Heartwood Art of Darkness “Shedonism” Whisky 500ml - 50.8% abv

One of 125 bottles only | Recipe by Jose Dymenstein | Bottles October 2026

The story:

SHEDONISM - What happens when you leave Jose alone in a bond store.

Every year, Jose heads south for Tasmanian Whisky Week. And every year, one of his first stops is the Heartwood shed to see Tim and Louis Duckett. From the outside, you could mistake it for somewhere to buy roofing screws. Inside is a collection of some of the most exciting, eclectic whisky maturing anywhere in Australia.

The Ducketts are whisky wizards. They take intriguing spirit from Tasmania and across the mainland, introduce it to all manner of casks, and let the Tasmanian climate get to work. Leaky old sherry puncheons. Immaculate new barrels that would look at home in a Ferrari showroom. Everything in between. It is a very good place to visit. It is an even better place to be handed the keys.

On this particular morning, Jose arrived a little earlier than expected. Tim had to take Wally, his dog, for a walk. “I’ll be back in half an hour, Jose. Here are the keys. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.” Anyone who knows Tim will appreciate how little that ruled out.

So there was Jose. Unsupervised. In a shed full of whisky. He found the spirit thief - the tool used to draw samples from a cask, although on this occasion the name felt particularly appropriate - and got to work.

Sampling one cask became five. Five became ten. Somewhere around thirty, a sensational whisky made with spirit from South Australia’s Fleurieu Distillery stopped him in his tracks. Then came a thought. What would this taste like with a little of number eight? And perhaps some of number ten. And just a touch of twenty-two. Most people come back from Tasmania with a bottle. Jose had apparently decided to come back with his own vatting.

With Jose’s selections as the starting point, Tim and Louis worked their magic, refining the blend into an Art of Darkness release from the Heartwood and TIB stables, bottled at 50% ABV. It could only have one name.

Shedonism.

The pursuit of pleasure through prolonged exposure to whisky, barrels and irresponsible influences in a Tasmanian shed.

In the glass, beautiful tart fruit cuts through a generous sherry backbone, with a wisp of peat weaving through the whole affair. Rich, lively and full of character - a rather compelling argument for leaving Jose unattended more often. We’re delighted to bring you Shedonism. Tim may be less delighted about handing over the keys next year.