N.Z. Malt Whisky Co New Zealand Collection double wood 10 yo

@Robert99, my bottle has been open for more than a year and this whisky has improved greatly...my scores have ranged from 81 to 88.

@Paddockjudge That is good news for me. I am not surprise because there is a lot of flavors that I like in this whisky but the alcool is a no deal for me with wine flavors. That is why my score is low on the nose and the palate, the alcool is there all the time. As I said, this whisky has the potential to go in the upper 80's. I had a glance at this potential when my glass rest for close to an hour, the balance was already improving. With luck, I will have to edit my score in a few months.

I will let you know how this "one" go in a few months

@Robert99 - good review. Is this expression easy to get a hold of up there in Canada?

I agree with you that the best part of this expression is the finish. I find it to be unique on the finish - with some eucalyptus. At first I thought this was strange, as we have the eucalypt tree here in Australia. I did some searching online and discovered that the eucalyptus tree was introduced, into New Zealand in Dunedin, where this whisky is distilled.

@Frost Mail orders are not legal in Quebec, not even from another Canadian Province. So all those whisky market from US, UK and others countries are not available. I picked this bottle in Ottawa, a two hours drive from my home. I noticed it on there online inventory recently and I phoned and asked them to put a bottle away. We don't have many whiskies from Australia and New Zealand, a few Sullivan's Cove in my town and this NZ COLL, in Ontario that's about it.

As for the Eucalyptus, I was not able to name it, but I do have something fresh and not quite minty that can be it. I am not sure I will have it in a few months since the flavors are getting more integrated. I will not touch my bottle for at least two more months for it to take air,but in time I will let you know if it is still there.

I lower my score because the wine finish and the vanilla bread dough are not getting integrated in the profile. Even after six months, I avoid this bottle. Even in vatting, I can't get rid of the over the top wine finish and vanilla bread dough. There is not enough lower notes in that whisky to achieve any balance! And I have an unopened bottle,GEE!

@Robert99 interesting follow up. Six weeks pass your last update, has anything improved? Or is it still going south

@Frost I never saw your comment. So I went back to that bottle to check and to give you some update. The news are not good. The wine is still up in front. If I try to be positive, I will say that the bread dough flavor is not as present as it was. Please don't ask me for another update ;)

@Robert99 you're a good sport for testing it out.

I'm not sure if you can offload it to guests.

Can't be as bad as LAMBERTUS...

@Robert99, I'll trade for your unopened bottle of NZ Double. How about a bottle of Canadian Whisky of the Year 2015, Corby"s Lot No. 40?

@Frost To be honest, it takes only a sip to know this one is winey as if somebody as poor some sour wine in a dram of whisky.

@Nozinan I am up for a head to head if you dare join me!

@Paddockjudge I am not sure I want to do the trade with you, I kind of like you and don't want to upset you... Maybe you could try my opened bottle before making any offer... You may change your mind about it.

@Robert99,

Thank you for being so very considerate; however, I am on my second bottle, the time to offend me has passed.

I will consider your response as a 'maybe'. Should you be so inclined as to part with your unopened bottle, please consider my offer.

We can discuss this, and other possible trades, in the weeks leading up to the Ontario Summit.

I've tried this expression twice, and I picked up a bottle that remains closed. Here's to hoping I don't replicate your experience @Robert99