DrRHCMadden
Manly Spirits "Coastal Stone" Elements Series Sherry Cask
Single Malt — Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Reviewed
April 17, 2022 (edited July 17, 2022)
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
195.0
AUD
per
Bottle
Create Account
or
Sign in
to comment on this review
David is a nice guy and has a very practical approach - he designed the stills himself and the new make is delightful, but they seem to have had issues with getting it to mature well. I had the impression their stuff needs to go into some big casks and be left alone for another decade. Their gin and other spirits are very good indeed.
A good friend is from Manly and was bought the full range for their 60th recently. A generous share of this one was well received, and there is greatness to be had, but as you say…. Not yet. Superb packaging though, absolutely love this brand.
I took part in a virtual tasting of this and the four other initial MS releases a year ago. I really wanted to like them but overall I didn’t think any of their stuff is ready for release yet. Good review.