Hobart Single Mart Whisky Muscat Finish

This is the second Hobart offering this evening, an unreleased Muscat finish. Aged in former bourbon American oak, this spirit is currently finishing in a 500-liter Muscat butt. I believe this is my first time tasting an unreleased whisky. The only accompanying information stated it received no pre-bottling treatment and might contain sediment that would be removed before bottling. Regardless, Muscat is a popular choice for Tasmanian spirits, and I'm eager to try it. Nose: Quite deep and heavy, with a mustiness giving a slightly leathery and dusty mahogany sensation. Possibly some clove and pepper, suggesting wood spice. The malt is grainy and coarse, hinting at a rough youth. Beneath this intense aroma, there's a hint of something brighter and perhaps fruity. Palate: Oh dear. I recently sampled New Zealand's new Pokeno whisky, which had a fizzy carbonation. That sensation is much more pronounced here. It's an overwhelming sherbet-like experience. There's an initial juicy fruit texture, but it's obliterated by fizz, more fizz, and even more fizz. Underneath that, a hint of plum, raisin, and possibly cherry can be detected. Dark chocolate and pepper are present if you look hard enough. Finish: Medium-Long. Mocha bitterness, raisins, intense dark wood spice with considerable dryness. A splash of water, I thought, might enhance the palate and calm the fizz. I was mistaken. I just sneezed. Damn. I think there's a promising whisky currently finishing in a 500L barrel in Hobart, but it's not quite ready. It's hard to critique or praise something that isn't finalized; I don't have enough information to predict its future, what's left in its development, or the intended outcome. What I can discern is the significant potential for a deeply complex and robust Tasmanian single malt with character and depth that could be exciting. However, and this is a major point, with a 500L butt, the fizz needs to be controlled. Note that prices are for 500 ml bottle. [No rocks, do not have the energy for thinking about six captions in one sitting this evening]. Hobart distillery running scores Signature Batch (#14): 2.75/5 Muscat Cask Finish: 2.75/5