Husk Gets Sidetracked: Our First-Ever Whisky Has Arrived
At Husk, we’ve spent over a decade redefining what Australian rum can be – from our farm-to-bottle fresh cane juice rum to limited releases finished in local beer barrels. But every now and then, a good idea (and a few cold beers) take you somewhere unexpected.
This winter, we’re going a little rogue – and getting sidetracked – with the release of our first-ever whisky:
Sidetrack Stone Whisky, a wildly limited, one-off collaboration with our mates at Stone & Wood.
And no, we’re not turning our backs on rum.
“Let’s be clear – we’re still a rum distillery,” says Paul. “This is a side project. A delicious, totally unnecessary, and completely irresistible side project.”
So, how did this happen?
Like all the best ideas, it started on the back veranda. Paul was sharing a drink with William “Buzz” Hutchinson, the recently retired Head Distiller of Cardhu Distillery in Scotland – the spiritual home of Johnnie Walker. At the time, we had just taken delivery of our brand-new copper Forsyth still, handcrafted in Scotland. And, with Buzz on the porch and fresh equipment inside, Paul had a lightbulb moment:
“Why not make a barrel of whisky?”
One thing led to another, and we picked up the phone to Stone & Wood co-founder Jamie Cook. Soon after, a thousand litres of wort inspired by Stone Beer – their rich, malty, wood-fired seasonal release – was delivered to the farm.
The first distillation? Let’s call it character-building.
“Everything went wrong, and we thought we’d never do it again,” Paul laughs. “Until we tasted it six months later. Then we knew we had something special.”
So we tried again – this time, with a custom Stone Beer-inspired mash, a smoother process, and a little more planning.
A local lovechild of beer, rum and whisky
Stone & Wood brewed a robust, chocolatey wort using roasted malts and wood-fired stones. We distilled it through our Forsyth still, then aged the spirit for five long years in ex-Husk Rum barrels under the subtropical sun here in the Tweed Valley.
The result? A whisky that’s completely unique, yet unmistakably local.
Expect bold notes of dark fruit, toffee, toasted grain and chocolate, with a whisper of smoke and a lingering, full-bodied finish. It’s a whisky with backbone – proudly Australian, thoughtfully made, and shaped by the climate, culture and community of the Northern Rivers.
And yes – it’s a true one-off.
Only 2,000 bottles of Sidetrack Stone Whisky have been released. Each bottle is 500ml, bottled at 43% ABV, and available direct from Husk, Stone & Wood, and a select number of independent retailers.
“This is the first of four collaborations in the Sidetrack Whisky series,” says Paul. “All different, all one-offs, and all designed to keep our creative spirits well and truly alive. We’ve got no plans to stop making rum – but every now and then, it’s fun to get sidetracked.”
Sidetrack Stone Whisky
500ml | 43% ABV
Aged 5 Years in Ex-Husk Rum Barrels
One-Off Release | $85
