Australian whisky has, over the past decade, moved from curiosity to genuine contender — and Backwoods Single Malt is one of those bottles that reminds you why. Produced in a country where craft distilling has exploded since the early 2000s, this NAS single malt bottled at 46% ABV sits at an interesting crossroads: accessible enough for the adventurous newcomer, yet with enough substance to hold the attention of seasoned drinkers looking beyond the usual Scottish and Japanese suspects.
I'll be honest — when Australian single malts first started arriving on my desk, I approached them with the cautious scepticism of someone who'd spent years judging IWSC entries from established regions. But the quality curve in Australian distilling has been sharp and genuine. Backwoods positions itself firmly in the craft tradition, and the decision to bottle at 46% without chill filtration (as is common among Australia's better producers) suggests a distillery confident enough to let the spirit speak without cosmetic intervention.
The NAS designation here shouldn't put you off. In a young and dynamic distilling scene like Australia's, age statements can be misleading — what matters far more is the quality of the new make spirit and the cask management. At this price point, around £65, you're paying a premium over many entry-level Scotch single malts, but you're also buying into something genuinely different. Australian whisky benefits from a climate that accelerates maturation in ways that cooler regions simply cannot replicate. The interaction between spirit and wood happens faster and more intensely, which often yields a richness and depth that belies the actual years in cask.
Tasting Notes
I'd encourage you to approach this one with an open mind and no preconceptions. Australian single malts as a category tend to deliver generous fruit character, warm spice, and a weight that often surprises. At 46%, expect enough body to carry complexity without the burn that higher-strength bottlings can bring. This is a whisky that invites you to sit with it — pour it, let it breathe, and let it reveal itself over time in the glass.
The Verdict
Backwoods Single Malt is a solid representative of what Australian distilling can achieve. It won't unseat your favourite Speyside or replace that bottle of Yamazaki you've been nursing, nor should it try to. What it does is offer something genuinely its own — a whisky shaped by a different landscape, a different climate, and a different philosophy. At £64.95, it's not cheap, but it's fairly priced for a craft single malt from a region still proving itself on the world stage. I'm giving it a 7.6 out of 10. It's a whisky I'd happily pour for a friend who thinks they've tried everything, and that counts for something.
Best Served
Pour it neat at room temperature and give it five minutes to open up. If the ABV feels forward on the first sip, add a few drops of water — no more — and you'll find it broadens considerably. This is also a whisky that works beautifully in a Highball with good soda water and a strip of lemon peel, particularly on a warm evening. Don't drown it in ice; you'll lose whatever subtlety the cask work has contributed.
