Thomson 5yo 2019/2025 (NZ Pinot Noir Cask)

Thomson 5yo 2019/2025 (NZ Pinot Noir Cask)

#19, The Heart Cut
Single malt - Auckland
Reddish pink
51.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Strawberry jam, figs, toast, blackcurrant cordial, damson jam, honey, butter, hints of new plastic. With water, strawberry jam, honey, figs. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, volatile, expands, turns airy. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Vanilla, honey, strawberry jam, figs, damson jam, toast, white pepper, cloves, nutmeg. With water, strawberry jam, red wine, nutmeg. 
Finish: Medium. Honey, damson jam, toast, white pepper, cloves. 

Comments: 

This is among the better red wine finishes I’ve had. Lots of sweet red fruit notes, with toast and spices. Water brings out more jammy notes and something even sweeter. Rather delicious.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Thomson 5yo 2019/2025 (Bourbon Cask)

Thomson 5yo 2019/2025 (Bourbon Cask)

#18, The Heart Cut
Single malt - Auckland
Golden orange 
50.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Charcoal ash, tyre rubber, canned pineapples, lemon zest, sandalwood, honey, black pepper. With water, canned pineapples, honey, sandalwood, hints of apricots. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, oily, turns syrupy, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Bitter. Charcoal ash, driftwood smoke, malted grains, tyre rubber, lemon zest, apricots, sandalwood. With water, lemon zest, vanilla, roast beef, soot. 
Finish: Medium. Charcoal ash, malted grains, driftwood smoke, soot. 

Comments: 

A very interesting nose, combined with a bitter ashy flavour on the tongue. It’s not intense smoke though, in fact it’s rather gentle, but the ashiness is quite pronounced. I do like canned pineapples, but this isn’t quite rhe barbecued pineapple, more heavily smoked in the tail end of a barbecue.

Verdict:

I like this.

Thomson Saison Cask (Whisky Exchange Exclusive)

Thomson Saison Cask (Whisky Exchange Exclusive)

Official bottling 
Single malt - Auckland
Red gold
53.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Roast chicken, raisins, red grapes, dried blueberries, leather, chillies, wet stones. With water, dark chocolate, cocoa nibs, raisins, white pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, airy, hot, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Dark chocolate, red grapes, malted grains, foam shrimp, leather, dried blueberries. With water, dark chocolate, strawberry jam, white pepper, black tea. 
Finish: Medium. Chillies, foam shrimp, menthol, dark chocolate. 

Comments: 

Sweet and meaty, with a little flintiness that enhances the sweet notes, especially the chocolate. It loses some intensity with water, turning fruity and a little bit spicy. Still, for its age, it’s quite interesting.

Verdict:

I like this.

Thomson Whisky Manuka Smoke

Thomson Whisky Manuka Smoke

Official bottling 
Single malt - Auckland
Straw
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Smoke, honey, roast beef, lemon sweets, cucumbers, malted grains. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, cool, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Malted grains, smoke, honey, pears, white pepper, hints of lemon sweets. 
Finish: Medium. Smoke, cucumbers, pears, malted grains, honey, hints of cooked rice. 

Comments: 

Sweet and honeyed, but with a layer of gentle smoke. It’s not peaty earthy smoke either, but proper campfire smoke. A decent cereally sweet finish too. 

Verdict:

I like this.