Words by Colin Hampden-White
With a title like that, one would assume that I am about to write about yet another Australian or even Tasmanian whisky. But this whisky is one of those rarities which comes from New Zealand.
The distillery is relatively new, being established in 2015 in the Cardrona Valley in the Southern Alps of New Zealand. Founded by Desiree Whitaker and run by her and her family, the distillery is of a reasonable size with five stills. Two built by Forsyths in Speyside, a Carl continuous still, a Carl finishing still and a 600 litre copper gin still. As well as whisky they also produce gin, vodka and liqueurs.
They recently released their first whisky, “Just Hatched”. This first release was released at cask strength and is a marriage of whisky from ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks, and marks the distillery’s spirit coming of age at over three years old.
As with all new whiskies the proof is in the pudding. So far they have won a gold medal at the IWSR, New Zealand’s best single malt at 12 years and under at the World Whisky Awards, and their gin was listed in the World’s 50 Best Gins.
How does the whisky taste?
The nose shows the whisky has a good degree of complexity for a young whisky with aromas of scones and cream with sweet Winegum fruit in the background. With a little air, the scones become sponge cake as the vanilla builds up and there are zesty lemon aromas. The palate is sweet with honey with a florality like honeysuckle flowers. Vanilla fudge is the base with nuts and a touch of spice on the edge of the palate. There are also some mixed citrus flavours keeping it all fresh. The finish brings out the cereal notes and the fresh citrus becomes more like boiled sweets. A little dry oak brings the finish to a close.
The whisky is certainly complex for a three year old whisky. If I’d tasted it blind I would have never guessed its age. It is very easy to drink for a cask strength whisky and very moreish.
Just Hatched
There are new expressions being released all the time, a pinot noir cask finish was released last year, and they recently released a pink gin matured for four months in pinot noir casks from the Felton Road distillery. A portion of the sales going to cancer charities.
ABV: 64.4%
Size: 350ml
Buy it now for £73.95
If you have a penchant for new whiskies being released from outside Scotland, then Irish whiskey from Roe & Co is one to read about.