Hibiki Japanese Harmony Master’s Select
Japanese whisky has skyrocketed in popularity and it’s not hard to see why – the country’s spirits boast some seriously delicate flavours. A prime example of this is Hibiki Whisky, one of the world’s most prestigious and honoured drops. The brand has three distinct varieties of whisky, but if you’re chasing something out of the ordinary we suggest the Japanese Harmony Master’s Select. The Master’s Select is more exclusive than the standard Harmony, blending ten different Japanese malt and grain whiskies aged in five different types of casks. The scents of plum in syrup, roses and a sweet woodiness make way for a lingering orange marmalade taste bolstered by a slightly bitter dark chocolate flavour. A subtle, tender and slightly spicy finish makes the Master’s Select a true delight to drink.

Talisker Dark Storm
For those who like it smokin’, it doesn’t get much better than Talikser Dark Storm. Famed for its intense and powerful whiskies, Talisker has been in the business since 1830 – safe to say you’re in good hands here. Matured in heavily charred oak casks, Dark Storm bursts onto your palate in a smoky plume complemented by red fruit, citrus and fresh honey. Dark Storm lingers long after the last sip, imparting a finish peppered with honey-roasted nuts. If you’re offering this to someone not so keen on the heavy smokiness, add a few drops of water – this takes a bit of the edge off without compromising on flavour.

The Macallan Terra
Even though we deal in the metric system, we can still recognise that 10,000 miles is a heck of a long journey. This number is significant for The Macallan Terra – it marks the distance that the first-fill European and first-fill American oak casks that the whisky is matured in had to travel. The result of this intercontinental union is flavour with a distinctive character of toffee, sweet dried fruit and rich wood spices – perfect for shining a light on the intensity of the maturation process. The Terra is part of The Macallan’s Quest collection, so we would recommend testing them all … in the name of a well-rounded experience, of course.

Bruichladdich Octomore
Pushing the boundaries is something that the team at Bruichladdich excels at – so much so that they created a whole new breed of whisky. Octomore is a direct result of risk, coming about from a discussion about upping the peat factor of a traditionally un-peated Bruichladdich to unprecedented levels. While it may sound full on, the intensity of Octomore 8.2 is perfectly balanced – a complex sweetness gives way to hints of barbecued meat, pepper and peat smoke with a long and lingering finish.

The Singleton of Glendullan Master’s Art
Rich and fruity are two adjectives we can certainly get behind, especially when it comes to describing a whisky. Coming from the skilled team at Glendullan, whose whiskies are usually aged in American oak bourbon barrels, Master’s Art breaks from tradition by being extra matured in specially selected rare muscat casks that bring a spicy edge to the table. From the moment you take a sip, your tastebuds will be greeted with a sweet mix of golden syrup, fudge and oat biscuits. This initial smooth and creamy taste makes way for a fruity and sweet finish of orange oil and sponge cake – the perfect treat.

Itching to taste your way around these interesting drops? All of these whiskies are Travel Retail Exclusives from JR/Duty Free and are available to try for free – next time you’re at the airport, head to JR/Duty Free and make a beeline for the whisky bar (and look out for the handy ‘airport exclusive’ tags). This post was created in conjunction with our friends at Brisbane Airport.