Bakery Hill Sovereign smoke

Australian Single Malt Whisky Tasting (Part 2), The Oak Barrel, Sydney 17 January 2020, Whisky #6 Smell: Peat smoke, caramel, honeyed citrus. A vegetal note in the background that is reminiscent of some Scottish peated whiskies. Palate: Smoke on the arrival together with sweet earthy citrus and salty caramel notes. The development is warm and focuses more on cereal and malt flavours, however in time smoke re-asserts itself and finds balance with the sweet notes. The texture is creamy and the smoke is gently omnipresent like a soft light blanket. Finish: Medium/long. A little oak, some sweet notes and mild peat smoke on the aftertaste. Although it has the statement “defiantly peated” on the label and was apparently produced at 45ppm level, this is a mild and elegant smoky whisky and no simple peat monster. It reminded me just a little of Laphroaig Select, but without any medicinal notes and with greater earthy sweetness. There’s also a slight similarity to some aspects of Longrow, which is no bad thing. However, first and foremost this has the typical Bakery Hill character. It’s a showcase variant of their new-make spirit but it still highlights the distillery’s signature profile of dry cereal with a touch of honey. Aged for 7-8 years in ex-bourbon barrels, which is relatively long for an Australian whisky, this is one of the better Bakery Hill expressions I've tasted. “Very Good”: 85/100 (4 stars)

The distiller mentioned they aimed for a Highland style of peated barley in their other peated expressions, contrasting with typical Islay/Island styles. The peat levels are around 20 ppm, unlike the usual double that for most major Islay distilleries. The goal was to maintain balance and not overwhelm the other whiskey components. All the distiller's whiskies were well-balanced, important for this Speyside-style dram, showcasing true craftsmanship. Eight years ago, he was offered a significant amount of peated Belgian malt. He initially dismissed it due to frequent offers, but sampling it revealed something special, prompting him to buy several pallet loads. This is the result after eight years. Apparently, we'll need to wait another eight years for a repeat. Regardless, the dram itself is quite pleasant. The malty vanilla balances the Islay-style peat. It's very nice and my preferred expression in the range. Unfortunately, it wasn't in my tasting pack as it just arrived five weeks ago. They held a naming contest where his son narrowed down hundreds of suggestions to a select few; they agreed on two names and used both on the label: Sovereign Smoke and Defiantly Peated.

Nose: Salted caramel, rich cantaloupe, nutmeg, earthy notes, brown sugar. Palate: A rush of tastes from sea salt to sweet cedar to malted milk. Finish: Lingering sweetness on the lips, pipe tobacco, a medium to long finish.