Shelter Point Distiller’s Select - Cask Strength

Shelter Point Distiller’s Select - Cask Strength, NAS, 58.4 %

This is my first ever review of a whisky from Canadian distillers Shelter Point.

Here is how they introduce themselves:

“Established in 2011, Shelter Point Distillery is located on 380 acres in Oyster River, BC, about halfway up the eastern side of Vancouver Island on the west coast of Canada. The land encompasses 2,000 metres of spectacular oceanfront, a natural mosaic of streams, a salmon-bearing river, wetlands, forests and fields — all shared with native wildlife, from bald eagles and great blue herons to black tailed deer and black bears. Farmed for generations, Shelter Point remains one of the last seaside farms on the Island.”

Limited to 1200 bottles. Matured in five casks of single malt barley aged in American oak and combined with one cask of single grain rye in the same wood. Then finished the vatting of these in French oak casks. This whisky was released back in 2016. A new cask strength expression was released earlier this year.

Nose: Rather sweet and full on the nose. Vanilla, strawberries and orchard fruits. Cereal. With time mature hard cheese - perhaps a manchego or cheddar.

Taste: Full bodied and rather smooth. Green notes of cut grass and herbs, mixed with creamy and peppery vanilla notes.

Finish: Medium long finish. Creamy still, and on the sweet side. Greener and distinctly minty. A playful mix of fizzy and sparkling ginger, cinnamon, chili and licorice towards the end.

Comment: A darn fine dram.

Score 88/100

Massive thanks to Even S. for the generous sample!

PS! The image is of a different version of the product.

Sláinte!
-Thomas