Scapegrace Revenent Single Malt Whisky - Limited Release III

Dan Murphys international whisky tasting night. The third limited release of single malt whisky from Scapegrace, in New Zealand. Revenant is made using laureate barley that has been smoked with Manuka wood, and aged for three years in virgin French oak. Non-chill filtered and with natural colour. N: An instantly tarry and ashy smoke with undertones of burnt espresso and a honey laden herbal vegetal mulch. Interesting and somewhat conflicting. P: Thick with tannins, bitter coffee, and dark toffee. Cloves and spice. Florals and dark chocolate. Nutty-citrus. Undeniably a lot going on but is it too erratic and unbalanced, I fear so. F: Medium. Grainy-ash. Barrel toast and spice. Very heavy wood presence, an aggressive an unrestrained use of French oak. I am always sad when beautiful wood is used poorly and without refinement. The tannins build to an uncomfortable unpleasantness. The real shame is that there are excellent ashy notes, but, they fight and conflict with the lighter delicate florals. A curious Kiwi that is not anywhere close to being worth the price tag. Distiller whisky taste #176