Overeem 12 Year Old Bourbon Cask (OHD-057)

Nose: Tropical fruit (pineapple, mango, guava), honey, orchard fruits and blossoms (apple, peach), floral nectar, sauternes. This is an excellent nose that continues to open over time displaying maturity and balanced complexity. Palate: Sweet and just a touch spicy on the arrival which begins with fresh fruit and then develops a wonderful note of heather honey. Gentle baking spices with a touch of menthol and white pepper. Finish: Medium/Long. Tropical and citrus fruits, honey and hibiscus tea. Overeem is one of the older contemporary Australian distilleries and their whisky is always pleasing, but this 12 year age statement matured exclusively in ex-Heaven Hill bourbon casks is a step above even their usual high standard. The nose is exquisite and continues to unfurl during the tasting revealing new facets and layers of fruity and honeyed aromas. The palate is just as good and has a mellow quality that also improves over time. The spicy notes that initially appeared (which were very agreeable) eventually merge into a softer honeyed presence. I only had a small sample of this whisky and almost finished it before trying it with a drop of water, but I can say that reduction lifts and expands the nose and palate equally bringing out sandalwood on the nose and juicy stone fruits on the palate. Highly recommended. Tasted from a 15ml sample, and I'm trying to find a bottle on the secondaries. “Excellent” : 88/100 (4.5 stars)