Israelian distillery Milk & Honey has some fascinating experiments of their Apex sequence (a extremely esteemed Pomegranate cask anybody?). On this case it consists of maturing whisky within the lowest place on earth, the Useless Sea. Temperatures are rising as excessive as 50°C, a fairly excessive local weather for whisky maturation.
They used an array of various cask sorts and sizes (bourbon, crimson wine, STR) and through the first 12 months they positioned them on the rooftop of a resort, 423 meters under sea stage, uncovered to the altering climate situations (which led to an angels’ share of 25% in that 12 months alone).
Milk & Honey Apex Useless Sea 2018 (56,2%, OB 2021, Batch 010, 4892 btl.)
Nostril: candy begin on vanilla and marzipan, in addition to some butterscotch. Alternatively there’s an assertive spicy facet that reveals prickly mint, citrus fruits and salty notes. A delicate darkness within the background, like chocolate or chilly espresso, combined with beneficiant (however not overpowering) oaky heat.
Mouth: agency and highly effective, with pepper, allspice and caramel, hints of burnt vanilla pastry, in addition to citrus sweet. Some dryness but additionally a mouthwatering salty facet. Whiffs of smoke, in addition to aniseed and cigar containers. You actually really feel the depth of the local weather, however it’s additionally surprisingly drinkable.
End: lengthy, nonetheless displaying a citrus and salt combo, with gingery warmth and a dose of candy oak.
Due to some clever pressure-cooking this completely exceeds its modest age. Successful, particularly for a primary take at such a difficult maturation. Youthful however wealthy, with a particular salinity, and the most effective I’ve had from this distillery thus far. Nonetheless out there from The Whisky Trade as an example.
