Waubs Harbour Yeast Cask Limited Edition

Nose: Smells of orange liqueur, cognac-soaked raisins, cooked peaches, manuka honey, maple syrup, and very deep, rich oak. It's magnificent. A few drops of water completely alter its character, like an actor performing a rapid costume change mid-routine. Floral scents (jonquil, honeysuckle, and apple blossom) emerge, and the spirit gains a broad, relaxed nature. 90/100 Palate: When drunk neat, the spirit has a sweet entry, with the raisins in cognac and orange from the nose excellently represented. There's a moderate hit of hot cinnamon as the development begins, but it just offers a flash of interest and is quickly followed by dark fruitcake and chocolate sauce. The texture is wonderfully oily and full. Adding water transforms the experience, but it is just as good. The raisins become sultanas, and the cognac note becomes sauternes. The fruitcake turns into panforte, and the chocolate becomes mocha. The texture loses a bit of weight but gains creaminess. 90/100 Finish: Very Long. Raisins, sultanas, plums, and mixed peel that linger for ages, finally fading into sweet orange. There is beautiful integration and progression throughout. 90/100 This distillery is quite young and located on the east coast of Tasmania in a former oyster hatchery. The head distiller previously held the head of production role at another distillery and was head distiller at another. The distillery is developing its own yeast strains internally, which is believed to be unique in Australia. This expression is the first product made using that yeast. I first sampled their spirit at a Sydney show in 2023 and was very impressed by the initial offerings, but this expression is on another level. I don't give 5-star ratings often, but I couldn't give this spirit anything less. It's a technically flawless spirit and is bewitchingly delicious to drink. Imagine the best expression from a well-known Speyside distillery you have ever tasted crossed with the best from a well-known Highland distillery, and you are getting close. In fact, it’s almost as good as a specific past bottling from a well-known Highland distillery (see review here) that received a higher score, and yet amazingly, this is probably less than 5 years old! It’s juicy and chewy, and the finish lasts forever. The 51.8% abv is completely contained and unobtrusive but does its job of carrying aroma and flavor with poise and precision. This was a limited release of 647 bottles and is now almost impossible to find. The original retail price was AUD$250 for a half-liter bottle, which is expensive, but it is worth every cent. If I saw it for up to $350, I’d buy a second bottle. Highest recommendation. Keep watching this distillery; they are doing very special things. “Outstanding”: 90/100 (5 stars)