Hellyers Road 15yo Slightly Peated
Official bottling
Single malt - Tasmania
Golden
46.2% ABV
Dram
Nose: Toast, smoke, peat, leather, rye bread, black pepper, lemon zest, apricots, sea salt, hints of roast beef.
Mouthfeel: Light body, astringent, chalky, cool.
Tasting: Bitter sour. Peat, leather, soot, tobacco leaf, lemon zest, apricots, peaches, diesel exhaust.
Finish: Long. Soot, peaches, peat, leather, apricots, lemon zest.
Comments:
Smoky, citrusy, less fruity than the others perhaps. There’s a lot of soot and bitter ashy flavours here. There’s finish is long and smoky, and finally the stone fruits poke through.
Verdict:
I like this.
Friday, 4 July 2025
Hellyers Road 15yo Original
Hellyers Road 15yo Original
Official bottling
Single malt - Tasmania
Golden
46.2% ABV
Dram
Nose: Honeydew melons, cinnamon, white grapes, gooseberries, nutmeg, apricots, green tea.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, volatile, mouth coating.
Tasting: Sour sweet. White grapes, honeydew melons, peaches, nutmeg, toast, cookie dough, photocopy paper, rye bread.
Finish: Long. Rye bread, photocopy paper, gooseberries, peaches, honeydew melons.
Comments:
The characteristic overripe fruit notes are here, alongside the peppery rye bread, but there’s also feinty notes of green tea and photocopy paper. Some slight smoke is present too.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Official bottling
Single malt - Tasmania
Golden
46.2% ABV
Dram
Nose: Honeydew melons, cinnamon, white grapes, gooseberries, nutmeg, apricots, green tea.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, volatile, mouth coating.
Tasting: Sour sweet. White grapes, honeydew melons, peaches, nutmeg, toast, cookie dough, photocopy paper, rye bread.
Finish: Long. Rye bread, photocopy paper, gooseberries, peaches, honeydew melons.
Comments:
The characteristic overripe fruit notes are here, alongside the peppery rye bread, but there’s also feinty notes of green tea and photocopy paper. Some slight smoke is present too.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Hellyers Road Journeyman (Bourbon and Port Casks)
Hellyers Road Journeyman (Bourbon and Port Casks)
Official bottling
Single malt - Tasmania
Golden
46.2% ABV
Dram
Nose: Cookie dough, fresh cut grass, apricots, white grapes, apples, orange blossom, hints of desiccated coconut, hints of dried strawberries.
Mouthfeel: Light body, astringent, cool, tingly.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Limes, lemon zest, orange blossom, apricots, cookie dough, rye bread, hints of white pepper, hints of dried strawberries.
Finish: Medium. Apricots, white pepper, malted grains, limes, orange blossom.
Comments:
12 years in bourbon casks and 5 years in port casks, so there’s a component in this that’s a fair age. Tangy and sweet, lots of citrus fruits. Through it all there are big notes of rye bread and apricots. Well integrated, estery notes seem to be the distillery characteristic! Very good whisky indeed.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Official bottling
Single malt - Tasmania
Golden
46.2% ABV
Dram
Nose: Cookie dough, fresh cut grass, apricots, white grapes, apples, orange blossom, hints of desiccated coconut, hints of dried strawberries.
Mouthfeel: Light body, astringent, cool, tingly.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Limes, lemon zest, orange blossom, apricots, cookie dough, rye bread, hints of white pepper, hints of dried strawberries.
Finish: Medium. Apricots, white pepper, malted grains, limes, orange blossom.
Comments:
12 years in bourbon casks and 5 years in port casks, so there’s a component in this that’s a fair age. Tangy and sweet, lots of citrus fruits. Through it all there are big notes of rye bread and apricots. Well integrated, estery notes seem to be the distillery characteristic! Very good whisky indeed.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Hellyers Road 10yo Oloroso de Jerez
Hellyers Road 10yo Oloroso de Jerez
Official bottling
Single malt - Tasmania
Amber
46.2% ABV
Dram
Nose: Fresh cut grass, bamboo shoots, cookie dough, cinnamon, cloves, orange blossom, hints of orange peel.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, expands, loosens, tingly.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Orange juice, orange blossom, raspberry jam, cloves, malted grains, cinnamon, vanilla, hints of pear drops.
Finish: Medium. Orange juice, orange blossom, pear drops, malted grains, hints of apricots.
Comments:
Really orangey whisky! Almost orange opal fruits flavour. It’s still spicy and malty, but there’s peel, blossom and juice of orange galore. Lovely dram.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Official bottling
Single malt - Tasmania
Amber
46.2% ABV
Dram
Nose: Fresh cut grass, bamboo shoots, cookie dough, cinnamon, cloves, orange blossom, hints of orange peel.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, expands, loosens, tingly.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Orange juice, orange blossom, raspberry jam, cloves, malted grains, cinnamon, vanilla, hints of pear drops.
Finish: Medium. Orange juice, orange blossom, pear drops, malted grains, hints of apricots.
Comments:
Really orangey whisky! Almost orange opal fruits flavour. It’s still spicy and malty, but there’s peel, blossom and juice of orange galore. Lovely dram.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Hellyers Road 7yo Peated
Hellyers Road 7yo Peated
Official bottling
Single malt - Tasmania
Pale green
46.2% ABV
Dram
Nose: Starfruit, dried strawberries, honeydew melons, orange peel, apricots, malted grains, hints of cinnamon.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, oily, cool, tingly.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Dried strawberries, apricots, starfruit, rye bread, peat, honey, leather, hints of smoke.
Finish: Short. Smoke, leather, rye bread, orange peel, malted grains.
Comments:
Very fruity and spicy, with a light lick of smoke. The peat is more prominent here, with earthy notes well integrated with the fruit. The finish is smoky though, with a nice spiciness.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Official bottling
Single malt - Tasmania
Pale green
46.2% ABV
Dram
Nose: Starfruit, dried strawberries, honeydew melons, orange peel, apricots, malted grains, hints of cinnamon.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, oily, cool, tingly.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Dried strawberries, apricots, starfruit, rye bread, peat, honey, leather, hints of smoke.
Finish: Short. Smoke, leather, rye bread, orange peel, malted grains.
Comments:
Very fruity and spicy, with a light lick of smoke. The peat is more prominent here, with earthy notes well integrated with the fruit. The finish is smoky though, with a nice spiciness.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Hellyers Road Peated 16yo 2004/2020
Hellyers Road Peated 16yo 2004/2020
Official bottling
Single malt - Tasmania
Lime green
61.7% ABV
Dram
Nose: Smoke, tyre rubber, lavender, sandalwood, peat, lemon zest, hints of white grapes. With water, lemon zest, smoke, apricots.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, astringent, hot, tingly.
Tasting: Bitter sour. Lemon zest, lavender, peat, autumn leaves, peat, smoke, white grapes, potting soil, malted grains, starfruit. With water, smoke, apricots, starfruit, chillies, hints of potting soil.
Finish: Long. Peat, potting soil, starfruit, lavender, hints of sandalwood.
Comments:
Cask 4082.01. Very floral, wreathed through heaps of smoke. Earthiness predominates on the tongue, actual earth this time. But there’s plenty of fruit and malt buried underneath.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Official bottling
Single malt - Tasmania
Lime green
61.7% ABV
Dram
Nose: Smoke, tyre rubber, lavender, sandalwood, peat, lemon zest, hints of white grapes. With water, lemon zest, smoke, apricots.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, astringent, hot, tingly.
Tasting: Bitter sour. Lemon zest, lavender, peat, autumn leaves, peat, smoke, white grapes, potting soil, malted grains, starfruit. With water, smoke, apricots, starfruit, chillies, hints of potting soil.
Finish: Long. Peat, potting soil, starfruit, lavender, hints of sandalwood.
Comments:
Cask 4082.01. Very floral, wreathed through heaps of smoke. Earthiness predominates on the tongue, actual earth this time. But there’s plenty of fruit and malt buried underneath.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Hellyers Road Dark Harmony IPA Cask
Hellyers Road Dark Harmony IPA Cask
Official bottling
Single malt - Tasmania
Dark amber
53.5% ABV
Dram
Nose: Smoke, diesel exhaust, tobacco leaf, cloves, dark chocolate, sea salt, hints of toffee. With water, rubber bands, tyre rubber, tobacco leaf.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, volatile, astringent, hot.
Tasting: Bitter. Diesel exhaust, smoke, tobacco leaf, toffee, burnt sugar, lemon zest, tyre rubber, cloves, hints of fresh cut grass. With water, dark chocolate, walnut skins, starfruit, smoke, fresh cut grass.
Finish: Medium. Cloves, diesel exhaust, smoke, tobacco leaf, tyre rubber.
Comments:
Very smoky, sooty and fragrant. Water brings out more sulphurous notes and a little bit of sweetness. Still, the smoke predominates, and the finish is sooty and herbal.
Verdict:
I like this.
Official bottling
Single malt - Tasmania
Dark amber
53.5% ABV
Dram
Nose: Smoke, diesel exhaust, tobacco leaf, cloves, dark chocolate, sea salt, hints of toffee. With water, rubber bands, tyre rubber, tobacco leaf.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, volatile, astringent, hot.
Tasting: Bitter. Diesel exhaust, smoke, tobacco leaf, toffee, burnt sugar, lemon zest, tyre rubber, cloves, hints of fresh cut grass. With water, dark chocolate, walnut skins, starfruit, smoke, fresh cut grass.
Finish: Medium. Cloves, diesel exhaust, smoke, tobacco leaf, tyre rubber.
Comments:
Very smoky, sooty and fragrant. Water brings out more sulphurous notes and a little bit of sweetness. Still, the smoke predominates, and the finish is sooty and herbal.
Verdict:
I like this.
Hellyers Road Aurora Australis
Hellyers Road Aurora Australis
Official bottling
Single malt - Tasmania
Yellow, hints of green
40% ABV
Dram
Nose: Tyre rubber, fresh cut grass, peaches, apricots, white grapes, dried strawberries, peat, hints of smoke.
Mouthfeel: Light body, volatile, mouth coating, expands.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Tyre rubber, orange peel, orange blossom, peaches, white grapes, malted grains, rye bread, hints of mushrooms.
Finish: Short. Rye bread, tyre rubber, black pepper, orange peel, orange blossom.
Comments:
Rubbery, sulphurous, but lots of dried fruit and more than a little smoke. The dried, almost fermented fruit notes are probably a result of the long fermentation times, and they’re really luscious and rich.
Verdict:
I like this.
Official bottling
Single malt - Tasmania
Yellow, hints of green
40% ABV
Dram
Nose: Tyre rubber, fresh cut grass, peaches, apricots, white grapes, dried strawberries, peat, hints of smoke.
Mouthfeel: Light body, volatile, mouth coating, expands.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Tyre rubber, orange peel, orange blossom, peaches, white grapes, malted grains, rye bread, hints of mushrooms.
Finish: Short. Rye bread, tyre rubber, black pepper, orange peel, orange blossom.
Comments:
Rubbery, sulphurous, but lots of dried fruit and more than a little smoke. The dried, almost fermented fruit notes are probably a result of the long fermentation times, and they’re really luscious and rich.
Verdict:
I like this.
Hellyers Road Roaring Forties
Hellyers Road Roaring Forties
Official bottling
Single malt - Tasmania
Pale gold
40% ABV
Dram
Nose: Peaches, dried strawberries, white pepper, fresh baked bread, malted grains, white wine.
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, expands, warm.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Dried strawberries, white wine, malted grains, hoppy beer, white pepper, rye bread, hints of vanilla.
Finish: Medium. White pepper, vanilla, fresh baked bread, lemon zest, hints of peaches.
Comments:
Fruity, malty malt, lots of fermented flavours, including a quite unique note of dried strawberries. On the tongue it’s quite bitter, even beery, and there’s a peppery tang of rye bread.
Verdict:
I like this.
Official bottling
Single malt - Tasmania
Pale gold
40% ABV
Dram
Nose: Peaches, dried strawberries, white pepper, fresh baked bread, malted grains, white wine.
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, expands, warm.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Dried strawberries, white wine, malted grains, hoppy beer, white pepper, rye bread, hints of vanilla.
Finish: Medium. White pepper, vanilla, fresh baked bread, lemon zest, hints of peaches.
Comments:
Fruity, malty malt, lots of fermented flavours, including a quite unique note of dried strawberries. On the tongue it’s quite bitter, even beery, and there’s a peppery tang of rye bread.
Verdict:
I like this.
Girvan 27yo 1996/2023
Girvan 27yo 1996/2023
Whisky Blues, The Whisky Age
Single grain - Lowlands
Bronze
55.1% ABV
Dram
Nose: Acetone, malted grains, black pepper, rye bread, sea salt, white grapes, hints of peaches. With water, vanilla, pear drops, fresh baked bread, sea salt.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, hot, astringent.
Tasting: Salty sweet. Pear drops, fresh baked bread, acetone, peaches, vanilla, popcorn. With water, vanilla, peaches, pear drops, popcorn.
Finish: Long. White grapes, popcorn, vanilla, black pepper, pear drops.
Comments:
A rather good aged grain, lots of fruity notes. The vanilla / slightly estery note is turned down, or perhaps matured into something very much like pear drops. Water brings out notes of popcorn and peaches.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Whisky Blues, The Whisky Age
Single grain - Lowlands
Bronze
55.1% ABV
Dram
Nose: Acetone, malted grains, black pepper, rye bread, sea salt, white grapes, hints of peaches. With water, vanilla, pear drops, fresh baked bread, sea salt.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, hot, astringent.
Tasting: Salty sweet. Pear drops, fresh baked bread, acetone, peaches, vanilla, popcorn. With water, vanilla, peaches, pear drops, popcorn.
Finish: Long. White grapes, popcorn, vanilla, black pepper, pear drops.
Comments:
A rather good aged grain, lots of fruity notes. The vanilla / slightly estery note is turned down, or perhaps matured into something very much like pear drops. Water brings out notes of popcorn and peaches.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)