M&H Classic Single Malt

N: Rich and quite sweet with a little alcohol burn. There is an abundance of woody honey, waxy stone fruits, and a floral malt. A little coconut is there if you search for it and a saltiness that brings with it a hint of rubberiness. Interesting enough, but perhaps a little confused by some competing ends of the olfactory spectrum? P: Warm, and surprisingly heavy on the palate with a slight waxiness. Banana, coconut, and candied ginger are most apparent to me. Before heading into a vanilla and honey malt with oats and dark chocolate. Cinnamon and a little pepper add spice to follow the gingery zing. A most wonderfully floral oaky orange is a standout. F: Medium. Peppery and lightly floral. Oakyness again, maybe with some barrel char and honey-toffee tones? This is off to a good start. Whilst the nose remains a little confused to me, the palate is the stand out driving a floral element that I find compelling and want more of. I don’t know about milk and honey, but certainly honey and blossoms is a tag line I can get behind. Is this uniquely Israeli? I don’t know. Would I, on blind tasting, believe this to be a lowland Scotch? Probably; its lightly sweet, malty, and with florals. Time will tell as we move through these offerings from the house of milk and honey, if this is unique spirit or a unique location with a Scotch imitation.

Sydney Whisky Show, May 20th, 2023. Whiskey #27 Nose: Vanilla, honey, caramel, coconut (possibly banana?), subtle floral hints, delicate fruity notes (mango, pineapple, gooseberry, melon), and a faint scent of pencil shavings. Palate: Vanilla and caramel upon first taste, leading to a spicy citrus development with a touch of honeyed sweetness, canned peaches or apricots, pineapple, and a hint of coconut. A peppery sensation in the late palate strongly resembles Talisker, yet this is not a maritime-style malt; instead, it possesses a crispness of fresh barley sugar and orchard fruits. Finish: Medium. Lingering gentle fruit, honey, and spice notes, with a dry, tannic wood spice hint in the aftertaste. This is a solid entry-level product from a relatively new distillery. I'm surprised to find this profile from what I assume is a warm-climate producer, but I have no information about their location. Is their site in a temperate microclimate? It's a straightforward malt lacking some balance, but there's a clear hint of something exceptional here. I enjoyed this young whiskey – not enough to buy a bottle, but certainly enough to encourage further tasting, and I'm pleased I did. "Above Average": 82/100 (3.25 stars)

This is my second expression from Milk & Honey, the Israeli distillery; it was actually their first release, named "The Classic." Bottled at 46% ABV, it was matured in bourbon barrels, virgin oak, and some red wine casks. This is the primary offering in their core range. On the nose, it lives up to its name: Honey. Thick, burnt caramel, beautiful. After sampling a few expressions, I can confidently say their distinctive note is Yeast. The yeasty character of this whisky is truly unique. Stewed apples are also present. The palate is far too simple. It offers nice pepper spice and abundant honey, nothing more. It's easily drinkable. There's a more floral aftertaste. Herbal, like asparagus. Pleasant wisps of aromatic smoke. Overall, this is a standard dram. For their initial release, I must say they have something good here; a fine spirit is being distilled, but it still needs more time in the barrels to fully develop the complexity that would elevate this single malt. My score for this new dram is 73 out of 100.

A creamy Single Malt Whisky from the team at Milk & Honey in Tel Aviv, founded by Amit Dror, Simon Fried, Roee, and Naama Licht – Israel's first distillery. It's aged "under the Tel Aviv sun" in a mix of ex-Bourbon casks and STR Red Wine casks. It begins with floral notes and hints of vanilla and fresh oak; its full maturation adds notes of chewy toffee, roasted grain, Medjool dates, and a touch of spice; concluding with more floral notes. December 2020 / February 2021 / August 2022

M&H Classic – Tasting Notes Rating: 3.5/5 Nose: Delicate and mild, with a gentle aroma upon first impression. Palate: Begins with sweetness complemented by a warming spice. Orange peel provides brightness, and honey adds a smooth quality. Finish: Faint and brief, leaving a trace of sweetness and spice.

This is quite intricate, but the flavors don't appeal to me. I would not purchase this bottle and am content with having received a sample. Aroma: Unpleasant funk (reminded me of Afghanistan...odd), malt, honey, cereal, spice. Palate: Orange, apricot, malty, Cheerios, spicy. Finish: Longer than anticipated, slightly spicy, ethanol. Texture: Slightly thin.