After somewhat of a delay, we come to the final entry of the Elements series. As you’ll recall, the series consists of three expressions flanking the M&H Classic (reviewed here). The series is available from the distillery shop as a tasting pack, which is what I recieved for these reviews.
Photo Credit: M&H Distillery
Each of these expressions highlights a different type of cask used by the distillery:
- Elements Red Wine Cask (reviewed here) – Matured in barrels from Israeli wineries, and bring out the full wine maturation experience, as opposed to the more stirpped down experince of STR casks.
- Elements Peated (reviewed here)- Curiously, we’re lacking the word ‘Cask’ on the label. Also, this expression is the only one of the Elements series that is made by blending the ex-Islay cask matured whisky with ex-bourbon cask whisky. I think not mentioning the cask is leaving the door open for actual M&H peated whisky to be bottled as one of the Elements, either as part of a vatting or on its own. Interesting.
- Elements Sherry Cask
This whisky was matured in sherry casks seasoned in Jerez exclusively for the distillery using kosher certified sherry, making this the only sherry matured expression with a kosher certification. The question of the kashrut of sherry and wine casks is a never-ending debate, with a lot of passion behind it. It’s at the point where you can literally hear the collective groan when a new participant in one of Israel’s whisky groups on Facebook asks for recommendations for “kosher” whisky. Here, however, you have kosher certified sherry cask finished whisky, so this debate is superfluous.
But how is the whisky, you ask? Let me tell you what I thought of it…
Photo Credit: skurnik.com
M&H Elements Sherry Cask (46% ABV, NCF, NC)
Appearance: Bronze, thick and slow legs off a sturdy necklace.
Nose: Sweeter and fruitier than the Wine Cask, this leans more toward dried fruit with dried apricot cinnamon, albeit of a sweeter variety, and prunes. With time, the malty DNA comes forth, with a sweet veil around it.
Palate: Sweet and spicy, with clove and a light compote (with strawberries and peaches, as opposed to the red fruit and prunes type). The spice is present and almost fizzy, making this expression very drinkable.
Linger: Warm and lightly spicy, with a sweetness running through it.
Conclusion
This isn’t the most complex sherry dram I’ve had, but it hits all the right notes. In fact, what I said when I sipped it was “Darn, this is drinkable!”
This is a bottle I’d bring to poker night with friends, knowing it wouldn’t survive the night!
Official sample was provided by M&H Distillery.