Review: Launceston Distillery Winter Solstice II 2023 Peated Tawny

Luke McCarthy -
Whisky Reviews
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This is the second Winter Solstice bottling from Launceston Distillery, who have definitely moved into the top rank of Tasmanian whisky producers in recent times. Their core range whiskies are first-rate and fairly priced and their limited edition releases, like this, rarely miss.

  • Launceston Distillery Winter Solstice Release II Peated Tawny Cask
    The Stats
    • ABV: 47%
    • Price Band: $ $ $ $ $
    • Style: Single malt whisky
    • Production Story: Distilled at Launceston Distillery with peated barley from Bairds Malt in Scotland and matured for six years in a 100 litre tawny cask. Released June 2023. 160 bottles in total.
    • Location: Launceston, TAS
    • Score: 90
    Nose
    Now this has a bit going on. Cured meat, bonfire, Cheezels and burnt caramel. Campfire with Australian hardwood. Burnt sultanas.
    Palate
    Big and rich, but that floral, vanillin Launceston distillate character is still intact. Bacon and a pronounced herbal smoke. The tawny adds fruitcake and treacle. Wonderful texture and structure. Great integration between cask and spirit.
    Finish
    Keeps on driving even at this ABV. Love where this has been bottled.
    Comments
    The Launceston peated malts have come along brilliantly in recent years, and this is a pretty stunning marriage of richness and smoke. Still finely balanced considering the intensity of the components involved.
How We Score
Luke McCarthy
Luke McCarthy is the editor and publisher of Oz Whisky Review. An independent writer, author and drinks columnist, Luke's written about whisky and spirits for numerous Australian and international publications and is a judge at the Australian Distilled Spirits Awards. His book, The Australian Spirits Guide, the first to tackle the history and resurgence of the Australian spirits industry, was published in 2016 by Hardie Grant Books.