Hellyers Road – 7 Year Old Sherry Casks Matured (70cl, 46.2%)

A seven year old Tasmanian single malt from Hellyers Road, and the first release in the distillery's Sherry Cask Series. It spent its whole maturation in Spanish casks that previously held Oloroso sherry, so the sherry influence runs through the whole seven years rather than coming from a finish. It is bottled at 46.2% in a 70cl bottle, without colouring or chill-filtration. Dried fruit sweetness meets dark chocolate and a spicy citrus note, with a smooth, oily texture. The nose offers sweet tobacco and raisins. On the palate come dark chocolate, citrus, vanilla and dried fruit, with hints of chilli and clove. The long, warming finish recalls spiced pastry with dried fruit.