Corowa Distilling Ale Saviour No. 2 Australian Whisky 500mL

This whisky is distilled from craft ale rather than traditional grain mash, making it a revolutionary approach to whisky production. The base of craft beer brings unique flavour compounds and fermentation characteristics that you won't find in conventional whisky. This innovative process creates a bridge between brewing and distilling traditions, resulting in a spirit that captures the essence of both crafts in one bottle.

The Ale Saviour was born from necessity and ingenuity when COVID-19 lockdowns prevented breweries from distributing their beer to pubs and customers. Rather than waste thousands of litres of quality craft ale from Bridge Road Brewers, Corowa Distilling stepped in to transform the stranded beer into whisky through distillation. This collaboration not only saved precious liquid from going down the drain but created an entirely new category of Australian spirit.

The honey and dried apricot notes reflect the complex interplay between the original ale's malt character and the distillation process. These flavours likely develop from the Maillard reactions in the original brewing process, which become concentrated and transformed during distillation. The medium body suggests a well-balanced spirit that maintains the approachable character of beer while gaining the depth and complexity that distillation provides.

As a small batch production marked as 'No. 2', this suggests both limited availability and that it's part of an ongoing experimental series. Small batch whiskies are typically produced in quantities of a few hundred to a few thousand bottles, making each release relatively scarce. The numbered series indicates Corowa Distilling is continuing to explore this innovative ale-to-whisky concept, with each batch potentially offering subtle variations.

Given its ale origins and medium body, this whisky bridges the gap between beer and spirits culture, making it versatile for different serving styles. Try it neat first to appreciate the unique ale-derived flavours, then experiment with a splash of water to open up the honey and apricot notes. Its innovative background also makes it perfect for creative cocktails that play with both beer and whisky traditions.