Old Kempton Solera Cask Release 4 Tasmania Malt Whisky

Description

I suspect the style of Aussie malts is gradually changing.  And changing for the better.  All being well, the era of small barrel, rapid ageing of malts, is coming to an end.

Larger barrels are now being employed and the heavy use of fortified wine casks is now being started to be questioned.  Note the rise of ex Bourbon barrels and with this new offering from Old Kempton, amongst others, the use of a solera system for whisky maturation is becoming more common.

It would appear that producers and the public are looking for a slightly lighter, balanced and mature style of single malt these days.

And this Tassie solera based malt certainly fits that bill.  According to the distillery, “The system currently consists of just one 500L Portuguese Port cask, which is drawn from and topped with 250 litres of stylistically similar spirit from the cask program every six to nine months”.

The idea is that the system of using multiple casks and multiple spirits integrates and softens the spirit and the oak.  Couldn’t agree more.

For me, it is soft and supple and mouthfilling.  The oak is held in check while the spits keeps it lively.

Official notes read, “It’s a rich and deeply complex Whisky, opening with slightly more delicate oak than the rest of the range, allowing bright fruit and florals to offset the headier vanilla, spice and nutty elements. Although subtle on the nose, it’s a titan on the palate; a decadent, winter-themed single malt, with shortbread, dark fruit nut chocolate and spice flavours, followed by mountains of molten caramel to close”.