during a time when NSW was suffering severe drought conditions. In this tough situation, we wanted to source as many drought-tolerant grain varieties as possible. The aim was to support the farmers by using whatever grains had survived and to create a whisky and front-label art that was a reflection of these harsh but all too common conditions in Australia.

As a whisky born from drought conditions the grains harvested for this whisky were not irrigated at all, hence the name “Dry Grown”. Unlike our previous 2018 Single Paddock Harvest Whisky, this whisky includes grains from several fields (as opposed to a single paddock) including ancient purple and black malts that we’ve never used before. To further reflect the local provenance of the grains, they were also allowed to partially ferment with wild yeasts that occur naturally around the fields in which they grow.

The result is an intriguing, multi-layered whisky with lifted aromatics of candied orange and peaches, polished cedar, and honeycomb. A beguiling palate of toasted rye bread and poached apricot follows, with a mouth-coating finish of chocolate and coconut butter with a touch of drying oak.