Milk & Honey Classic single Malt

ABV:   46% ABV

Price:  £55

Distillery:      Milk & Honey, Tel Aviv

M&H was the first Israeli Distillery

As a young distillery, founded in 2012, the bottling is no more than four years old and while sweet on the nose with a light bodied palate – one wonders the potential a 10-year-old bottling could present.

Pale straw colouring hints as to what is expected – much like an American bourbon, you’re met with sweet honey, citrus peel and green apple. Beyond the nose, a low viscosity, dry mouthfeel is immediately noticeable. Although pepper and honey hero the flavour profile, there’s a soft fruity impression that pulls through alongside a low, oaky finish.

Even though Israel had no standards for producing whisky, M&H was immediately committed to producing single malt whisky with strict standards for authentic artisanal production using Scottish techniques. As Israeli soil is not conducive to producing the best quality control bar/ley for the best whisky, we imported barley from Muntons in the UK.

Designated as a “New World Whisky” producer because it is located outside of Scotland, Ireland or Canada, M&H is allowed certain liberties of taste. Attir passionately describes plans for new libations, “We honor the traditional method of double distillation of single malt with an Israeli twist by using innovative techniques. We have started placing casks around Israel, even in the Dead Sea, on a hotel roof-top. And using casks that previously aged pomegranate wine and kosher Sherry.”

Heat and humidity combine for rapid flavour extraction from casks, resulting in a sped up maturation process albeit with a hefty angel’s share. Therefore that three-year-old whisky won’t be allowed to get much older than that, but such a short maturation window then places a premium on the casks. ‘One of the things we’re proudest about is our wood management,’ Kalkshtein says.

A warehouse tasting session will reveal that Milk & Honey has sourced an intriguing variety of casks, including Laphroaig and Ardbeg barrels, along with Jamaican rum, red wine, Sherry and STR casks, the latter a mainstay of another one of Dr. Swan’s many overseas prodigies, Kavalan in Taiwan. STR stands for shave, toast, re-char, and the process essentially strives to create an impact akin to a fresh, new Bourbon

barrel.

Other expressions:

Sherry cask        - oloroso & Pedro Ximenez sherry casks

Peated              - Islay and ex-bourbon casks

Red Wine cask    - red wine casks

The whisky

The Classic Single Malt Whisky is made using the finest ex-bourbon casks and our special red-wine STR casks, giving it a light and balanced character.

Non chill-filtered

A robust, spicy single malt from Israeli distillery Milk & Honey, matured in a combination of bourbon, virgin oak and shaved, toasted and recharred casks. Aromas of red apples, peach and nectarine are joined by oak spice, beeswax and honey on the nose. The palate offers notes of nutmeg, oak, cloves, honeyed orange peel and apple that linger on the finish.

Colour:         

Nose:            Gentle vanilla sweetness, followed by light oak and floral notes.

Palate:          Light body, vanilla, caramel and honey sweetness, balanced by oaky notes and light black pepper spiciness.

Finish:           Short but delicate. The oak notes linger in the palate for a while with a nice light spiciness.