Australia’s pioneering Tasmanian distillery brings a bold new luxury single malt portfolio to Malaysia, capturing the wild climate, elemental forces, and creative freedom of an island at the edge of the world.
Malaysia has become one of the first markets in the region to welcome the newly unveiled Lark luxury single malt portfolio, marking a significant moment for Australian whisky and for drinkers seeking spirits defined as much by place as by process. The launch introduces Malaysian consumers to four expressions that together tell a distinctly Tasmanian story – one shaped by wind, water, peat, and a refusal to be bound by old-world rules. Perhaps it’s for this reason, as well as for the obvious ones related to Tasmania’s geography and location, that it’s known as the “whisky from another world.”
We were privileged and delighted to be on hand at the recent launch of Lark’s new portfolio, held at Sol @ The Met, where we were among the first in the world to sample the latest offerings from this highly regarded distillery that hails from the untamed, pristine land that’s down under from The Land Down Under! We were particularly honoured to be in the company of founder Bill Lark and Master Distiller Chris Thomson, underscoring the importance that has been placed on the Malaysian market.
Founded in 1992, Lark Distilling Co. is widely credited with igniting modern Tasmanian whisky after co-founders Bill and Lyn Lark successfully challenged a distilling ban that had stood since 1839. More than three decades on, Lark is regarded as Australia’s leading luxury single malt producer and a standard-bearer for what New World whisky can be: expressive, flavour-forward, and guided by taste and provenance rather than tradition.
That philosophy is evident throughout the new portfolio, which arrives in an attractive, redesigned 700ml bottle with a confident visual identity inspired by Tasmania’s wild landscapes and native flora and fauna. The soaring skylark motif is more than decorative; it reflects a sense of freedom that defines both the island and the distillery’s approach to whisky-making.
AN ISLAND THAT SHAPES THE SPIRIT
Tasmania’s role in the character of Lark whisky goes far beyond branding. Lying south of the Australian mainland and exposed to the Southern Ocean, the island experiences dramatic seasonal shifts and sharp temperature variations that accelerate maturation and intensify flavour development. Combined with exceptionally pure air and water, these conditions create a spirit that matures differently – and often more expressively – than those from more temperate regions.
Lark’s production methods are deeply rooted in this environment. Tasmanian barley, malted in Devonport, produces a richer, oilier spirit. Fermentation runs for seven days using brewers’ yeast, with exposure to ambient air allowing wild yeast influence. Peat is sourced from Browns Marsh in Tasmania’s Central Highlands, making Lark the only distillery in the Southern Hemisphere with its own peat-mining licence. Even the water used to cut the spirit is applewood-smoked, a nod to Tasmania’s orchard heritage that contributes a subtle savoury note and a distinctive umami character.
Maturation and finishing rely heavily on fortified wine casks, particularly vintage Port and Sherry casks from Seppeltsfield Wines in South Australia, some with more than a century of liquid history. The result is what Lark describes as its house style: fortified depth, layered richness, and a silky, lingering mouthfeel.
Master Distiller Chris Thomson, a protégé of the Larks, oversees this process with an uncompromising focus on flavour. Each whisky is tasted repeatedly – often dozens of times – before release, ensuring that it expresses not just technical excellence, but the essence of Tasmania itself.
FOUR EXPRESSIONS, FOUR INTERPRETATIONS OF TASMANIA
Three expressions lead the primary global release and are now available in Malaysia through selected premium channels. Fire Trail is positioned as the purest expression of the Lark house style, combining vibrant citrus and baked fruit with the depth of Port and Sherry casks, balanced by applewood-smoked water. It is bold, approachable, and unmistakably Tasmanian.
FIRE TRAIL TASTING NOTES
Nose: Bright citrus peel and baked orchard fruits lead, layered with honeyed malt, soft spice, and a gentle savoury lift from applewood-smoked water.
Palate: Lively and expressive, with orange zest, stewed apples, and dried apricot balanced by the rounded sweetness of Port and Sherry casks. A subtle umami note adds depth without heaviness.
Finish: Clean and warming, with lingering fruit sweetness, light oak spice, and a faint savoury echo.
Devil’s Storm moves into darker, more powerful territory. Aged in first-fill vintage fortified wine casks and finished in American oak, it delivers scorched red fruit, almond fudge, and rich chocolate, reflecting the island’s raw intensity and dramatic climate.
DEVIL’S STORM TASTING NOTES
Nose: Deep and assertive, opening with scorched red berries, dark chocolate, and roasted nuts, underpinned by rich fortified wine character and toasted oak.
Palate: Full-bodied and powerful, delivering layers of plum compote, almond fudge, cocoa, and warming spice. The influence of American oak adds structure and intensity.
Finish: Long and commanding, with persistent chocolate richness, dry oak, and a slow fade of dark fruit and spice.
At the pinnacle sits Ruby Abyss, the first release in Lark’s super luxury tier. Matured entirely in first-fill vintage Port and Sherry casks, including century-old reserves, it offers dark fruits, caramelised brown sugar, silky mocha, and a refined peat smoke. This is a whisky that leans fully into indulgence while retaining balance and restraint.
RUBY ABYSS TASTING NOTES
Nose: Opulent and complex, with dark cherries, dried figs, caramelised brown sugar, and treacle, lifted by subtle floral notes and a whisper of Tasmanian peat.
Palate: Silky and indulgent, unfolding with mocha, ripe black fruits, and rich toffee sweetness. The fortified casks bring depth and balance, while peat adds quiet tension.
Finish: Exceptionally long and elegant, finishing on brandy snap, cocoa, gentle smoke, and a refined sweetness that lingers with poise.
The fourth expression, Cinder Forest, is exclusive to global travel retail and is expected to appear at key international airports. It showcases the fortified house style through hand-selected casks, finishing with American oak to deliver vanilla, honey, citrus lift, and layers of chocolate and spiced dates. As we did not taste this expression as part of our launch experience, the tasting notes below were compiled from other sources.
CINDER FOREST TASTING NOTES
Nose: Warm and inviting, with vanilla pod, wild honey, and soft citrus, followed by notes of spiced dates, milk chocolate, and seasoned oak.
Palate: Smooth and layered, combining honeyed malt, orange zest, and dried fruits with a rounded oak richness and subtle savoury undertone.
Finish: Medium to long, gently drying, with lingering vanilla, chocolate, and soft spice, designed to reward slow exploration.
WHY MALAYSIA MATTERS
The decision to debut the new portfolio in Malaysia and Singapore highlights Southeast Asia’s growing importance in the global luxury spirits market. For Lark, the region offers an audience that is increasingly curious, knowledgeable, and receptive to whiskies that speak clearly of origin.
More broadly, the launch reinforces Tasmania’s standing as one of the world’s most compelling under-the-radar whisky regions. In an era when authenticity and provenance matter more than ever, Lark’s whiskies offer something increasingly rare: a genuine sense of place, captured without compromise.
For Malaysian whisky lovers, this is a real treat! The arrival of Lark here in our market is an invitation to experience a single malt that is genuinely unique and tastes like nowhere else – a dram shaped by an island at the edge of the world, and bottled with confidence, creativity, and intent. We were delighted to share in the launch experience, and we expect Lark to find plenty of new fans here in Malaysia.
