M&H Elements Sherry Cask

A strong start from the Classic, number two is the headline news maker. The winner of the 2023 World Whisky Awards ‘Worlds Best Single Malt”. Awards are to be taken with a pinch of salt (dead sea salt I suspect; they would have beaten some absolute behemoths). But, awards also have a habit of making things unobtainable and expensive (cough Sulivans Cove cough). So, it’s nice to get to try this in any case. The Elements Series from M&H is a range of single malts exploring the variety of flavors that different types of casks can impart (nothing new here). This particular expression was drawn from a combination of bourbon, Oloroso sherry and Pedro Ximénez sherry casks. Nose: Shy. This is a lot less forthcoming than the classic. So, shy. The oak is a dampener, sadly, and mutes what seems to be a musty-gristy malt undercarriage. Time in the glass does a little to help things be more forthcoming, revealing: metallic notes, leather and leaf litter, oily-stale walnuts. Do I get the vaguest suggestion of orange (or a memory of the last dram perhaps?). Palate: Full bodied and creamy, that is an excellent texture. The sherry influence is obvious as milk chocolate, light honey, raisins, and subtle bakery spice. The oak is understated and makes for a pleasantly balanced profile. The very back end of the palate adds a leafy herbal presence like peppermint or menthol that draws out a dark red cherry. Finish: Medium-short. Quite bitter, with oak tannins being a little too heavy and bakery spices leaning towards cracked pepper. Brown sugar lends a needed sweetness but its too little too late to maintain balance. First things first; this is not a world beating whisky. No way, no how. I don’t want to call shenanigans, but I can’t help but think some money changed hands on this one! The palate is undeniably enjoyable with some cute quirks, but the nose is shy and obfuscated by too much oak (a product of rapid maturation in a hot climate?) and the finish lost its way. At AUD$130 I would lean towards just about any other sherry cask finished scotch for a lower price and more unique, memorable, character…. …obviously I’m much cleverer than the judges at the WWA so I’ll expect my job offer in the post. [Pictured here with an empty glass (sorry) and sticking with a desert theme; a cluster of evaporitic gypsum needles. Gypsum like this grows from evaporating fluids supersaturated in calcium and sulphate. Such formations are common from salt lakes and dune systems in arid environments. These ones are from dune systems near Dallalinu in Western Australia. Here recharging groundwater dissolve ions and pass through sand dunes growing crystals as they go.] M&H Running scores Classic: 3.5/5 Sherry: 3/5

The nose is delicate, starting with sweet floral notes, particularly cherry blossoms, some herbaceousness, and a whisper of funk. Initially, it leans towards bourbon, but with some air, the sherry cask influence emerges. It presents as red currant jam, mild toffee, wildflower honey, and a hint of milk chocolate. The palate mirrors the sweetness of the aroma but is unexpectedly more peppery, with a gradually increasing heat. The flavors include honey, white nectarine, orange zest, white pepper, cayenne, cinnamon, and a touch of hot fudge. The texture is rich, slightly slick and oily. However, in the glass, it disappears quickly, barely forming legs as it drains, leaving a sparse collection of droplets. The finish is gentle and pleasing. A lasting citrus zest reminiscent of charred orange peels, a trace of red fruit, oaky ash, and cocoa-dusted almonds are present. In summary, it shows promise but would benefit from additional time in the cask to temper the heat and enrich the flavors. Nose: 8 Taste: 8 Body: 8 Finish: 8

This is the third expression I've tried from the 'yeasty' distillery, and it's their Sherry Cask offering. I thoroughly enjoyed their red wine cask Finish, and the Classic was quite good for being their entry-level, most affordable option. This led me to have high hopes for the Sherry Cask. It's bottled at 46% ABV. The aroma is very citrusy, not your typical sherry profile. It features oranges, yeast (a signature note for them), and citrus elements like lemon and lemongrass. The taste is very light. It's yeasty, like a spiced bread. There's a hint of light vanilla. It's too diluted and indistinct. The aftertaste is very underwhelming. A faint taste of pepper and yeast, and that's it. Nothing more. The finish is short. All in all, this didn't meet my expectations. It doesn't taste like sherry at all, it's very indistinct and light, which is somewhat surprising given the 46% ABV bottling strength. It lacks intensity. It's missing many elements. My rating is a low 58 out of 100.

Excellent, with abundant dark chocolate. Aroma: Raisins, Toffee, Sultanas, Figs, Almonds, Hazelnuts, Dark Chocolate, Apricots, Honey, Luxardo Cherries, Dates, Caramel. Palate: Figs, Raisins, Pineapples, Sultanas, Almonds, Grapefruits, Dark Chocolate Covered Oranges, Toffee, Prunes, Cherries, Blackberries. Finish: Raisins, Dark Chocolate, Morello Cherries, Toffee, Dates, Prunes, Mocha.

If I hadn't experienced it myself, I'd assume this was Old Pulteney Navigator. It carries the same mineral character from copper stills, a 46% ABV, and is matured in Sherry barrels. It's a genuinely good, robust whiskey for the cost, reportedly $70, though it was a present to me. I'm certain that in Michigan, with its high liquor taxes, this would exceed $100 a bottle, making it unattainable and not a worthwhile purchase.

Another impressively good young whisky from M&H. I find it difficult to distinguish the sherry cask flavors, but this generally aligns with expectations. Its departure from the typical profile lies in a subtle note of warm honey on the nose and a lively, spicy finish. A commendable dram that reinforces the potential of this distillery.