Upshot Bandit Australian Corn Whiskey

Nose: A sticky, sweet aroma that borders on cloying. The corn is apparent, almost like candy corn in its sweetness, strongly reminiscent of Nikka Coffey Grain, but it's balanced by barley, adding a hint of dry cereal, and perhaps a touch of wheat as anise or menthol? Palate: Surprisingly full-bodied with a pleasant oily to creamy texture, but a slight sharpness of youth upon entry. Vanilla, toffee, possibly more menthol. That's about it. To its credit, it doesn't seem to be trying to offer more than that. Finish: Medium. Butterscotch, a bit of toasted oak, a touch of spice, and the sharpness of youthful alcohol. First, let's address the main point: I'm unsure how this is meant to differ from the standard Upshot offered by Whipper Snapper?! It is distinct, noticeably so. But, I don't understand why. The regular Upshot feels less youthful and lighter to me, with floral notes on the nose that are absent in the Bandit. Upshot leans more towards maple and burnt sugar in its flavors, while Bandit is simpler and perhaps bolder. At $90 for a 700 ml Australian whisky (not 500 ml) is practically unheard of, so major kudos to Alistair and his team for that. Personally, the regular Upshot is a better choice, but I wouldn't hesitate to offer this to novices, fellow amateurs, or even seasoned enthusiasts. A whisky review. A piece of granite from the Perth Hills, located just 20 minutes east of Perth and the home of Whipper Snapper, is pictured here. The Perth Hills represent a massive 1000 km long escarpment, a remnant of India breaking away from the Western Australian coastline and drifting off. The exposed rocks are part of the Archean-aged Yilgarn Craton, an ancient continental block intruded 2.7-2.6 billion years ago by vast quantities of granites like this one. Whipper Snapper Running Scores Crazy Uncle Moonshine: 3/5 Crazy Uncle Barrel Aged Moonshine: 3.25/5 Upshot Bandit: 3.25/5 Upshot: 3.5/5 Upshot Cask Strength: 3.5/5 Upshot Red Corn: 3.25/5 Project Q: 3.25 Wheat Belt Series Wheat: 3.75/5 Wheat Belt Series Rye: 4.25/5 Wheat Belt Series Single Malt: 2.75/5

Nose: Sugary grains (corn, slick barley), vanilla, caramel, wood. It’s uncomplicated and direct, but quite enjoyable. Palate: Sweet vanilla and grains. It presents as quite young, but not unpleasantly. It feels lively, not aggressive, and is very drinkable. Vanilla, caramel, butterscotch dessert, syrupy maple. The feel is smooth and gentle. Finish: Moderate/Brief. Sweet grains give way to corn syrup. This budget-friendly spirit is crafted from corn, wheat, and barley and matured in new American oak barrels with a #3 char. It generally has a sweet character, and while its personality is uncomplicated, it’s wonderful and dangerously effortless to consume. This is an ideal whiskey for a summer afternoon drink, offering a surprising resemblance to Irish pot-still spirit. Upshot is one of multiple brands produced by the Whipper Snapper distillery in East Perth, Western Australia. Of the four products I’ve sampled from them, this and the Whipper Snapper Rye Whisky stand out as my favorites. I wasn’t as keen on their Wheat Whiskey or Single Malt, and for my palate, I wish they would focus all their efforts on their corn and rye spirits, as this is clearly where their talent lies. I found this quite pleasing and can imagine it serving well as a daily drinker or a mixer. Their website features a cocktail recipe that sounds unappealing, so I’ll pass on that. Instead, I mixed it with dry ginger, and it was good. I would not specifically seek this out, but I would purchase it if I encountered it locally. This joins a growing number of excellent local Australian spirits under $100 that have recently become available in our market, and it’s among the finest so far. “Above Average”: 81/100 (3 stars)