Hellyers Road Distillery American Oak Oloroso De Jerez Finish Whisky

Another wild swing in price for a whisky of a similar age to the American Oak 21 and Voyager 20-year-olds from Hellyers, but perhaps the cask itself is to blame, as good quality sherry casks from Spain can be very expensive these days. Here, again, we’re looking at a ridiculously old whisky by Aussie standards, and at a very low price next to anything comparable that’s been released to date. The sherry cask has done its job well here, offering lots of sour cherry, roasted almond and fine tannin complexity on the nose without overpowering that bright, sawdusty Hellyer’s spirit, which in this case is still a little jagged even after 20 years of maturation. The palate and the finish are excellent here, outdoing the nose with beautiful sweetness and very well-controlled alcohol, the sherry giving this whisky the depth it needs for contemplative sipping.