Pōkeno: Discovery (New Zealand Single Malt Whisky: 43% ABV)
Visual: Moderate darkness gold color with fast thick streaks from the spirit.
Nose: Mushy apples and pears. Mushy banana. Quite clean and fruit juice like. Water adds twigs, more mushy apple and slight dry raisins.
Body: Apples. Slight honey. Slight tannins. Water adds slight saline. Slight dry raisins and lightly floral.
Finish: Pear drops. Apples. Slight nail polish air. Shreddies. Crunchy nut cornflakes. Raisins. Slight saline.
Conclusion: This is a fairly gentle dram. I’ve encountered a lot of apple and pear notes over the years in whisky but this is the first time I can remember where it has come across as a soft, mushy fruit character – softer and less crisp in character making for a super gentle spirit.
This general style makes up the main part of the dram, soft, gentle, easygoing and enjoyable. The main thing that changes this is if you add a drop of water.
With water it is still mostly the same, but a tad more saline, which definitely encourages you to keep sipping and drinking, and it starts showing the sherry side of the aging with the tiniest hint of darker fruit coming out – Kind of like a few raisins added into a soft apple pie.
In general I prefer slightly harder edged whiskies myself, but I can appreciate the quality showing in a soft gentle whisky like this. So, not super for me, but I still enjoyed it and it is super well made and super interesting, so if it sounds like your vibe, I recommend it for you.
Background: The second whisky had at the Single Malts Of The World tasting at Independent Spirit. While I have had a lot of experience with New Zealand beers, I thought this was the first New Zealand whisky I have tried. However I am old and have drunk away my memory, so forgot one prior experience. In my defence it was nearly a decade ago. Anyway this was aged in ex bourbon and Oloroso sherry wood. Not much else to say, more notes from this tasting to come soon.