NV The Cardrona - Single Malt Whisky (3 x 35cl) (65.5%)

This trio of cask-strength whiskies charts the remarkable embryonic journey of the highly acclaimed Cardrona Distillery. Just Hatched, a three-year-old single malt matured in a combination of ex-Bourbon and ex-Sherry casks, was the first bottling from the New Zealand-based distillery. The inaugural release, Just Hatched, has since become incredibly collectable as the last bottles were released in November 2020. It is a delightful marriage of Sherry and Bourbon casks which delivers a deliciously intense, sweet, honeyed, vibrant dram with layers of vanilla and spice, drying down to a silky creamy finish. Growing Wings is Cardrona’s second release. The five-year-old single malt, aged in a solera of ex-Oloroso Sherry butts and ex-Bourbon barrels, is another exceptional bottling. The whisky benefits from five years in a combination of Bourbon and Sherry casks – evolving into a more complex dram with a deliciously long, vanilla-edged palate. A single-cask five-year-old exclusively matured in an Old Forester barrel completes the trio. It is immediately grassy-fresh on the nose, delivering hints of dried pear and luscious nectarine and apricot notes on the palate, leading to a creamy, buttery finish. Consists of three half-bottles (35cl), one each of Just Hatched Three Year Old, Growing Wings Five Year Old and Growing Wings Old Forester Bourbon Cask Five Year Old.