High Wheeler 21 Year Single Grain

Our house is literally getting torn apart top to bottom at the moment and rebuilt so cooking is a bit hard so friends kindly invited us over and offered us a feed the day after lockdown was over and we were able to socialize. He cracked this open which was part of a triple 200ml set from the NZ Whiskey Company. It's a lighterstyle refill oak and you can pick the grain influence. Nice to taste a slice of history. Will have to break open my 21 year from this distillery one day.

Grateful to get a taste of this hard-to-find whisky. Hibiscus flower and warming vanilla on the nose. Banana Runts on the palate, immediately discernible. Vanilla, again, and yellow cake with buttercream frosting. Yet the grain cuts the sweetness and lifts these sweeter notes to the floral register. Sweet and remarkably smooth barley finish that is decadent while not cloying. Thanks for sharing this gem, Kory.

The 70% single malt stands out on the nose, red and green apples, touch of cinnamon, oak, sea salt, orange pith, light pineapple juice with coconut water, sunflower seeds, light peppercorn. Much of the same on the palate with heavy sweet orange cream liquor, vanilla, and some pineapple juice. I’ve never had a whisky so creamy and oily. This is very tasty.

Harsher than I expected for a 21 year old. I don't think a bourbon barrel was the best choice. A port, sherry or similar would be better.

Not really my type of whiskey. Easy to drink and a bit floral but watery... Quite thin & light. Disapointing for a 21yo whiskey.

quite thin - but fairly smooth. great nose but not huge depth of flavour