Starward Small Batch Mesquite Smoked Malt

Hooray, Starward #19, nearly at the end. This follows up the initial Small Batch Cherry Wood release. The barley for this batch was smoked with mesquite chips, reminiscent of Argentine barbecue. Like the Cherry Wood version, it's rumored to have been aged in Apera barrels. Previously only available directly from the distillery, the 55% ABV was sold in 500ml bottles for AUD$399, though despite the 660ml indication on the bottle, only 300 were produced. The Cherry Wood expression disappointed me, so I'm hoping this performs better. Nose: A rather potent smoke on the nose, mingled with an oily, perfumed fragrance, earthiness, and a slight metallic tang. A somewhat cloying fruit sweetness adds unnecessary complexity. Palate: A slightly harsh dryness is the first sensation. It's not an ideal beginning. The smoke is not overpowering but rather pleasant and subtle, like catching a whiff of a distant barbecue. However, that dryness detracts from the enjoyment. A bright young malt seems to attempt to emerge but doesn't quite make it. There's simply not much to remark upon. Finish: Long. Some woody tannins and a touch of banana and fruit juice give way to a steadily intensifying chili heat, which is the most dynamic element of the entire profile. Adding water only introduces ashiness and doesn't improve it. I'm feeling conflicted. The nose had some appealing aspects; I do enjoy catching whiffs of barbecue. But that's where the pleasure ends. Similar to the Cherry Wood, the spirit's presence is perceived as sourness, less pronounced here but still present. The nutty oiliness I struggled to detect in the Cherry Wood is more evident here. However, there's no real development. From there, the palate and finish are uninspired and almost literally one-dimensional. It's a generic whisky with a hint of mild, fragrant wood smoke. Lacking development or nuance. My conflict arises because this isn't as jarring as the Cherry Wood smoked version; it doesn't assault with a sweet, sour tropical soda pop. But then again, it's hard to go wrong when there are hardly any flavors. What it lacks in poor execution, it compensates for with overwhelming blandness. Overall, it's both better and worse than its sibling. Perhaps leave the smoking to the experts, Starward? Postscript: I wonder if I'm missing something. My Starward experiences are all over the place, and I'm questioning again if I need to revert to my amateur status and warn people that my rambling reviews are just that: the rambling thoughts of a whisky novice. Whisky taste review #221 [Pictured with a dendritic wire of native silver. Argentum, the Latin word for shining or white, is the origin of silver's name and its element symbol, Ag. Silver is remarkable for its high electrical and thermal conductivity and brightness among metals. This silver originates from Elura, New South Wales, Australia, formed by hot fluids interacting with Early Devonian limestones and silts/mud. It has a certain shine. This whisky, not so much] Starward running scores Nova: 3/5 Fortis: 3.25/5 Solera: 3.75/5 10th Anniversary: 4.25/5 Vitalis 15th Anniversary: 4.5/5 Whisky Club Exclusive, Maple Cask: 2/5 Whisky Club Exclusive, Cognac Cask: 3.5/5 Projects, Octave Barrels: 3.75/5 Projects, Dolce: 2.25/5 Projects, Bourbon Cask: 3.5/5 Projects, Tawny #2: 3.5/5 Projects, UnExpeated: 3.75/5 Projects, Peated: 2.75/5 Small Batch, Cherry Wood Smoked: 2/5 Small Batch, Mesquite Wood Smoked: 2/5 Small Batch, Hungarian Oak: 3/5 Small Batch, Sticky Toffee Apple: 3.25/5 Small Batch, Chardonnay: 4/5 Whisky Loot Single Barrel Single Malt Exclusive: 3.5/5