Launceston Distillery Bourbon Cask Cask Strength (H17-08)

My fourth pour from Launceston Distillery, and I've reached what I believe will be the best example of the "core spirit" without strong influences from Apera or Tawny, and without heavy European oak tannins. I've made a new entry for this spirit, though it's just a small sample from another exceptionally rare single cask. Crafted using Tasmanian malted barley and pure river water, this expression was aged in nine small American oak ex-bourbon casks before being vatted and married prior to bottling. It's double distilled and non-chill filtered, boasting another impressive cask strength ABV of 62%. Nose: Delicate and bright. Honey, a subtly tart pear. A very faint trace of freshly cut grass and perhaps some honeydew melon or gooseberry. It strikes me as very white wine-like. With significant aeration, a tiny hint of caramel appears, but it's inconsistent and elusive. The aroma is quite shy and reserved, but what's present is exceptionally sharp and precise. Palate: Oh, this is light and summery... initially very smooth and gentle with a developing ginger warmth. Vanilla joins in, along with honey and the crisp pear from the nose. After a few sips, the barley becomes noticeable with a slightly drying whisper of wood. It has a creamy texture that somewhat masks the 63% ABV after a few sips. Finish: Medium. Barley sugar, ginger, a touch of cinnamon or allspice are all enveloped in more light honey. A few drops of water greatly enhance the nose. The vanilla emerges, there's a pleasant creme caramel character, and the pear and grass notes have melded into something resembling sour melon. It's intriguing. The malt is also much more pronounced. The palate expands on those wine-like aromatic notes, the gooseberry (perhaps slightly unripe orchard fruits?) becomes clearer, the wood tannin is a little more evident, and a distinctly bourbon-forward vanilla-caramel begins to assert itself until it becomes slightly warm and toasty. Excellent. The finish is slightly softened. This was largely as anticipated, drinking similarly to one of my usual choices, Limeburners American Oak. The Limeburners is slightly less complex but considerably more affordable. Limeburners AO costs $140 for 700 ml, while this Launceston Distillery is $235 for 500 ml, equating to about $340 for a full-sized bottle. While the LD is 63% ABV compared to the LB's 43%, the minor increase in complexity hasn't made it significantly more enjoyable. Alright, it holds an edge in a purely objective comparison between two very similar spirit-forward Australian whiskys, but I won't go out of my way to acquire it. I've appreciated my brief Tasmanian experience; Launceston Distillery is undoubtedly producing excellent spirits in Hangar-17. And, when I eventually visit Tassie, I will definitely make a stop. It's conveniently located right across from the airport, so it would be impolite not to. [Shown here with stichtite from the early Palaeozoic stichtite serpentinites of Dundas, Tasmania. Stichtite is found in only 14 locations worldwide, one of which is Dundas in Tasmania. A fittingly rare mineral from the island that produced this rare spirit] Price is for a 500 ml bottle. Whisky tasting #108