Milk & Honey 3 Year Old 2017 STR Cask Goren’s Whisky

Goren's Whisky is an exclusive range of the Milk & Honey distillery, named after their Master Distiller Tomer Goren. Tomer has so far selected two single casks, a sherry cask and this STR cask. STR stands for Shaved, Toasted & Recharred, a practice applied to former red wine barrels. Incidentally, this is an 'invention' of the late Jim Swan. In the glass is a young Israeli malt at a very high alcohol percentage. Beautiful color, by the way: a dark copper to almost mahogany.

Red fruit and wood are the first things that stand out. In addition, quite a few herbal notes with paprika powder and oregano. Toasted oak. Woodsmoke. Something bitter as sweet chestnuts sprinkled with the juice of blood oranges (try it, you will not complain). Hint of walnuts. Less sweet than expected, but very interesting. The ABV does not let itself be felt on the nose.

That is also not the case on the palate. I do not gasp for breath, do not feel the need to add water to this, despite the fact that it comes in quite spicy. But then suddenly... what is this then? Pure shampoo. It is very perfumed and floral... yes, even soapy. Ouch, that's over the top. FWP, anyone? Too bad, but it's dominant to such an extent that it's bothering me.

The finish is therefore also a bit funky. I feel like I so inclined and talented, could easily blow bubbles.

And yet I am charmed. Not overwhelmed, not blown away, but cleanly washed and charmed.