Tastes

N: bold and fruity. Figs and jam are upfront with gentle hints of vanilla and a woody note poking through. P: dark baking chocolate gives a rich forward profile, big warmth that verges on being a little harsh. Dark fruit and oak round things off a little. F: long and lingering but not complex. Rich chocolate and jam. Pleasant enough, and it is very strongly chocolate tasting which is neat and all but $140 for a 500 ml bottle seems steep. From the size of sample I had it is difficult for this amateur to add any more to the story. I would happily try again though. 10 ml Sample Distiller whisky taste #25

Topped by Hawkesbury Sandstone, the 200 million year old rocks that Manly Spirits water flows through; makes this range of whisky awesome. As a geologist, this speaks to me! N: weak sweetness akin to strawberries and cream, woody cask notes are apparent as are the dried fruit flavours of the sherry. Something crisp and raw there but don’t know how to place it. P: a little prickly to me and perhaps masking the pleasant sherry fruits and chocolatey mouthfeel and softness. In all honesty though, I don’t find much here. F: short and peppery leaving a soft woodyness. A generously shared dram of bottle 33/1000 from the Third Batch. A young spirit (clearly) and the focus is not the spirit, as could be recognised from the five different barrel finishes offered by MS. One to watch certainly, but at $195 for 500 ml (46% ABV) this is an ambitious new whisky and one that is yet to deliver on its cost. Distiller whisky taste #24

Tasted side by side with the Hakushu 12 N: Apple juice! Cucumber, tiny hint of peppermint similar to peppermint tea bags. P: herbaceous, crisp, smoke is apparent. Something citrusy sings about. Bright and punchy/vibrant but perhaps short lived for each note. F: herbal and fresh, soft rounded smoke, a little prickly with a background of green apple. At $160 this bottle is delicious and delivers mouthwatering flavours. A whisky that actually made me salivate a little from its fresh vibrancy. Whilst the flavours are a little bold and punchy and bordering on short lived, this whisky is exciting. The interesting thing here comes from comparison to the 12 year old Hakushu. The Hakushu 12 is definitely excellent. The extra time in the barrel ties everything up wonderfully, softening and integrating the flavours , but tasting the 12 at the same time as the DR leaves me wondering if the 12 has replaced bold and exciting flavours with subtlety and nuance; to its detriment. The 12, to me, just isn’t as exciting no matter how good it is. At $160 for the DR and a whopping $450 for the 12 I am hard pushed to say the 12 is worth the extra cash. Sure, it’s superior but is it as enjoyable? I’m inclined to say no. The 12 doesn’t have the vibrancy on the nose of the DR and that Apple juice is just so good, the zingy DR flavours that pop out are exciting and refreshing and has me going back for more. The 12 does though have the slightest salty brine note in the finish (think laphroig) that is exquisite, I looked for it in the DR but couldn’t find it. The 12 is definitely something to try, but when my bottle empties if it gets replaced it will be with a DR even though I score it lower. Distiller whisky taste #23

N: honey, berry sweetness, marmalade, nuts. P: more honey, nougat and sugary sweetness, oak, sherry fruitiness present but gentle rather than punchy and up front. Some creamy vanilla hides away. F: dried fruit sweetness, gingery spice, wafts of vanilla. Perfectly pleasant but at $130 this is not worth the price. Distiller whisky taste #22

N: vanilla, leather, caramel. P: vanilla, caramel, slight wood note. Pepper sneaks in. F: dry with pronounced peppery warmth and a crisp freshness. Distiller whisky taste #21

Curious and challenging. N: sweet, coconut, maple syrup, vanilla, some woody notes. P: As for the nose but with a maltiness and barley sugar type sweetness. F: Light, fruity crispness, lingering sugar sweetness. Distiller whisky taste #20

N: toffee, malt, dried fruit (sultanas) P: Christmas spice, zesty, creaminess with slight caramel-vanilla. F: long and lingering, spice and sherry notes. Soft and well rounded with custard/creaminess. Distiller whisky taste #19

N: sticky orange and poached pears/peaches, spicy nutmeg and cinnamon, oak. Port breaks through from the cluttered initial aromas. P: thick sticky fruity caramel, some spice, malt F: sweetness lingers and oak wood notes. Something akin to burnt cherries is present, it’s interesting but something feels unbalanced and confused perhaps. Distiller whisky taste #18

N: stone fruit, sultanas, Christmas cake. Slightly woody. Straw notes. P: maple syrup, stewed fig and vanilla fudginess. F: sugary, cloves nutmeg and cinnamon, woodiness Distiller whisky taste #17

N: light, cereal, a little herbal P: as for the nose, light, cereal, sweet and the slightest salt. F: short, clean, crisp (fruit?) subtle salt. Distiller whisky taste #15