Nant Sherry Wood Single Cask Single Malt

Aroma: Dark malt with sherry notes, maple syrup, honey, brown sugar, and a mix of dried fruits like apricot, peach, pear, date, and fig. The sherry is very prominent, with an almost cognac-like or armagnac-like wine influence. While enjoyable, it overshadows the other scents. Palate: An exquisite start - rich, smooth, and well-balanced between sherry-soaked toffee and oaky tobacco. More dried fruits appear, along with orange syrup and mild spice. However, after this exceptional beginning, the palate doesn't develop further and abruptly fades into the finish. It's one of the mildest palates I've encountered. Finish: Very brief and cut short. The rich, sweet, fruity palate vanishes quickly, leaving almost no lingering taste. This is the second of four samples I'm trying. Like the Bourbon Wood version, this Sherry Wood is also a 43% NAS whisky. I believe it's 4 years old and aged in special 100-liter single sherry casks (about quarter-cask size). The distillery's new-make spirit must be quite robust to balance the significant oak influence from these small casks, even over a short period. The aroma is very good, and the palate shows great promise before disappearing. It's quite unusual and rather disappointing. Experiencing this whisky is like reading a captivating novel that abruptly ends, leaving you hanging and unsatisfied. What a shame – so much potential, so little conclusion. Adding water makes the aroma thin and almost eliminates the palate. This whisky cannot handle dilution. Tasted from a 30ml sample. For the price, I would not suggest it. "Above Average": 82/100 (3.25 stars)

Tasted in late 2017: My neighbor received this bottle as a gift from family in Australia years ago. After I retired and moved, we’d have tastings. I’d bring selections like EC 18yr. and Midleton Very Rare, and he’d offer his Nant Sherry Cask as a similarly special pour. I can confidently say this whisky remains the most flavor-packed dram I've encountered. It's a true shame about the distillery's issues and the subsequent barrel fraud. I'm very curious about the original whiskey used, as my neighbor's bottle is the authentic version. I'll inquire about its age/barrel details and share them. Following this, I sought similar expressions from that region. I found both the Oamaruvian Doublewood Cask Strength and the Dunedin Double Cask via special order, but neither matched the sheer delight of this Nant. The distillery has since reformed under new ownership with new products. They apparently now ship internationally, and if the shipping costs weren't so high, I might consider sampling their current offerings to see if any of the original magic persists. Regarding the whisky itself, it presents the finest synthesis of fruit, floral, sweet, and heat that I've experienced.

30ml sample Nose: Distinctly fruity, sweet, and pleasant. In the mouth, it feels light yet rich, with very little sweetness. After swallowing, a honey-like sweetness is perceived, and I can smell grass; it's earthy. The finish is very long, among the longest aftertastes I've experienced. The more one drinks, the better it becomes.

The aroma is nutty and inviting. The taste is nutty, woody, and slightly fruity, which becomes more apparent with a couple of drops of water.

It's rather expensive but very good. Delicate, it feels like it might disappear. No smoky flavor is apparent. The Port version might be superior.

Pleasant whisky. Notes of banana bread. Well-balanced. No water required.