Hellyers Road Single Malt Pinot Noir Finish

Nose: Yellow grapefruit zest, damp cardboard, wood shavings, white pepper. Quite aggressively spirited. Red wine notes are present in the background but take time to appear. [The aroma from the dry glass is of wine gums and faint smoky sweat]. Palate: A sweet and fruity initial taste transitions into a dry, almost astringent, wine-like development. A strong burst of pepper and chili with a papery flavor. Good texture. Finish: Medium. Spicy, fading into a bittersweet chocolate aftertaste. This is a very young whisky, I suspect. It lacks complexity and greatly benefits from added water and time to settle. Once it has settled, the flat cardboard note disappears, it blossoms, and a sweeter, floral wine aroma emerges. The alcohol presence is reduced, and the red wine cask influence becomes more apparent. The palate also develops some sweetness that counteracts its otherwise strongly dry character. Overall, water improves the balance of this whisky, and is highly recommended. In summary, I found this whisky more interesting than captivating, and it's a bit pricey. "Average": 79/100 (2.75 stars)

Another evening of whisky tasting occurred, featuring six pours, some of which I had previously tried and commented on. This particular dram was a pleasant surprise. I have been eager to explore more of the Tasmanian offerings. Nose: The aroma was faint and required effort to discern. Berry fruits were well-hidden, but brown sugar sweetness and a musty scent were most prominent for me. Frankly, I didn't care for the aroma much; it seemed a bit disorganized. Palate: This was mouth-coating and had a syrupy thickness. Heavy jam-like flavors were present with warm nutmeg and a slightly bitter cocoa. It certainly exceeded expectations based on the aroma. Finish: The finish was short to medium. Not particularly remarkable, with some pepper and a vanilla caramel note. It's delicate and hesitant to reveal its nuanced and unusual flavors, which are not necessarily positive. It was enjoyable enough as a standalone experience but required concentration. Ultimately, it was an unmemorable experience that I can barely recall two hours later as I document this.

Sharp lemon and citrus on the aroma. Quickly becomes a powerful fruit explosion with spice backing it up. The finish brings dark berries and that bold red wine character. It might just top the Starward Nova for wine cask finishing.

Aroma: grapes, musty Taste: damp dog, gasoline, lemon, smoky, Aftertaste: a very lasting finish. The pinot character emerges, which is pleasant. Improves significantly the longer it rests and opens up.

The aroma is outstanding, and just when you think this is going to be the one, the taste completely disappoints - what a shame Dan Murphy whisky tasting 13 sept 17

Really enjoyable and packed with intricate flavors. Amazing nose. Can be too much with a large sip. Take your time with this one. Really enjoying this distillery.