Waldviertler Dark Rye Malt

Waldviertler Dark Rye Malt

Official bottling
Single malt - Niederösterreich 
Dark gold
41% ABV
Dram

Nose: Bananas, raisins, cherries, green tea, black pepper, photocopy paper, hints of malted grains, hints of leather. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, cool, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Cherries, photocopy paper, raisins, milk chocolate, green tea, hints of roast pork. 
Finish: Short. Milk chocolate, raisins, black pepper, nutmeg, hints of orange peel. 

Comments: 

Distilled from a mixture of rye and malted barley. Lots of cherry and black pepper flavours - that’s the rye - and some malty raisins - that’s the malt. It’s a little unbalanced, slightly harsh at the edges. Maybe it needs more aging.

Verdict:

I like this.

Waldviertler Whisky J Haider Special Single Malt Selection

Waldviertler Whisky J Haider Special Single Malt Selection

Official bottling 
Single malt - Niederösterreich 
Sunshine yellow 
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Smoke, peat, charcoal ash, peanuts, roasted chestnuts, dried limes, lime zest, hints of white grapes. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, tingly, cool, astringent. 
Tasting:  Bitter. Ginseng, charcoal ash, roasted chestnuts, smoke, fresh cut grass, new plastic, hints of white grapes. 
Finish: Long. Ginseng, charcoal ash, smoke, honey, dried limes. 

Comments: 

Quite unbalanced, with some hints of plastic (which is possibly my least favourite tasting note), but the ashy bitterness makes up for it. Austrian whisky is different, of course. 

Verdict:

I like this.

Waldviertler Rye Malt Whisky

Waldviertler Rye Malt Whisky 

Official bottling 
Single malt - Niederösterreich 
Dark gold
41% ABV
Dram

Nose: Nectarines, lemon zest, brown paper, lemon sweets, brass polish, photocopy paper. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, static, cool, slightly astringent. 
Tasting:  Sour salty. Black pepper, brass polish, nectarines, brown paper, green tea, hints of jasmine. 
Finish: Medium. Black pepper, brown paper, green tea, hints of jasmine. 

Comments: 

Whisky made from rye mixed with malt. It’s got the traditional rye spiciness, but also the lighter malt flavours such as nectarines and jasmine. Much less weird than I thought it would be.

Verdict:

I like this.

Waldviertler Original Rye Whiskey

Waldviertler Original Rye Whiskey

Official bottling 
Single rye - Niederösterreich 
Golden
41% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peaches, persimmons, honey, sourdough bread, black pepper, cough syrup. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, astringent, slippery. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Peaches, brown paper, cough syrup, sourdough bread, golden syrup, hints of cardboard. 
Finish: Long. Black pepper, rye bread, coffee, brown paper. 

Comments: 

Austrian rye whisky. It’s quite fruity and mild, not super peppery like some other ryes. There’s a slight hint of cardboard on the tongue, which detracts a little from the complexity of the fruit.

Verdict:

I like this.

Waldviertler Dark Single Malt

Waldviertler Dark Single Malt

Official bottling 
Single malt - Niederösterreich 
Dark gold
41% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, malted grains, rye bread, sandalwood, black pepper, damson jam. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, slightly fizzy, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Damson jam, malted grains, black pepper, honey, medlar jelly, orange peel, brown paper. 
Finish: Short. Brown paper, medlar jelly, dark chocolate, malted grains, rye bread. 

Comments: 

Very malty, almost toasty. The malty spine is complemented by floral and fruity spice, with a lush chocolatey sweetness that I associate with damsons and medlars. Unusual and interesting whisky. 

Verdict:

I like this.

Waldviertler Single Malt Whisky

Waldviertler Single Malt Whisky

Official bottling 
Single malt - Niederösterreich
Amber gold
41% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, fresh cut grass, brown paper, green tea, anise, honey. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, slippery, thickens slightly, cool. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Fresh cut grass, raisins, toffee, anise, tarragon, brown paper, cream, hints of violets. 
Finish: Medium. Anise, tarragon, raisins, brown paper. 

Comments: 

Austrian whisky again, very floral and herbal. It’s got a lot of slightly soapy violets notes, but it’s quite faint and not unpleasant. It’s rounded out by a finish redolent of anise and tarragon.

Verdict:

I like this.