Overeem ‘Muscat Cask Finish’ Single Malt Whisky 700ml 48.5%

A marriage of port & sherry casks finished in an Australian muscat

Details
700ml: 48.5%alc
Age: 8 years total.
Region: Hobart, Tasmania
Cask type: Port/Sherry/Muscat finish
Bottler: Overeem Distillery
Release Date: June 2022

Description
Jane and Mark Overeem have hit it out of the proverbial ball park once again with this Muscat finished whisky. It’s a delightful marriage of 5-year-old port & sherry casks finished in an Australian muscat cask for a further 3 years before been bottled at 48.5% ABV.

The whisky comes with one hell of a backstory and the Distillery says it best;
“Casey released his first single malt whiskies in 2012 and almost immediately gained global attention and praise. Both his port and sherry cask expressions demonstrated a respect to whisky tradition, whilst also turning to face a new world of single malt whisky.

In 2018, twenty 100 litre Overeem port and sherry casks (between 5-6 years of age) were selected, married together, and dispersed among several old 500L Australian fortified casks from the Barossa Valley – one of which is this exceptional Muscat cask.

As the story is told, back in 1985 during the infamous vine pull era of the Barossa, wine industry icon Carl Lindner was insultingly offered $150 per tonne for his premium Shiraz. Instead of agreeing to the price, he decided to process the grapes himself, fortify them with spirit and backfilled a number of old fortified kegs. He then spread these barrels out through numerous sheds to sit dormant until one day he may call upon them. It was 11 years later, when he and two friends gathered up 12 of these barrels that held this 1985 fortified Shiraz, and over the years depleted the stocks until one day, it was decided the balance would form the base of what is today Langmeil’s 25yr old Liquor Tawny.

Overeem Distillery sourced 4 of these casks directly from the winery in 2018, and although the original origins of these casks are unknown, it is thought that they significantly predate this story, and additionally have held numerous fortified parcels throughout their lives. Some of these casks are still at rest in our bond stores, quietly and patiently developing our single malt whisky further. This Muscat Cask however, was thoroughly critiqued, and unanimously selected to be bottled”.