Hobart Whisky Botrytis Cask Finish

The third offering from Hobart. This is a three-year-old whiskey aged in ex-bourbon barrels and then finished in Tasmanian Botrytis casks for two and a half years. The distillery suggests this creates a rich sweetness and character with hints of intriguing florals and delicate tropical fruit reminiscent of riesling. Additionally, it spent another six months in American oak ex-bourbon barrels for the flavors to harmonize and reach their full potential. Let's find out. Nose: A powerful aroma greets me, full of florals, like a blooming meadow. The 52.2% ABV is barely noticeable; I don't smell cask strength. Everything else follows suit: cereal, vanilla, raisin, and bakery spices. I don't detect the suggested riesling, but I do get some treacle, dry leafiness, and a citrus note with a leathery quality. It's one of the most complex noses I've experienced. Palate: A sweet and wood-spice-rich initial taste. Earthy vanilla, porridge, and creamy toffee. Sweet candied berries, some sherbet tartness (unlike the previous Muscat finish), an almost rye-like spice profile, and a vegetal funkiness that adds a savory depth. I suspect there's more to discover; it's complex, and I admit it's likely beyond my full comprehension. I also just detected some fresh white peach. Finish: Medium length. Gentle and delicate pepper, notes of Christmas mince pies, and mocha. A slight bitterness of black tea. Amazing. This is a sophisticated whiskey, with as many tasting notes to uncover as there are whiskies to drink. The complexity is astonishing and, frankly, a bit overwhelming. I'm unsure if that's good or bad, but it's certainly an incredible experience. It's both gentle and delicate, yet also powerful and direct. Adding water, however, is a mistake, making it somewhat sticky and soapy, and giving the nose a slightly cloying feel. This was apparently launched virtually this evening. Even with a likely price around AUD$200 for a 500 ml bottle, I think I'll need to buy one. I highly recommend this captivating spirit, though the wood spice can occasionally be a bit intense. Distillery whisky rating: #193 Note that prices are for 500 ml bottles. [No ice, don't have the energy to contemplate six captions in one evening]. Hobart distillery overall scores Signature Batch (#14): 2.75/5 Muscat Cask Finish: 2.75/5 Botrytis Cask Finish: 4.5/5

Australian Single Malt Whisky Tasting (Part 1), The Oak Barrel, Sydney, January 16, 2020, Whisky #4 Nose: Fresh and abundant sweet aromas of cereal, vanilla shortbread, plums, baking spices, and lightly fragrant fortified wine. There's no hint of high alcohol content or off-notes. A rich yet crisp nose. Palate: A sweet honeyed arrival, with the botrytis cask finish being evident. Toasted marshmallow, oatmeal cookies, creme caramel, and a bit of butterscotch are supported by supple aged oak. It has a weighty yet delicate feel - firm but elegant. The texture is creamy and excellent. Finish: Medium to long. Delicately sweet throughout. Hobart Whisky is made by Devil's Distillery in Moonah, a suburb of Hobart. Founded in 2015, they've quickly earned an impressive range of domestic and international awards and have received positive reviews from notable critics. More importantly, the local whisky community has enthusiastically welcomed their releases. Maturation is typically in ex-bourbon casks, often with a brief finish in ex-fortified wine, Tokaji, stout, rum, or even maple syrup casks. This specific expression was a limited release for The Oak Barrel's Sydney Whisky Fair in 2019, matured in ex-bourbon and then finished in a re-coopered Tasmanian sauvignon blanc botrytis wine cask. The character of this sweet dessert wine comes through in every aspect of the whisky, but with a light touch. It never becomes cloying or overpowering; instead, it complements the rich malty character of the unadorned spirit, and its sweetness completely conceals the high proof (109.6). Adding water brings out a slight bitter spice on the palate and a floral yet slightly soapy fragrance on the nose. I recommend enjoying this very easy-drinking spirit neat. Like most Australian whisky, this is expensive - $220 for a 500ml bottle - but it's one of the first I've tasted that I would actually consider purchasing at that price. "Good": 84/100 (3.75 stars)