Nose– Soft, elegant & refined. Delicate aromas of crushed apple, pear and fresh pineapple arouse the senses. The spirit is exciting and vibrant with attractive notes of oak shavings that release hints of buttery vanilla, creamy caramel and nutmeg. A whisper of marmalade, cinnamon and even a tease of smoke, ginger and muscovado sugar completes this spectrum of delight. In January 2010 workers from the New Zealand Antarctic Heritage Trust successfully extracted the cases from the ice and now one of them is being slowly thawed to see if the whisky can be saved. The sweetness, fragrance and spice, and the subtle smoke, are all there in the replica. I’m blown away.” Taste– With a generous strength of 47.3% this gives the spirit plenty of impact on the palate but in a mild warming manner. Harmonious and exhilarating. Whispers of gentle bonfire smoke slowly give way to spicy rich toffee, treacle and pecan nuts. These enticing flavours linger lovingly on the palate but are soon combined by a sensual, complex array of creme brulee, orange rind and freshly baked bread. It is a remarkable tapestry of tantalising taste sensations which truly rewards the palate. We all turned out to give three cheers and to take a last look at the place where we had spent so many happy days. The hut was not exactly a palatial residence … but, on the other hand, it had been our home for a year that would always live in our memories…. We watched the little hut fade away in the distance with feelings almost of sadness, and there were few men aboard who did not cherish a hope that some day they would once more live strenuous days under the shadow of mighty Erebus.”

He has served as a councillor and as deputy chair on the Otago Regional Council, and has chaired it Environment and Science Committee.Neville’s other books include: Snow Dogs: The huskies of Antarctica; Detours; The Incredible Kiwi; Land Aspiring: The story of Mount Aspiring National Park; Coasting: The sea lion and the lark; Subantarctic New Zealand: A rare heritage; Antarctic Partners: 50 years of New Zealand and United States Cooperation in Antarctica, 1957–2007; High Country Lark; and Seabird Genius: The Story of L. E. Richdale, the royal albatross and the yellow-eyed penguin. Taste:-Icing sugar. Slightly syrupy. Very very light. Baked pastry. Vanilla. It’s exceptionally light. Glenmorangie light. Summer drink. Only 40% though so no ice needed. There’s no fruit. It isn’t overly complex but has a nice dry Sherry finish. The whisky proved so popular that in late 2012, a second edition, ‘The Journey’, was released. Both editions have resulted in a substantial donation to the Trust’s conservation work in Antarctica.Nose:-Very sweet so I liked straight off. Vanilla. Caramel. There’s a hint of smoke. Not strong. Hint of baked bread. It is very light on the nose. You can see it will be light from the get go. The amber color of this fairly young whisky is easily recognizable. It does not give away as much as it would in other whiskies, but the color makes it possible to expect spices, smoke, and winter notes. Taste If you have been enjoying the scent of this whisky, you can be sure that you will love its taste. The two aspects reflect each other closely, creating a generally well-balanced, rounded flavor profile.

Neville Peat is an award-winning author and photographer of over 30 books, covering themes of geography, biography, natural history and the environment. His biographies include the bestselling Hurricane Tim: The Story of Sir Tim Wallis. I like this. It’s perfect for the summer, or to introduce someone to whisky. This ranks with the Cutty Sark Prohibition edition. They are not hard work. You can sit with mates and enjoy these blends without concentrating on them.

History

Fascinated by wild and remote environments, dynamic landscapes and unique fauna and flora, he has explored much of New Zealand and the South Pacific, from the far-flung tropical atolls of Tokelau, to the snow and ice of the Ross Dependency, Antarctica. The scent of this whisky is the first aspect you will notice. Undeniably, the most overpowering aromas are those of malted barley and yeast. However, you will also find an earthy undertone that is almost oily or creamy. Its body-sensation in mouth, when tasted “neat”, to some extent resembles some Inchgower-bottlings, as it does hold a slight oiliness when “neat”. Also this, is something I do find being to this specific bottlings advantage, compared to other bottlings. He has undertaken commissioned work for Otago Museum, and his comprehensive report on the sub-Antarctic islands earned World Heritage Area status for five groups of the islands. Neville is a fifth-generation descendant of Scottish pioneers in Otago. He lives at Broad Bay, Otago Peninsula; the family home fittingly near populations of royal albatross, yellow-eyed penguin, New Zealand (Hooker’s) sea lion and New Zealand fur seal, about which Neville has written many times. See www.nevillepeatsnewzealand.com.