McHenry Peated Single Malt

Nose: Mild smoke, fragrant soil, pine needles (faint) and light oak. Palate: Semi-sweet arrival with caramel and vanilla playing over light smoky malt. Fruity notes (apples, pears, white grapes) emerge in the development and there is a slight maritime quality. The texture is neutral and the whisky does not display great legs. Finish: Short. Fruity ale fading to smoke with a pinch of brine. I only had a small taste of this at a pop-up store in Hobart during the August whisky festival. It was served in a tiny plastic shot glass which is the kiss of death for any serious tasting (when will the people presenting these events learn?). McHenry distillery has been operating since 2013 and it rejoices in being the southernmost distillery in Australia. This is not just a trivial claim to fame as it is located in a micro-climate area that is similar to the north-west of Scotland and this allows them to play with larger casks and longer maturation times than most Australian distilleries. This NAS whisky was made using imported peated Scottish malt and while it is a pleasant dram there is nothing above-average about it. Like their 10 year old single malt that I tried at the same event I hope to revisit this sometime in the future and taste it in more favourable conditions. “Average” : 79/100 (2.75 stars)