2016 Cardrona, Full Flight, 7-Year-Old, Bourbon Cask #124, Single Malt Whisky, New Zealand (66.9%)

Lusciously sweet oak tones positively soar out of the glass, borne aloft by sheer richness of wood and the full-throttle nature of this cask strength dram. Neat, the palate is a bulbous, billowing ball of coconut, butter and coffee cream sweets all wrapped in sweet spirit. A good splash of cool water brings out dried banana chips, exotic melons and a little prickly-pear on the nose. Custard (and indeed, custard-apples) flow forth on the palate. This is impeccable work from Desiree Reid and her team at Cardrona.

Rob Whitehead, Spirits Buyer, Berry Bros. & Rudd (August 2023)