A 50%+ version would definitely have a lot more to offer

It is a nice little touch from the distillery isn’t it!

Would have been great to visit the distillery!

Tough call, the 10 is dependable, but I think this one give a little more

Acho que foi uma edição limitada, também não é fácil de encontrar na Austrália!

I have tried the Quercus Alba, I didn't like it as much as the standard range. It was a little too youthful and brash and not yet settled unfortunately. Typically American Oak brings sweeter vanilla and coconut notes from the vanillin in the wood, compared to European Oak which adds more spice. Unfortunately the Distinction IMO is bottled too young and doesn't reveal what you would expect from an American Oak maturation.

@@McIntyresMalts Yea good observations, I read about american oak bringing those flavors, while I could taste a hint of coconut, vanilla alluded me. I too like the 12 year old better. Brash is a great descriptor for it compared to the 12. Saying that I still like the Distinction but didn't love it as much as I thought i would. Any other American oaked sherry whiskies you recommend?

@@johnbinstead8544 First ones that come to mind are Kavalan Sherry Oak and GlenAllachie 15

They are off to a great start aren't they!

Glad you enjoyed it 🥃

Yes, only shortfall is the finish, but a minor gripe when everything else is really good!

Love your story! Thank you for checking the versus and sharing the birth of your love of whisky with me my friend! Next Tamdhu I pour I will raise a toast to you Victor 🥃

@@McIntyresMalts Sláinte 🥃

Archie Rose is definitely making some interesting expressions!

I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

Thanks for the sub Rod! Always good to meet another McIntyre 🥃🙌

Thanks, Iain. Yeah, pretty cool to be able to try some interesting new whiskies because of the channel! Thanks for watching my friend.

Sounds like my experience was about the same as yours. The 15 is just lacklustre and “leaves you wanting more” is a good way to describe it. I have tried the 21-year-old as well and it’s definitely better than this one I agree.

I thought the 12 had more detail in terms of separation between detectable notes on the nose. The 15 is more demure and well rounded than the 12 but I feel that it lost a little bit of what the more youthful 12 offers up. I have a bottle of the 18 and I’m very excited to open it and see what it offers. I was hoping to compare it in a versus against the 15, but my 15 bottle emptied faster than I expected 😅

Thank you my friend. It’s often a balance of wanting to showcase more great Australian whisky at the same time as not frustrating my audience because they can’t get access to those whiskies. I’m sure in time there will be many many more Australian whiskies reviewed on my channel, thanks for checking in and appreciate your comments!

I hope you enjoy it when you do crack it Lawrence 🥃

Glad you like them! Appreciate you being here Tom 🥃

You are on the money my friend!

Sounds like a great combo! I'm hoping you find one of these, I'm sure a few will pop up.

It drinks very well at 48% and is even better with water so I'm sure could find the right balance for your palate 😊

I didn't realise that Noble Lane from Amber lane was Botrytis, I enjoyed that one when I sampled it!

Yes it was!

Ooh I did not know this. Amber Lane are great!

@@McIntyresMalts it’s a second fill cask, so it wouldn’t be as sweet I don’t think. A lot lighter in colour as well.

Haha it does!

Thanks for watching!

Indeed! It's vintage whisky at this point Sheldon 😁

Yeah that Ginger Beer cask was really cool wasn't it!

It's a good one for sure!

Actually very affordable in the spectrum of Aussie whisky, was a ballot for $179 I believe

You're right, @JimmyMactvish, although I suppose Starward had the option to instead use an Australian regional name such as Riverina, etc.--depending on from where the grapes originated, of course. Perhaps they felt that was less of a selling point, or perhaps the grapes came from more than one region?

Ah, thanks for the insights my friend! Most Sauternes casks I have tried have been finishes and nowhere near as dark as this one, so I thought it must have been something different. Appreciate you sharing some knowledge for us 🥃

Ah interesting!

Unreal, sounds VERY unique!

I haven’t tried it since they changed the label. I still have very fond memories of this one. Perhaps I pick up another bottle soon and see if I can detect any changes.

Thanks for checking it out mate! Hope you’re well 😊

My friend, loads of great choices with a budget like that! I am going to assume you are talking Australian dollars here. If you like smoke and sweet sherry combo (like I do 😊) Then you can't go past a Kilchoman PX Cask, or the Laphroaig PX. If you want to avoid the peat you could try Bladnoch 19 Year Old PX Sherry Cask within your budget too. Australian whisky distillery Waubs Harbour also has a nice PX cask release at 51% ABV too if you are based here where I am. Or even the Redbreast PX edition in an Irish whiskey Then there are a lot of whiskies that also have a PX influence combined with Oloroso casks, but I have stuck to recommendation for PX casks only. Hope this helps 🥃

@@McIntyresMalts hello, thanks for the response. yeah not a " peat head" lol and im a gringo in Colombia, the selection of whisky here is pretty bad, 90% i have to order and ship down here...p.s. love the year reviews where you show the 100 plus whiskies you tied through the year...

@@aaabbbccc543 Thank you my friend! It's a lot of fin "preparing" for those videos during the year 😉

It's the level of tax in Australia that makes this the norm unfortunately. That and the fact they are still in essence 'craft' producers based on their actual size of production.