Brash Higgins 20 Year Old TAWNY PORT
The Brash Higgins ‘TWNY’ Tawny port has a base age of 24 years old now, aged in a solera begun in 1999 from amazingly complex 25 year-old Macallan whisky casks. Originally used for Spanish Oloroso sherry, the casks were filled by Macallan in 1975, at a time when the distiller was known as the “Rolls Royce of single malts”, and cared for by famous Aussie whisky connoisseurs and commentators, Steven Matthews and David Le Cornu. After this celebrated whisky was bottled in South Australia, it fetched 1000’s of dollars per bottle on the auction market. Rumour has it there are still a couple of bottles left.
It was at this time that Matthews, and his close friend Niggles, usurped the empty, character rich casks and filled them with a light, fruit-forward Tawny they sourced from a very reputable SA producer who has asked to remain anonymous. Sadly, Niggles passed away shortly after the solera was begun. Brash picked up the project with Steven after they became friends training to hike the Kokoda track in Papua New Guinea in 2008. Currently the ‘TWNY’ solera has grown to include a whisky fife that held another celebrated fortified in it for 80 years previously. Super Limited, only 50 beautifully etched bottles, numbered.
In memory of Niggles.
“Mahogany colour and espresso like nose. Deep flavours of caramel and malt on the palate from the previous whisky inhabitant, with dried dates and orange peel acidity keeping it all lively followed by a extended, lip-smacking, hazelnut finish.” Brad Hickey, Vinitor, December 2, 2023.
Additional information
Grapes: Blend of grenache and pedro ximenez
Time in cask: 20 years as of 2019
Cask origin: Spanish Oloroso Sherry casks
Cask ages: 51 years as of 2022
Batch date #4: March, 2021
Closure: Wooden top with cork composite
Bottle size: 500ml
No. of bottles: 100
Alc. level: 19.6%
100 bottles
Price: $150 per 500ml bottle