Cape Byron Stone Beer Cask Single Malt Australian Whisky (700ml)

Cape Byron continues as it began in 2016 - as a family owned and run operation situated on a Macadamia farm. Scotch Whisky Master, Jim McEwan is significant for his early involvement, alongside current distiller and owner, Eddie Brooks. Cape Byron's house style has been compared to Bruichladdich's "Classic Laddie" - not unwarranted, nor surprising. Full-size, 200 litre American oak ex-bourbon barrels are the mainstay, with multiple casks vatted for each release. The whiskies mature in a cool, damp environment and are bottled non-chill filtered. Here's another in a series of 'experiments', this time following a tradition more aligned with Northern European distilleries - maturation in x-beer casks. Aged in ex-bourbon barrels previously filled with Stone & Wood's rich and distinctive 'Stone Beer', a dark porter brewed with wood-fired stones, the resulting whisky shows some nice tropical fruit character, dustings of cocoa and stout, rounded off with a subtle herbaceous tang and lingering pepper heat at the finish. As far as this sub-category goes, it's a success, even if the beer influence seems slight. 46% Alc./Vol. 

Notes from the producers... crème brûlée and indulgent vanilla custard, followed by a burst of fresh orange zest evolving into mocha and tiramisu. It concludes with a lingering honey note, leaving a sweet and satisfying finish.