Limeburners – 5 Year Old Batch 1 (That Boutique-y Whisky Company) (50cl, 51.5%)

This is a 5 year old single malt from Limeburners, the Albany distillery in Western Australia, bottled by That Boutique-y Whisky Company. It belongs to the Return to Oz series from 2023, and Batch 1 consists of 434 bottles in a 50cl size, at 51.5%. It was matured in a former Pedro Ximénez apera cask. Apera is the Australian name for sherry-style wine. The whisky is non-chill-filtered and has no added colouring. The nose is rich and oily, with raisins, dark molasses, maraschino cherry syrup, ancho chilli, dark chocolate and a touch of lavender. On the palate it is full and weighty yet balanced, with velvety dark chocolate, black cherry, tobacco and a mole-like spice. The finish is long, with chocolate returning before the lavender.