Manly Spirits "Coastal Stone" Elements Series Sherry Cask

Manly Spirits Inaugural Release Virtual Tasting, October 6th 2021, Sample #2 Nose: Notes of pyrethrum daisies, cherries, and a confectionery scent like faint strawberry sweets. Hints of sherry are present, but the aroma of green apple cider from the new-make spirit is prominent. As it sits, a maple syrup note emerges, and a sawdust quality is detected on the dry glass. Palate: Arrives with semi-sweet dark chocolate and fruit. Very ester-forward with orchard fruits developing and a slight gingery character near the end. The sherry influence is very subtle, with no dark fruit or nutty tastes apparent. The mouthfeel is good. Finish: Lasts a medium to short time. Fades quickly. This marks the first official "Coastal Stone" whisky, the brand name Manly Spirits uses for its whisky offerings. This initial whisky was aged in a mix of shaved, re-toasted first-fill ex-apera (Australian sherry) casks, both 100 and 225 liters. The smaller casks aged for 4 years, and the larger for 3 years. It's very clean and displays some good characteristics, but it also seemed too young. I found it improved with a splash of water, which brought out the cask influence that was otherwise subtle. The aroma generally benefited from dilution, gaining body, and the taste became sweeter. While I favor spirits that showcase the distiller's work, there's a difference between controlled oak influence and its absence. This felt more like the new-make spirit with a thin layer of oak rather than a whisky that has achieved balance and complexity through aging. I'd be keen to taste this at 8-10 years old, allowing it time to reach its full potential. However, such aging would likely require only hogsheads, as extended aging in 100-liter casks would impart too much oak character. Still, larger casks present logistical and financial challenges, especially for a new distillery. There's a potential for greatness in Manly Spirits whiskies, but it's currently too indistinct to fully perceive. Interestingly, I was more impressed with some of their Work In Progress samples than this first official release. If this assessment seems overly critical, please also consider that this whisky costs AUD$200 for a 500ml bottle, equating to approximately US$220 for 750ml. High cost and production volume are common hurdles for young Australian distilleries, and while price doesn't affect my rating, the reality is I can acquire superior whiskies for that amount. "Average": 78/100 (2.75 stars)

Topped by Hawkesbury Sandstone, the 200 million year old rocks that Manly Spirits water flows through; this range of whisky is exceptional. As a geologist, this resonates with me! Nose: A faint sweetness, similar to strawberries and cream, noticeable woody cask notes, and the dried fruit character of sherry. There's a crisp, raw element I can't quite identify. Palate: Slightly sharp for me, perhaps obscuring the pleasant sherry fruits and the smooth, chocolatey mouthfeel. To be honest, I don't detect much here. Finish: Short and peppery, leaving a mild woodiness. A generously shared dram from bottle 33 out of 1000 from the Third Batch. This is clearly a young spirit, and the focus is not on the spirit itself, as evidenced by the five different barrel finishes offered by MS. One to monitor certainly, but at $195 for 500 ml (46% ABV), this is an ambitious new whisky that has yet to justify its price. Whisky tasting #24