Australia's whisky scene has matured considerably over the past decade, and 23rd Street Distillery's Single Malt Australian Whisky is a solid example of what the country's craft producers are now capable of. Based in the Riverland region of South Australia, 23rd Street has built a reputation across several spirit categories, and this single malt represents their entry into a fiercely competitive global market. At 40% ABV and carrying no age statement, it sits at a price point — £49.95 — that asks you to judge it on character rather than pedigree. I'm happy to report it holds up well.
What strikes me first about this whisky is its ambition. Single malt production demands patience and precision, and choosing to release a NAS expression tells me the distillery is blending for flavour profile rather than chasing a number on the label. That's a philosophy I respect, provided the liquid delivers. And here, it does enough to earn its place on the shelf.
The Australian climate plays an undeniable role in how this spirit develops. Warmer maturation environments tend to accelerate the interaction between spirit and wood, often producing bolder, more fruit-forward characteristics than you might find in a comparable Scottish NAS bottling. At 40% ABV, this is bottled at the legal minimum for Scotch classification — standard for an approachable, everyday single malt. It won't overpower newcomers, and it provides a clean canvas for the distillery's house style to come through.
Tasting Notes
I'll reserve detailed tasting notes for a future update once I've had the opportunity to sit with this expression across several sessions in different conditions. What I will say is that Australian single malts of this style typically reward an open mind — expect a whisky that leans into its New World identity rather than trying to imitate Highland or Speyside convention.
The Verdict
At £49.95, 23rd Street's Single Malt sits in a crowded mid-range bracket where it competes not only with other Australian producers but with well-established Scottish, Irish, and Japanese NAS releases. That's a tough neighbourhood. What works in its favour is distinctiveness — this isn't a whisky trying to be something it's not. It carries the confidence of a distillery that understands its raw materials and its climate, and it offers something genuinely different to the drinker who's grown curious about what lies beyond the traditional whisky-producing nations.
I'd have liked to see this bottled at 43% or 46% to give the spirit a little more presence and texture. At 40%, there's always a risk of the flavour flattening out, particularly with water or ice. But taken on its own terms, this is a well-made, honest single malt that represents good value for anyone looking to explore Australian whisky without a significant financial commitment. A 7.5 out of 10 feels right — it does what it sets out to do with competence and a quiet sense of identity.
Best Served
Pour this one neat at room temperature and give it five minutes to open up in the glass. If you find it needs a little coaxing, a few drops of water will do the job — no more than that. This is also a whisky that would work beautifully in a Highball with quality soda and a twist of lemon peel, particularly on a warm afternoon. The lighter body at 40% ABV actually suits that format well, letting the spirit's character carry through the dilution without disappearing entirely.
