At a recent Aussie Whisky masterclass at Sydney's Oak Barrel (OB), Scott Fitzsimons, OB's Whisky Specialist brought a special addition. Cloaked in a black cloth at the start of the night, it was later revealed as McHenry Whisky from the William McHenry Distillery, from Port Arthur, Tasmania.
McHenry is the southernmost distillery in the world, contrasting with Highland Park in Orkney Scotland, being the most northernmost. On the bottle, McHenry also claims to have its own pure spring water source as basis for its distillation - though let's not get into a discussion on quality of water underpinning a good dram. Led by Master Distiller Bill McHenry, the distillery produces various gins, vodka and single malt whiskies.
This was the first time I had heard of the distillery and was simply excited to sample the first release edition.
McHenry William First Release (55% ABV, NAS, Port Arthur, Australia, $280AUD)
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A single Malt Whisky release from another distillery in Tasmania. This first release is quite enjoyable, simple and not overly complex. It would definitely suit as an everyday dram though the steep price point may be a deterrent for many.
Colour: Amber gold.
Nose: The nose is laden with honey, peppery spices, gun powder and a hint of Chinese herbal medicine. There's also a great deal of oaky aroma on the nose.
Palate: The palate is fruity and sweet at first, with pineapple and citrus notes being the prevalent notes. The palate is slightly oaky, chalky and is consistent with the oak note from the nose. The chalkiness is similar to that found on a Clynelish.
Finish: The finish is malty and leaves your palate with quite a bit of tannin. Drying.
Rating (on my very non-scientific scale): 89/100.
Cheers,
Hendy
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