Bellarine Distillery Aquila Audax Single Malt Whisky

Aquila Audax is part of Bellarine Distillery's 'rare series' of single malt whiskies. Bottled at 50% abv, this whisky has been matured in first-fill oloroso sherry casks and then moved to a refill (i.e. used once before) bourbon cask, presumably to mature further without additional oak influence. It’s a smart way to treat a whisky that has plenty of character from the original cask, but still needs a bit of time to pull together. Here we see a warm bread grain and roasted nut character on the nose, along with glacé cherries and a geranium perfume note that combine to invoke warm panettone. Incredibly easy drinking at this strength with a sweet, soft palate; this whisky shows remarkable restraint where most overdo the oak in this style.

Fred Siggins