Rochfort Distillery Chapel Hill Port Cask (CHPC) Cask Strength Single Malt Australian Whisky (700ml) - Black Box

Rochfort are a South Australian family-owned distillery in the Hindmarsh Valley down near Victor Harbor who recently won Best Whisky in Australia as well as Best Craft Spirit in Australia at the Tasting Australia awards. At the time of writing, about ten different expressions were available, each matured in x wine casks from various South Australian producers - these range from ports, white ports, Muscats, x-mead casks, Shiraz casks and old Tawny port barrels.

The winery partner for this edition is Chapel Hill in McLaren Vale, built on the site of the Seaview Chapel and school house. The 1865 ironstone Chapel still proudly stands today and is an integral feature of the tasting room. Planting of the vineyard commenced in 1972 and the first vintage was in 1975. The barrels date back to 1988 and were used for red wine maturation until purchased by Chapel Hill circa 1999. For the past 20 years these barrels have been continuously used for maturation of “The Devil” 15 Year Tawny, a deliciously rich and decadent fortified wine.

Tasting note: [10ml sample] Quite spiced-up on the nose - almost unlike any other whisky we've encountered. Peppercorns leap out of the vanillas with winey / porty notes developing. Big and bittersweet on entry; the surging fruit cake and cinnamon finish is quite something. Tongue-coating malt that shows superb persistence. Add a few drops of water and you're in for a very special Australian whisky experience. 55.5% Alc./Vol. One out of 100 bottles.

Notes from the producers... A rich selection of dried fruit spice, soft leather and oak greet the nose before initial flavours of hazelnuts, plum pudding and dark chocolate take over upon the first sip. The whisky is thick and rich with an almost cream like viscosity, it’s a celebration on the tongue as the spices dance on for what seems an endless palate. The finish is just superb with a chewy, lip puckering numbing sensation that leaves the gums tingling.