What they say

It’s the second batch of Willowbank whisky from New Zealand that has been independently bottled up by That Boutique-y Whisky Company! This 18 year old expression was aged in red wine casks, resulting in loads of red fruit note brilliance. A wonderful whisky from a sadly-closed distillery.

Batch 2 is a release of 506 bottles.

Official tasting notes

• Nose: Blackberry jam on toast, earthy with a savoury touch of tobacco, a pinch of cinnamon.
• Palate: Cherry, chocolate, and brown sugar, balanced by woody tannins with a soft drying hint of baking spices.
• Finish: Red fruit sweetness and a hint of leather.

What I say

Released as part of That Boutique-Y Whisky Company’s Wine Cask series. This whisky was distilled at the now closed Willowbank distillery in New Zealand. Representing a single blend as it uses both grain and malt whisky distilled at Willowbank aged in ex-Red wine casks. Bottled at 18 years old and 50.5% ABV.

• ABV 50.5%
• Age 18 Years Old
• Bottler That Boutique-Y Whisky Company
• Bottling Batch 2
• Cask Red wine cask
• Category Single blended whisky
• Cost £159.95
• Origin Willowbank Distillery
• Outturn 506
• Region New Zealand
• Released 2021
• Vintage undisclosed

My tasting notes

• Appearance Rusty bronze ruby (16/20), slow, fine tears and legs.
• Nose Fruity, blackcurrant, elderberry, earthy and tart, brambles, raspberry, red grapes, very polished and estery, balsa wood, wood glue, Szechuan pepper, cinnamon gobstoppers, floral, dates.
• Taste Medium-bodied, continues on the balsa wood and solventy glue theme, dates and very sugary plums or sweet plum sauce, black cherries, 5 spice powder, woody oak, dark chocolate, bramble jam and liqourice root.
• Finish Long, tannic, woody, black fruits, liqourice, earthy coffee.
• Overall Lots of old wood and fruit influence as you’d expect for its age and ex-red wine cask, hints of eucalyptus in places but overall a superb woody old whisky!

Score 85/100

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