Whisky from...? Cyprus

Our latest in the Whisky from...? series comes from Cyprus and the @LionSpirit distillery.

It is a Greek Cypriot winery which has started distilling gin, brandy and whisky.

Lambouri Winery has been family run for over 350 years. The winery and vineyards are located in  the village of Platres, north of Limassol in the Troödos Mountains at an altitude of 1200 meters. They  also produce their own gin, cognac, and whiskey, aged in hundred-year-old Commandaria wine barrels. The first whiskey was distilled in 2016.

From Wikipedia:

"Commandaria is an amber-coloured sweet dessert wine made in the Commandaria region of Cyprus on the foothills of the Troödos Mountains. Commandaria is made from sun-dried grapes of the varieties Xynisteri and Mavro. While often a fortified wine, through its production method it often reaches high alcohol levels, around 15%, already before fortification. It represents an ancient wine style documented in Cyprus back to 800 BC and has the distinction of being the world's oldest named wine still in production, with the name Commandaria dating back to the crusades in the 12th century."

Ovis Small Batch (Batch 3)

Ovis is the breed of wild sheep found in Cyprus. 

Distillery notes: A quadruple distilled whiskey, aged in three different barrels: Limousin oak, American oak and Commandaria casks. The refined flavours and aromas these different barrels enjoy, grant this specialty whiskey its enriched taste, which has vibrant notes of honey, vanilla, raisins, mild spices, as well as hints of dried fruits and herbs. 40% ABV

My thoughts:

Appearance: Dark gold in the glass, swirls leave a thick line which beads slowly up and falls as slow thick legs. 

Nose: Very new makey to start: nail polish remover, pine and juniper - this is a very young dram. There's a little toffee, honey, dried fruit and a hint of orchard fruit.

Palate: Thin sweet arrival, loads of honey, toffee and dried fruit. It's like drinking alcoholic runny honey. There's a herbal note and some gentle peppery spice. Very drying as the liquid disappears and the herbal new make note comes back.

Finish: Lingering dry herbs and sweet honey.

Overall: I'm glad I tried it but it needs a longer maturation, it's very gin like. It also needs to lose some of that sweetness...

Thanks(?) to Jon from Chingford @TheWhiskyBloke for the sample!