Supersonic Mach 3 (North Star Spirits)

Tonight we're tasting North Star Spirits Supersonic Mach 3. This is a limited run blended malt, featuring whisky from sherry casks, bottled at 55% ABV. Only 777 bottles were produced. Nose: Absolutely, there's sherry in here, but wow, it's packed with waxy, oily, leathery wood and rich toffee and brown sugar. This profile is driven by wood, heavily so. The sherry notes are like jammy blackcurrant, figs, and sultanas, but I struggle to detect them as the wood dominates. Over time, a hint of spice emerges, like incense or strong woody spices. Palate: Full and somewhat slick, with a noticeable burn. The sherry is present again, but the oak overshadows it. Spicy wood notes bring cinnamon, tannic clove, and perhaps nutmeg. With more sips, the burn fades, and the texture becomes slightly syrupy. This syrupy texture is accompanied by mulled red fruits and the cozy warmth of a Christmas jumper, typical of a sherried palate. It's sweet, safe, and reliable, with figs, sultanas, and a touch of menthol/aniseed. Finish: Medium. Tannic oak, caramelized brown sugar, plump sultanas, and a hint of orange zest with mulled plums/figs. I expected a sherry bomb, and in some ways, it is. However, I'd say this whisky offers two distinct experiences. On one side, you have the sherry character with sweet fruits, spicy wintery holiday vibes, and bright pops of spice and zest, as anticipated. But, my goodness, there's a significant amount of wood. It's not subtle, and while enjoyable at times, it's also overpowering, with no way to ignore it. I've noticed recently I'm favoring lighter notes like delicate florals, herbs, and mild fruits over whiskies that hide behind heavy wood. I want the spirit itself, the distillery's character, not a Spanish wine cellar. Nevertheless, this is an intriguing dram, certainly worth a generous pour or even a bottle. My sincere thanks to a friend for another generous and thought-provoking dram. A whisky taste entry. [Pictured with a remarkable garnet-staurolite phyllite from Brazil. Interesting facts about this rock: it originated as mud, was subjected to intense heat around 650 degrees Celsius during mountain formation, transforming the mud into beautiful gem crystals and a finely laminated crystalline rock. Someone used it to create an attractive photo of some whisky].

Nose: It's like smelling a glass of oloroso sherry in an antique shop. Notes of old wax-polished furniture, linseed oil, carnauba wax, cedar cigar boxes, treacle, and burnt sugar, with cacao nibs. Some dark fruit notes are present but are overshadowed by the powerful cask influence, as if hidden in camphorwood chests. Adding water reduces the intensity but doesn't alter the profile. Palate: A full, sweet, sherry and oak arrival, very much like the nose. Spices emerge during development (cinnamon, allspice, tannin), along with dried figs, dates, liquorice root extract, and a hint of camphor. Water makes it very easy to drink but also a bit syrupy, with sweet sherry notes becoming dominant. The texture is rich and viscous. Finish: Long. Sweet and oaky, with lingering sherry notes, but the oak is the final impression. I'm sure the notes above would appeal to many enthusiasts, but you really have to appreciate intense sherry-butt maturation, as the distillates are well-masked here. While I could call it a sherry bomb, that would be an exaggeration and an unfair dismissal of its strengths. It possesses complexity, depth, and offers a comforting embrace of rich aromas and flavors. At AUD$130 per bottle, this offers good value. It's a no-age-statement whisky, and while youthful spirit is apparent, I sense the presence of some seriously aged whisky in the blend as well. "Good": 84/100 (3.75 stars)

Nose: Caramel, burnt toffee, cinder toffee, chocolate raisins. Palate: Woody, dried fruit, spices (allspice & clove), red liquorice. Finish: A long finish with leather and liquorice. Heavily sherried, with chocolate raisins and nuttiness. This is a great, easy-drinking dram. I could consume a lot of it, though at 55% that would be a very bad idea!