Ex-Islay Single Cask Single Malt Whiskey

Overview

Milk & Honey Ex-Islay Single Cask Single Malt is a three-year-old Israeli single malt finished in a cask previously holding Islay whisky, introducing peaty seaside influences to the distillery's kosher-certified spirit. This release, cask 2017-0267, exemplifies M&H's exploration of innovative single cask finishes selected in collaboration with distributor ImpEx Beverages.

Specs at a glance

Good to know

Produced at the Milk & Honey distillery in Tel Aviv, Israel, this whisky adheres to strict kashrut standards, including Passover-compliant ownership transfers. Reviewers note it as less aggressive than M&H's ex-rum counterpart but still marked by youth, suggesting potential with additional maturation.

Tasting notes

• Nose: Smoked meat, white flowers, and seaside brine evoke Islay's coastal character.
• Palate: Salty and rough texture carries stone fruit and cereal sweetness, with underlying raw spirit notes.
• Finish: Lengthy bitterness lingers alongside iodine and medicinal tones.

Notable details

• Production: Ex-Islay cask finish on a young single malt base; bottled at 115.6 proof.
• Lineage: From Milk & Honey, Israel's pioneering kosher whisky distillery focused on single malts and gins.
• Comparison: Mildly preferred over M&H's ex-rum single cask for its restraint, though both show immaturity.
• Availability: Limited to select markets; MSRP around $85.

"The ex-Islay finish offers intriguing seaside and medicinal notes but remains salty, rough, and bitter at this stage." – The Whiskey Wash

A promising yet unpolished young whisky that hints at the distillery's bold future direction.

Sources

[1] Thewhiskeywash – "Milk & Honey Ex-Islay Single Cask Single Malt Whisky (2017-0267) Review"

[2] Thewhiskeywash – "M&H Whisky Review: Exploring Single Cask Finishes 2017-0267 and 2017-0317"