Price: $249 AUD
Purchased From: In person at the distillery
ABV: 52%
According to Waubs this is their oldest whisky to date. While the release is technically a NAS, their website has this release from casks #4 and #13, with both being over 6 years old. Matured in both ex-Apera and ex-Bourbon casks with a total of 619 bottles. I purchased this when I was last over in Tasmania and visited the distillery. After the tour we tried all three of their core releases followed by this – it was the clear winner for me. This is sold out on their website, but there are still a few bottles floating around at online retailers as I write this.
Nose
Sea spray with a touch of oak. Apricots, banana bread, honey, cigar box.
Taste
Clean and balanced. That gentle saltiness transfers well on to the palate. Pink Lady apples, salted caramel, crème brûlée, buttered sourdough with a sprinkle of salt. Medium finish with a subtle spice and those buttery notes coming through more prominently.
Conclusion
Waubs has nailed this one and I hope we see more like it. I haven’t reviewed any of their other releases yet, but I’ve sampled a lot of them and this is their best to date. That gentle salt influence works really well with the mix of ex-Apera and Bourbon casks, which is balanced just right. A pricey release, but unfortunately, and as we all know with Australian whisky, higher duties and operating costs play a big part in this.