Hicks & Healey 8 Year Old Cornish Single Malt (42.5%, OB, 2016)

• Category: Cornish single malt whisky
• Origin: Healey’s Cyder Farm
• Bottling: Hicks & Healey, Official
• ABV: 42.5%
• Cost: £58.99

What they say

The culmination of an idea forged from the perfect partnership of expertise in brewing and innovation in distillation, our single malt Classic English Whiskey is a rare and sought-after spirit. Spice, honey and barley notes unite with hints of cocoa, caramel and delicate fruits, all rounded off with smooth vanilla. A true taste of excellence.

This has been made in Cornwall with a joint partnership between St Austell Brewery and Healeys Cyder farm. St Austell brewery used the finest Maris Otter Cornish barley malted at their brewery. It is then distilled and matured by Healeys to create this Cornish Whiskey.

What I say

Producers of the first whisky out of Cornwall for over 300 years, they have produced a 7 year old (2004-2011) and their first 10 year old was released in 2013.

This 8 year old single malt was released 2016 not to be confused with an 8 year old blended whisky also released by them recently.

My tasting notes:

• Appearance: Light amber gold (9/20), slow forming medium-fine tears taper to long fine legs
• Nose: Sweet, waxy and woody, slightly spiced and spirity, vanilla icing, gristly Malt, banana, pear, apple, vanilla custard, coloured pencils & shavings
• Taste: Vanilla custard, honey, fruity, apple, pear, banana, slightly acidic/citric lemon & lime note, Barley, white pepper, custard cream biscuits, rhubarb and custard sweeties, light caramel, Portuguese custard tarts
• Finish: Medium, foam banana sweeties, lime creams, light toffee and butterscotch

Overall

Very pleasing & vanilla’d in all its forms, an easy drinker that reminded us of Dalwhinnie or Cardhu single malt scotch, nothing overly complicated about it but a good solid dram and excels in its simplicity, I think this would appeal to many.

Score 85/100

Don’t take my word for it:

Bloggers submit a link to your review