Spring Bay Apera Cask

Continuing with Spring Bay's third release, this one comes from an Apera Cask (Australian Sherry). Nose: Undeniably, this presents as an Apera onslaught. Abundant notes of rich malted fruitcake, saltiness, caramel, a subtle tannic spice, pencil shavings, cloves, and cinnamon. It masterfully balances sweet and savory elements. The unexpected hint of saltiness was a welcome surprise. Palate: It arrives with a creamy and tannic texture. A gently warm, astringent oak intensifies as the tasting progresses. More malt emerges, leaning towards mashed banana as a background note to the raisin, toffee, mocha, and clove spice. The Apera is enjoyable, but the oak is overly dominant, preventing the spirit from truly excelling. Finish: Medium length. Plump raisin and caramel create a mouth-filling sensation that lingers, but the oak is again the persistent element. The spicy warmth has a slight gingery quality at this stage, with a delicate touch of barrel char. This bottling was surprising; I hadn't anticipated such a pronounced wood influence. However, the oak was applied too heavily, overpowering the subtlety and delicacy of what appears to be a charming spirit with lovely Apera characteristics. Spring Bay missed the mark slightly here. It's a pity, as I genuinely want to appreciate this distillery. Adding a bit of water diminished it too much, rendering it indistinct and characterless, resembling weak raisin water more than a premium whisky. Whisky taste #235 Spring Bay performance summary: Bourbon Cask: 3.5/5 The Rheban: 3.25/5 Apera Cask: 3/5