M&H Elements Sherry Cask

A strong start from the Classic, number two is the headline news maker. The winner of the 2023 World Whisky Awards ‘Worlds Best Single Malt”. Awards are to be taken with a pinch of salt (dead sea salt I suspect; they would have beaten some absolute behemoths). But, awards also have a habit of making things unobtainable and expensive (cough Sulivans Cove cough). So, it’s nice to get to try this in anycase. The Elements Series from M&H is a range of single malts exploring the variety of flavours that different types of casks can impart (nothing new here). This particular expression was drawn from a combination of bourbon, Oloroso sherry and Pedro Ximénez sherry casks. N: Shy. This is a lot less forthcoming than the classic. So, shy. The oak is a dampener, sadly, and mutes what seems to be a musty-gristy malt undercarriage. Time in the glass does a little to help things be more forthcoming, revealing: metallic notes, leather and leaf litter, oily-stale walnuts. Do I get the vaguest suggestion of orange (or a memory of the last dram perhaps?). P: Full bodied and creamy, that is an excellent texture. The sherry influence is obvious as milk chocolate, light honey, raisins, and subtle bakery spice. The oak is understated and makes for a pleasantly balanced profile. The very back end of the palate adds a leafy herbal presence like peppermint or menthol that draws out a dark red cherry. F: Medium-short. Quite bitter, with oak tannins being a little too heavy and bakery spices leaning towards cracked pepper. Brown sugar lends a needed sweetness but its too little too late to maintain balance. First things first; this is not a world beating whisky. No way, no how. I don’t want to call shenanigans, but I can’t help but think some money changed hands on this one! The palate is undeniably enjoyable with some cute quirks, but the nose is shy and obfuscated by too much oak (a product of rapid maturation in a hot climate?) and the finish lost its way. At AUD$130 I would lean towards just about any other sherry cask finished scotch for a lower price and more unique, memorable, character…. …obviously I’m much cleverer than the judges at the WWA so I’ll expect my job offer in the post. Distiller whisky taste #243 [Pictured here with a empty glass (sorry) and sticking with a desert theme; a cluster of evaporitic gypsum needles. Gypsum like this grows from evaporating fluids supersaturated in calcium and sulphate. Such formations are common from salt lakes and dune systems in arid environments. These ones are from dune systems near Dallalinu in Western Australia. Here recharging groundwater dissolve ions and pass through sand dunes growing crystals as they go.] M&H Running scores Classic: 3.5/5 Sherry: 3/5

A subtle nose leads with sweet florals, specifically cherry blossoms, some grassiness, and a hint of funk. Leaning more towards bourbon to start, breathe it in for a spell and the sherry cask influence becomes evident. Red currant jam, light toffee, wildflower honey, and a touch of milk chocolate. The palate is just as sweet as it smells but much spicier than expected, the heat creeping up on you. The flavors are honey, white nectarine, orange zest, white pepper, cayenne, cinnamon and a smidge of hot fudge. The body feels full, a tad oily and slick. However, in the glass it’s quick, hardly forming legs at all as it recedes and leaves behind a meager smattering of droplets. The finish is mild and enjoyable. There’s a lingering citrusy zest like burnt orange peels, an echo of red fruit, ashy oak, and cocoa powdered almonds. Overall, it has potential but could certainly benefit from more time in the cask to mellow the burn and deepen the flavors. Nose: 8 Taste: 8 Body: 8 Finish: 8

My third expression ever from the "yeasty" distillery Milk & Honey from Israel, is the Sherry Cask one. I really loved the red wine cask Finish and the Classic was very good for the corest and cheapest of their range. That made me had good expectations about the sherry cask one. Bottled at 46%abv. On the nose, very citric; not yoir standard sherry notes. Oranges, yeast (their DNA profile note), Citrus: Lemon and lemongrass. On the palate, very light. Yeasty; it is like a ppicy bread. Light vanilla water. Too watery and dim. Aftertaste is very dissapointing. A dim Pepper and yeast. That is it. Nothing else. Short finish. Overall, this was not what i was expecting. Not sherry at all, very dim and light, and that is kind of surprising since it was bottled at 46%abv. It lacks potency. It lacks a lot of things. My score is a scary 58 over 100.

Very good full of dark chocolate. Nose: Raisins, Toffee, Sultanas, Figs, Almonds, Hazlenuts, Dark Chocolate, Apricots, Honey, Luxardo Cherries, Dates, Caramel Palate: Figs, Raisins, Pineapples, Sultanas, Almonds, Grapefruits, Dark Chocolate Covered Oranges, Toffee, Prunes, Cherries, Blackberries Finish: Raisins, Dark Chocolate, Morello Cherries, Toffee, Dates, Prunes, Mocha

If I didn't taste myself I would think this was Old Pulteney Navigator. It has the same copper-still mineral taste, 46% ABV and is aged in Sherry casks. Very good, a solid whiskey for the price, apparently $70 -- But I received it as a gift. I'm sure in Michigan, with high spirits taxes, this would top $100 a bottle which would make it unaffordable and not worth it.

Another remarkably good young whisky from M&H. I struggle to pick apart the flavors of sherry casks but this is fairly typical for the most part. Where it deviates from the standard profile is in a hint of warm honey on the nose and a vibrantly spicy finish. A decent dram that reaffirms the promise of this distillery.