Number two for Hobart this evening this time an as of yet unreleased Muscat finish. Matured in ex-bourbon American oak this whisky is still finishing in a 500 litre Muscat butt. I think this will be my first ever tasting of an unreleased whisky. The only notes that came with this are that it has not been through any pre-bottling treatment and may have some char present that would be separated before bottling. In any case, Muscat is quite a popular choice for Tasmanian juice and I am excited going in. N: Quite dark and heavy, there is a mustiness to this that brings a slight leathery and dusty mahogany feel. Perhaps a little clove and pepper which ring of wood spice. The malt presence is gristy and grainy and projects a slightly rough youthfulness. Underneath this heavy brooding nose is though, something a little brighter and perhaps fruity. P: Oh dear. Recently I tried New Zealand’s new Pokeno whisky, and there was this fizzy carbonation to it. Wow is that even more present here. This is like a sherbet assault. There is an initial juicy fruit texture but it is smacked out the way by fizz, more fizz, and even more fizz. Underneath that is a glimmer of plum, raisin and maybe cherry. A dark chocolate and pepper is there if you search. F: Medium-Long. Mocha bitterness, raisins, heavy dark wood spice with a quite dry astringency. A dash of water, I thought might showcase the palate slightly and tame the fizz. I was wrong. I just sneezed. Damn. I think there is a potentially exciting whisky finishing in a 500 L barrel in Hobart right now, but it’s not there yet. It’s difficult to really criticise or applaud something that isn’t in its final form, I don’t know enough to know where this is headed, what it still has to go, or what the intention is. What I can see, is that there is a huge potential here for a darkly complex and robust Tasmanian single malt with depth of character that could excite. But, and it’s a big but, a 500 l butt; the fizz must be tamed. Also, Distiller app team please let us edit listings; i just realised I entered this as “mart” whisky. 🤦‍♂️ Distiller whisky taste: #192 Note that prices are for 500 ml bottle. [No rocks, do not have the energy for thinking about six captions in one sitting this evening]. Hobart distillery running scores Signature Batch (#14): 2.75/5 Muscat Cask Finish: 2.75/5