Launceston Distillery Apera Cask Matured (H17-41)

I had my first Launceston Distillery offering a few weeks back. An ultra limited sample from what was just 60 available bottles. Short story of the review I posted, excellent. I have managed to get my hands on three further offerings, all as 30 ml samples including this Apera cask version. I have created a new entry here for two reasons. Firstly, the different releases are slightly variable with both American and French oak ex-Apera available. Secondly, whoever added the first listing butchered it. With some degree of confidence (I made the entry before sampling…) I now give to you my notes on the Launceston Distillery Apera Cask Matured, Tasmanian Single Malt batch H17-41. From the distillery’s website: “This elegant whisky was matured in 2 ex-South Australian Apera casks (Cask 006 and 007) that were previously used to age Apera fortified wine (Australian style sherry) for a minimum of 5 years and 10 months. These 2 casks were bought together and allowed to marry for 2 months before being bottled at 46%, our standard ABV strength. This full flavoured whisky was double distilled and is non-chill filtered to retain depth of character.” N: The nose is big right off the mark. Fifteen minutes idly sitting contemplating the world hasn’t changed the character. This is thick and luscious to the nose, rich in dried fruits that lean towards sultana. The thickness seems to come from vanilla toffee or caramel. Dry oaky tannin and a very light clove spiciness. There is a leathery opulence thats quite lovely too. P: Oily and rich. A very bold heavy weight palate that remains soft and velvety after the initial oily richness clears. Dark chocolate provides both sweet and balancing bitterness, sherry fruit flavours are pretty classic but are layered with more of an orchard fruit character. There is a dark honey and a late lift from a floral note that keeps things a little more interesting than a simple sherry bomb (or as I recently saw renamed; Apera assault). The oak is slightly over done though making this just a shade too tannic. F: Medium. Oak is the dominant influencer with drying tannins, figgy sweetness and a gentle baking spice to pepperiness. There is a lovely syrupy clinginess to the final exit that is rich and intense. Again though, just a little too tannic. A few drops of water and whilst the nose stays the same the palate changes quite a lot. There is a salted caramel character that comes forward and the spices develop into cinnamon and nutmeg (I think?, Spices are more readily standing on their own in any case), and an orange oil comes forward to. The finish stays oaky and drying. My last Launceston was a mixed wood casking with American ex-Bourbon and French ex Tawny (Australian Port). That was better balanced with a greater depth of flavour. I think I can pull the similarities through the honey and toffee but this Apera feels uniquely different none the less. On the spectrum of sherried Scotch, the Apera cask has a few nice novelties, the leather and the floral note, that lets it speak for itself. Clean and well made, albeit slightly too long in the oak, this is a quality Tassie whisky that I could happily have on my shelf, if not for the high price tag. [Pictured here with a classic Tasmanian mineral, Crocoite. This orange beauty is a rare lead-chromate mineral formed as a secondary replacement of ultramafic rocks. From the famous Adelaide Mine in Dundas and with a genesis dating back around 485-444 million years] [Cost is for 500 ml] Distiller whisky taste #106