Black Gate Distillery 5 20s Cask Strength Single Malt Australian Whisky (500ml)

A marriage of five twenty litre casks containing lightly smoked whisky produced from Franklin barley. The whisky was decanted and hand bottled with nothing added or removed. In short, a proper natural strength expression. Distilled in September 2013 and bottled December 2015. 159 bottles available.

Tasting note: Deep copper penny colour. Penetrating, prickly and Bourbonesque with big oak input: densely packed aromas of cocoa, picnic bar, caramello and vanilla malt. The punchiness drops off in later passes but rallies on the palate: a creamy sweet entry preludes a massive attack. Cascades of sugars and sweet spices fill the mouth, rounded off by mild bittersweetness. There's obvious spirit heat, but the delivery maintains remarkable balance for all the weight and alcohol. Huge length, the aftertaste rebounding with dates, chocolate sponge cake and caramello in the fade. A whopper of a vatting. 67% Alc./Vol.