Pōkeno – Exploration Series 'Winter Malt' New Zealand Single Malt Whisky (70cl, 48%)

This is a New Zealand single malt from Pōkeno Distillery, part of its Exploration Series, bottled at 48% ABV in a 70cl bottle. The mashbill draws on several New Zealand malts: manuka smoked malt, chocolate roasted malt, toffee malt and Laureate Distillers malt. It was aged entirely in first-fill bourbon barrels. The nose is sweet, honeyed smoke with chocolate caramel slice, vanilla bean and toffee. On the palate, bitter dark chocolate and cocoa beans meet creamy fudge. The finish is long, sweet and smoky.