M&H Art & Craft Dessert Wine Cask Series

@mh_distillery have a great core range, release a number of single casks each year, and have an occasional Art & Craft series.

For 2024 it was Dessert Wine Casks.

"The M&H Art&Craft series provides a rare opportunity to discover some of the distillery’s most  intriguing, treasured casks. This year you are invited to discover our unique dessert wine casks collection, single malt whiskies matured in different dessert wine casks."

 

It's impossible to write tasting notes at a whisky festival so @ShiltonAlmeida was kind enough to give me some samples to take my time with at home:

Dram	Recioto	Madeira	Tokaji	White Port
Characteristics	55.1% ABV, NCF	52.3% ABV, NCF	52% ABV, NCF	53.6% ABV, NCF
Distillery notes	Single malt whisky matured in Recioto wine cask, the wine is crafted from partially dried grapes, in the Valpolicella region of Italy, and presents an embodiment of dark fruit opulence. Aroma: Vanilla with white pepper and maraschino cherry. Palate: Warm spics with caramelized orange, vanilla, and some wood in the background. Finish: Long and sweet with notes of dark grapes and black tea.	Single malt whisky matured in Madeira cask, dessert wine hailing from Madeira Island in Portugal known for elements of caramel and even burnt sugar. Aroma: Raisin with English pepper and nutmeg, varnish in the background. Palate: Tobacco with dried fruits followed by wood and caramel. Finish: Long and woody with notes of caramelized orange peel and chocolate.	Single malt whisky matured in Tokaji cask, an original white dessert wine from Hungary, which is characterized by tropical aromas and flavours. Aroma: Vanilla with white raisin, citrus blossom, and mustiness in the background. Palate: Stone fruits with citrus and vanilla followed by a toffee candy. Finish: Medium and dry with earthy minerals and caramel.	Single malt whisky matured in white Port casks, the lighter sibling of the classic red Port wine, which offers nectar-like sweetness. Aroma: Floral with notes of vanilla and caramel followed by dry wood and wine cellar. Palate: Spicy with some caramel sweetness and white chocolate. Finish: Long and dry, winey with notes of citrus and peach.
My thoughts:
Appearance
	Dark gold in the glass, swirls cling as a thin line, bead up quickly but hang before falling as slow thin legs.	Dark gold in the glass, swirls cling as a thin line, bead up slowly and fall as slow thin legs.	Light gold in the glass, swirls cling as a thin line, bead up quickly but hang before falling as slow thin legs.	Mid gold in the glass, swirls cling as a thin line, bead up slowly and fall as slow thin legs.
Nose	Huge plum and cherry notes to start, some honey, orange zest and vanilla. There's a dry icing sugar note, figs and some grape skin.	Thick sherried dried fruit notes, dates and figs. There's a slight mustiness to this one. Some shortbread, icing sugar and berry notes.	Another thick sherried dried fruit nose, this time with apricot, plums and cherries. There's lime zest and a bite of spice.	A little musty with loads of berries: strawberries, raspberries, redcurrants & blackberries. Penny toffee hints, black cherries and a suggestion of spice to come.
Palate	Thick, sweet arrival, a little spicy but full of complexity. The orange zest and cherry notes from the nose are here alongside honey, dried fruit and chewing nuts. Very dry as the liquid disappears with a weird sour citrus note.	Thick, sweet arrival, a little drying: honey, icing sugar and caramel. There's orange, pineapple, kiwi and some hint's of dark chocolate. Marzipan and coffee grinds add a dark nutty note. There's a big bite of ginger spice as the liquid disappears.	Dry, sweet arrival, apricots, plums and a little dried pineapple. Each sip turns a little dry and tannic, tea like as the liquid disappears. Some orange notes with a little citrus bite. Gentle peppery spice appears with a few more sips.	Sweet fruity arrival: loads of berry and cherry notes. There's an immediate dryness: icing sugar and a little liquorice. A few more sips offer toffee, peppery spice and some vanilla ice cream.
Finish	Lingering dry spice, orange zest and grapefruit.	Lingering dry spice, dark chocolate and kiwi.	Dry and spicy with apricot and orange zest.	Lingering dry spice, berries and liquorice.
Overall	I'd not heard of Recioto wine before but a quick google revealed that is is an  incredibly intense dessert wine with prunes, violets, figs, fruitcake & blackberries. These shone through in the whisky - wonderfully complex! The Madeira came across really well: loads of fruit, orange and dark chocolate notes - lots of spice on this one though. The Tokaji was a little different - loads of dry stoned fruit, a little spice and some lovely citrus notes, probably my favourite of the four. White Port is unusual, offering all the berry notes of a red port but with vanilla and icing sugar dryness, this one didn't disappoint!

Many thanks to @ShiltonAlmeida for the sample pack!