Despite the cancellation of Tasmania's Dark Mofo Festival due to COVID-19, the Devils Distillery went ahead with a follow up to their 2019 'Winter Feast' tribute - this time with strikethrough text on the front label. Three years in small ex-bourbon casks followed by an 18 month finishing in a 200L ex-bourbon cask previously used to mature maple syrup makes for a dark coloured, woody malt. Initially you get some of the characteristics of over-aged Armagnac on the nose, before American oak pushes through sweeter scents of vanilla, cocoa, caramel and light sticky date. It's Bourbonesque on the palate too, starting out with low-key fruity malt and vanilla wafer flavours, finishing with maple drizzled buckwheat pancakes and fading with fresh cut oak. One of 379 bottles.
In classic Australian style, this whisky has absolutely rippled flavour out of its cask. However, while I was expecting spiky youth in the spirit and the abv, it drinks with a maturity and ease that belies these facts. I have since bought two bottles. Absolutely delicious and as good, if not better, than it’s Scotch peers