Hellyers Road – The Journeyman (70cl, 46.2%)

The Journeyman is a small-batch Tasmanian single malt from Hellyers Road, made by marrying two separately matured components. One spent twelve years in ex-bourbon casks of American oak, the other five years in ex-port casks of French oak. It is a vatting of the two, not one continuous 17-year maturation. The whisky is triple distilled and bottled at 46.2% ABV, with natural colour and no chill-filtering. Hellyers Road presents it as the successor to its Original 12 Year Old. The nose has fresh leaves, black tea, honey and orange blossom. Marmalade, toffee and vanilla come through on the palate with pan-fried winter berries, and the finish is long and soft with a gentle nutmeg note.