Hellyer's Road Hellyers Road Original

Hellyers Road is a distillery on the northern coast of Tasmania. So we are in Australia, on the other end of the world, where the climate is very different than that of Scotland. The distillery has only been active since 1997 and has a limited range in the market. We will try a few of them, starting with their entry level malt: Hellyers Road Original.

The nose is very light on freshly cut grass, lime and apples. In that regard, it acutally reminds me a bit of Auchentoshan. Some vanilla and pears join in. A touch zesty too. Nice, fresh and innocent.

The arrival is somewhat weak. It could have done with a bit more body, in my opinion. Taste wise, it is all very light and docile, to be honest. Mildly bitter like from walnuts. I also taste yeast, I must say. This makes it seem very young (which it most likely is). I get mostly apples and a single lost gooseberry.

The finish… ouch, that is where it goes wrong. Rough and spirit and very bitter.

Ideal dram to enjoy in the sun, but do not expect a big taste experience.