These are my tasting notes and thoughts for 3 Shelterpoint whiskies:
- The Forbidden Batch 2 – 47% ABV.
- Smoke and Oak – 46% ABV
- Artisanal Single Malt – 46% ABV
The Forbidden Batch 2 47% ABV
Shelter Point’s second Single Malt Wheat Whisky release has finally arrived.
Shelterpoint Whisky
This whisky is the third different grain whisky that we have bottled. Named
after our local landmark “Forbidden Plateau”, this small mountain and our
whisky are similar as both shrouded in mystery. By using Wheat as the base
this whisky is truly unique and unlike anything we have ever produced. This
whisky was double distilled and aged in exclusively in American oak ex
bourbon barrels for 6 and a half years.
Appearance
This is a wheat whisky, it’s light gold/ damp straw in colour, has a syrupy swirl line with medium thick legs. The legs actually thicken with time.
Nose
Apricots and nectarines, cereals and grains, wood wax, mineral water, pastries too, oat type fruit bars. There’s also a perfume note with this, meadow flowers and drying cut grass too.
— Dram it Mick! (@StillSurreal) August 15, 2021
Palate
Again there’s a lovely mouthfeel, again quite spicy, but definitely more pastry like for me. Apricot crowns all day, flapjack, white pepper, and a touch of a bacon note also coming through, interesting. There’s also a vegetal note also, this develops nicely tbh. I’m thinking Jamaican ginger cake and some orange zest now, leaning towards mocha coffee too.
[cough]rum[cough] #thewhiskeychaps
— Whisk(e)y Chap 🏴🥃 (@whiskeychap) August 15, 2021
Finish
Definitely becomes more black coffee, char, black liquorice, blackcurrants, grapefruit/pomelo, guava, and black pepper, but it isn’t hot.
My thoughts
I have previously tried a wheat whisky from Koval, and i really did enjoy it, it made me very hopeful that this would be a good whisky. It turned out to be very nice. Some might say a little less deep than a barley based whisky, but i have to say it’s very nice, good abv, and good mouthfeel too.
Would i buy a bottle?
Yes i would, and in general i think all involved in the tasting would buy one, and it isn’t too expensive either. Shelterpoint need to get their wares over to our shores asap.
Notes – This Whisky is non chill filtered and natural in colour.
Smoke and Oak 46% ABV
Shelter Point’s first edition in a new series of Smoke & Oak driven small batch experimental whiskies has landed. For this expression, we smoked our own finishing barrels using a smouldering combination of applewood and locally-harvested Vancouver Island peat. Using 100% unmalted barley from on-site at Shelter Point Farm as a base, this is a whisky that breaks all the rules. This triple distilled whisky was aged in American oak ex-bourbon barrels for 5 years before a final rest in our hand-smoked finishing barrels for 6 months.
Shelterpoint Whisky
Appearance
I’d say more Amber here colour wise, with a slight orange hue, a nice thick swirl line, and an all over coating that turns into nice thick legs
Nose
Smoke and Oak N – This is the most different of the 3, that applewood brings sweetness for me initially, icing sugar, definitely a menthol note, then pecans and walnuts, ABV seems higher than it actually is too. Yes I agree with @TravisReaveley, meat notes, bbq sauce too but it’s not a riot of those notes, fruit sweetness still persists, also a perfume note again, and I’m wondering if that’s a new make characteristic? I’ve had it in all 3. The Bbq notes and cooked meat is becoming stronger now, it’s taken a little while tbh, but it is very nice.
Palate
Again lovely mouthfeel, spicy and a quick spearmint flavour straight away, then barbecued meat and barbecue sauce, more smoke than ash here, and I’m getting red berries too. With more time i’m getting royal icing, vanilla, sweet ginger, tropical fruits, it’s very nice indeed tbh.
Finish
Again quite long, becoming more spicy, but not hot. Black pepper, cinnamon, vanilla custard, a touch of espresso, dark chocolate orange, and perhaps dates and cranberries too.
My thoughts
This is the most different of the three bottlings, that Applewood and Vancouver island peat cask smoking imparts lovely aromas and flavours. The smoke side of this dram took a little while to really come through, but is worth waiting for, in my opinion it’s a cracking whisky.
Would i buy a bottle?
A small batch whisky from a cask treated in an unusual way, that’s packed with flavour, it has to be a yes. It was an experiment that worked out very well indeed.
Notes – This Whisky is non chill filtered and natural in colour.
Artisanal Single Malt 46% ABV
Paradise isn’t necessarily a geographical requirement for making great whisky, but we managed to find it at Shelter Point. It’s here that we handcraft our 100% Single Malt Whisky, distilled batch-by-batch in traditional copper pot stills from two-row barley, and aged in American oak barrels in our oceanfront warehouse. When it comes to artisanal whisky, every element matters – and in our unique, temperate rainforest climate, even the sunsets and sea air become integral.
Shelterpoint Whisky
Appearance
Light gold in colour, swirl line beads up nicely, and has nice syrupy thick legs.
Nose
Lots of wood, slight menthol, juniper/conifer, wood polish, grapefruit, and there is a red berry note in the background. Icing sugar is coming through, though linseed oil is coming too, perhaps seared pineapple, and milky coffee.
Not getting wood at all. There’s a cardboard quality to the nose, but it’s subtle, definitely not one of the dominant aromas for me #thewhiskeychaps
— Whisk(e)y Chap 🏴🥃 (@whiskeychap) August 15, 2021
Palate
A good mouthfeel kicks off here, and it’s spicy, ginger root, cinnamon, Pontefract cakes, anise, red berries, there’s also some dunnage, and cigar leaves.
100% mate 👍#thewhiskey
— Dram it Mick! (@StillSurreal) August 15, 2021
Finish
Quite long, not overly spicy for me, fruit sweetness comes back. Definitely getting tropical/stoned fruits, still some pepper but it doesn’t take over.
My thoughts
I really enjoyed this whisky too, lots of flavour, full of punch, and it develops nicely too, many whisky drinkers would enjoy this, we certainly did. It went down rather well all around to be honest.
Would i buy a bottle?
You know what coming, it’s a yes from me. This is a super single malt whisky, and just as good as the Forbidden and Smoke and Oak, very nice indeed.
Notes – This Whisky is non chill filtered and natural in colour.
Overall Tasting Thoughts
I was aware of Shelterpoint whisky, and when i was offered a chance to try 3 of their whiskies i jumped at the opportunity to be honest. I had previously looked into their whiskies, and knew the general consensus was that they are very good. I can now say that i agree, they are of very good quality, attention has been paid from beginning to end, and it shows.
When Shelterpoint do make it to our shores i shall be buying some, they’ll be even more aged so it’ll be very exciting.
Thanks to – @TravisReaveley for the samples, and for joining @MaltMusings and @Jotterface in taking part in both tastings with @whiskeychap and myself. And thanks also to Leon Webb, Distiller at Shelterpoint, for joining us on the first zoom tasting.
@MaltMusing’s blog post about the same tasting can be found here, Brians blog posts are always worth a read.
Follow @shelterpoint Follow @whiskywebb Follow @TravisReaveley Follow @MaltMusings Follow @Jotterface Follow @thewhiskeychapsYou can Follow @whiskywebb’s Youtube channel below.
And now for something completely different
Continuing my whisk(e)y and music thing, songs iv’e listened to either during my tasting or review. I hope you enjoy this one.
