Manly Spirits "Coastal Stone" Elements Series Bourbon Cask

Manly Spirits Inaugural Release Virtual Tasting, October 6th 2021, Sample #3 Nose: Malt extract, apple cider, and oak notes with a whisper of vanilla and a touch of hay-like grassiness. The empty glass smells of grassy malt. Palate: A sweet and slightly spicy (ginger) arrival with orchard fruit and citrus, developing into a deeper malty character. Tastes like an apple danish with lemon icing. The transition is quick and the texture is as good as the other Coastal Stone whiskies, though perhaps a little lighter. Finish: Medium length. The fruity notes shift to slightly spicy/sour, and a subtle tannin is detected right at the end. Aged for 4 years in 200-liter first-fill ex-Heaven Hill bourbon casks, this was the initial offering of three works-in-progress tasted that evening. It's not yet available for purchase but is scheduled for release later in 2021, likely in time for the holidays. I preferred this over the sherry-cask version. I think aging entirely in larger casks suits Manly Spirits' new-make spirit, and bourbon wood seems more compatible with the distillery's character. Like the preceding whisky, it also seemed a bit young to my taste, but less so than the youthfulness of the sherry cask whisky. Personally, I might have waited another year or two in the casks before releasing this, but what do I know? The apple note from the new-make spirit is more pronounced here, especially with a drop of water, which I felt slightly improved the dram. This one is at a slightly higher alcohol content than the sherry-cask whisky, and you could tell – reducing it by just a percent or two softened it considerably. This was my preferred whisky from the tasting, but as much as I'd like to support Manly Spirits by buying a bottle, I'm not keen on spending $200 for a half-liter of whisky that I'm only rating at 3 stars. “Above Average”: 81/100 (3 stars)