Our Rating System
71
Overall Score
73
Nose
71
Palate
68
Finish
December 9th, 2024
@ Home / Portland, OR
David Zumini

M&H Apex Dead Sea

Distillery

M&H

Type

World

Age

3 years

Strength

55.5%

Cask Type

Bourbon
Red Wine
STR

Edition

Batch 019

Cask No.

-

Price Paid

$120 / bottle

Tasting Notes

This is an interesting one. Hailing from Israel, this whiskey was aged for 3 years by the Dead Sea, resulting in nearly a 40% angel's share. It's a cool story, but does it translate to good whiskey?

Perhaps good, yes, but not great - at least not for me. There's an oak-y bitterness that comes through on the palate and finish, though a few drops of water helps bring out the other flavors and reduce that bitterness. Certainly an interesting one to try, though I'm not sure I'd seek out a second bottle at the going rate.

Appearance

Color

Clarity

Clear
Hazy
Opaque

Legs

Slow
Medium
Fast

Nose

Pleasant, but light. Sweet honey and dried fruits, followed by light floral notes alongside vanilla and tobacco.

Cereal

-

Fruit

Dried Fruits

Organic

Floral

Spice

-

Wood

-

Other

Honey
Tobacco
Vanilla

Palate

I'm immediately hit with baking spices and oak. There's something slightly astringent here, but it's not really off putting - a few drops of water help with this. Subsequent sips (especially after the water) reveal a subtle caramel sweetness.

Sweetness

Dry
Semi-Dry
Medium
Semi-Sweet
Sweet

Mouthfeel

Smooth
Medium
Harsh

Flavor

Light
Medium
Rich

Cereal

-

Fruit

-

Organic

-

Spice

Clove
Nutmeg

Wood

Oak

Other

Caramel

Finish

The wood carries through to the finish, with a general earthiness that lingers in an almost bitter way at first. A hint of a kind-of funky honey sneaks in alongside the dried fruits, though it's quite subtle. At first I wasn't sure I liked it at all, but the sweeter notes come through more as I continue to sip (again, more-so after adding water) which is nice.

Cereal

-

Fruit

Dried Fruits

Organic

Earthy

Spice

-

Wood

Oak

Other

Honey