Corowa Distilling Co. Peated Single Barrel #242

Whisky Tasting : The Oak Barrel, Sydney, 19 January 2021. Whisky #5 Nose: Light fruity and floral notes on first nosing. A green-hay and cereal character, sweet and fragrant with hints of vanilla, honey and oak cask. Very little trace of peat – virtually none on first nosing (but see the comments below). Palate: Sweet smoky and fruity arrival. Citrus, apple, pear and a considerably greater smoke presence than the nose would lead you to expect. Not ashen or sooty smoke either, but reminiscent of mild highland peat-smoke. The smoke builds as it develops but there is also a slight sour plastic note towards the finish. The texture is pleasant – lightly creamy/oily but not heavy. Finish: Medium/long. Smoked fruit and cereal but the hint of plastic remains. A single-cask expression of Corowa’s clean, crisp distillate that was matured in a first-fill American oak barrel for just over 2 ½ years. It has a very agreeable light, fruity and cereal character with a touch of sweetness, and I was not at all surprised to learn that it was an ex-Jack Daniels barrel. Curiously, you would hardly tell it is a peated whisky from the initial aromas. There is the faintest hint of char but no real peat-smoke quality. However, the taste is very smoky right from the arrival and it develops billows of barbecued fruit as it rests on the palate. It’s not a meat-barbecue or maritime smoke and there is no salinity. When you go back to the nose again after the initial taste the peat smoke is now obvious, and this "feedback loop" builds as you continue to taste and nose. It’s a very pleasant whisky but it’s not outstanding. There is nothing specific to criticize, but it is very similar to a lot of other light, fruity, peated whiskies and it tends to disappear in the crowd. This is an issue given the price which is quite high. AUD$199 for a 500 ml bottle translates to the equivalent of US$230 for a standard 750ml bottle. That’s an awful lot to pay for just another “OK” peated whisky. Certainly worth a pour, but I wouldn’t buy a bottle. “Above Average” : 81/100 (3 stars)