An intimate crowd gathered on Thursday to celebrate Young Henrys newest whisky release, Ramblin Man. Guests were treated to an exclusive tasting by Young Henrys co-founders Oscar McMahon and Richard Adamson, along with Tim Claydon, son of the Ramblin’ Man, the late Bill Claydon, who is the reason the whisky was introduced.
On the evening Claydon said, “It’s a pleasure to finally have Ramblin Man released and for the world to see my father was a lover of whisky and would have been proud to see how it turned out. I can’t thank the guys at Young Henrys enough for the love they have put into this.”
Young Henrys have crafted this very limited release of the 18-year-old Australian Whisky, Ramblin Man. Tim Claydon (previous owner of Newtown venue The Vanguard and close friend of YH) approached Young Henrys looking for someone to bottle two casks of freshly distilled Tasmanian whisky (Barrel numbers 492 & 493). It was a gift purchased 21 years ago by his late father, Bill Claydon, for he and his sibling. Claydon Snr was a motorcyclist for the Australian Navy, an avid whisky lover and Newtown local.
Distilled and barrelled in Tasmania in 2000, the exclusive whisky was transported to Young Henrys headquarters in Newton mid 2016 where it was transferred into Australian Apera Sherry casks, spending its’ final years ageing before it was bottled by hand in November 2018. The 381 individually numbered bottles are now ready for drinking.
Claydon travelled to Tasmania with Young Henrys co-founders Oscar McMahon and Richard Adamson and from a Hobart hotel room, the name Ramblin Man was bestowed upon the whisky, named after one of Bill’s favourite Hank Williams’ songs.
Young Henrys are hugely honoured to release all 381 individually numbered bottles of the 18-year-old Australian whisky, with thanks to Tim and the Claydon family.
Oscar McMahon, Young Henrys co-founder says: “Ramblin Man has been a really interesting and unique project for us and has now spanned many years. It is such a pleasure to have been able to work with such a refined and beautiful spirit, especially when there is the added weight of a family story intertwined. I am really happy that the two barrels of this Whisky are now married and will shortly be seeing the light of day.”
A taste of the whisky would see a nose of right citrus, pekoe tea and orange zest, burnt brown sugar, vanilla custard, raisin, walnut and honey. A balanced palate of sweet malty, cereal notes, and orange marmalade upfront through to chewy caramel and French oak, finishing with candied lemon peel and Leatherwood honey. The sweet spices and fruity viscosity ensure a thick, chewy, oily and long finish.
This special release is available from June 21 via Young Henrys online store and retails for $450.
Photo credit: Tom Wilkinson
