Old Hobart Distillery Overeem Port Cask Matured Single Malt (cask number OHD-068). Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. ABV: 43.00%. Tasted at Helvetica, $19.
Colour: Pale rosey amber-copper.
Nose: A gorgeous nose. Dried muscatels, sultanas, other dried fruits. Sweet, woody, some chocolate and golden syrup notes. A hint of smoke.
Palate: Is that some thyme or fennel? No, that’s just the taste of the breadstick I stupidly just took a bite of without thinking. After cleansing the palate, I’m getting some mixed spices, sultanas and buttery almonds.
Finish: A bit of a peppery, salty-sweet (think salted caramel but not quite as sweet), oaky notes to fade. Medium-long finish for the flavours, medium warmth but it lingers long (primarily at the front part of the palate) after the flavours subside.
Comments: I loving the flavour complexity of the Tasmanian whiskies I’ve tasted, they really are quite special. All the more remarkable that Overeem is produced in a suburban garage of the Overeem family. I thought the wonderful nose was let down a bit by the palate. My mate Brett thought it was overrated – Overeem, overrated – overall, I think we’re over it!