Waxhouse Whisky Release 008

Waxhouse Whisky are a tiny, indie bottler formed by members of the St. Albans Whisky Club in 2018.

I was sent a sample of their 8th release to review, a 3yo from Milk & Honey in Israel.

I've reviewed previous Waxhouse releases here but again I'll let them introduce themselves:

"The name Waxhouse points to our heritage. The Waxhouse Gate is an iconic cultural landmark in historic St Albans and is a stone’s throw from the pub where the club regularly meet. Originally the site of the candle makers, where pilgrims would buy their candles before entering St Albans Cathedral, it later served as the city’s jail and was an important meeting point for rabble rousers and rebels during the Peasants’ Revolt."

Waxhouse Gate, Then & Now

For their 8th release Waxhouse have manged to source a Shaved, Toasted and Re-charred (STR) Red wine cask matured whisky from Israeli distillery Milk & Honey! Let's see what it's like:

Bottler notes:

3yo Milk & Honey Distillery (Red Wine STR)

Distilled: Dec '19, 325 bottles May '23 at 53.9% vol.

Nose:  Cola, baked fruit.

Palate: Dark chocolate, kola cubes, cloves and shortbread

Finish: Tobacco, redcurrant jelly and nutmeg.

My thoughts

Appearance: dark gold with a red tinge in the glass, swirls cling as a thin line, bead up slowly and eventually fall as slow thin legs.

Nose: Berries and cherries: strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackcurrants; there's a little balsamic vinegar, vanilla and toffee. A faint hint of wood smoke brings up the rear.

Palate: Thick sweet arrival, mouthcoating, mixed fruit jam and maple syrup to start. The berries and cherries from the nose are back, as is the balsamic vinegar note. There some toffee and a little chocolate before the disappearing liquid leaves a dry spice on the tongue. All very tasty!

Finish: Lingering blackcurrants, vanilla and dry cinnamon spice. 

Overall: I've tried all of the Milk & Honey Core Range - the Red Wine version is really good, and a few of their Apex range - the Dead Sea bottle is brilliant, the  Pomegranate Wine Cask is really good. This turns the volume up to 11 on the Elements Red Wine - it's yummy and available now from the Waxhouse Whisky website!

Many thanks to @Waxhouse_X for the sample!

Waxhouse Releases:

Release	Distillery	Cask	Year	Age
008	Milk & Honey	Red Wine STR	2019	3
007	MGP	Virgin Oak	2014	8
006	English Whisky Company	PX finish	2014	7
005	Glen Elgin	Ex-bourbon	2011	10
004	Cotswolds	Red Wine STR	2016	4
003	Linkwood	Red Wine Barrique	2010	10
002	Glenrothes	FF Oloroso	2006	13
001	Ruadh Maor	Ex-bourbon	2011	8