Lark distillery

Region: Hobart, Tasmania, Australia

A family run business with Bill, Lyn and Kristy Lark primarily running the operation. Kristy (Bill's daughter) is the head distiller and when she joined the team she was one of the world's youngest female distillers.

Official distillery  website

Lark, Port Cask, bottled 2011, 43% ABV

Typical cost of this bottle; €€€€€

Glass: Classic Malt

Colour: Rich golden / light amber

Nose: Offers some very aromatic grassiness, almost to the point of an Alpine spring meadow, but not quite although it does continue to expand delightfully in this direction. Eventually a hint of smokiness suggests very floral or even slightly perfumed bonfire embers. Very nice.

Palate: This also suggests perfumed grassiness but it has an extra facet of creamy fruitiness with a touch of vanilla.

Finish: Long, nay very long as it just keeps on going.

Overall Impression: Truly delightful with depths of floral aromas and grassiness which tantalise the nose and palate, I love it.

Lark, Port Cask No.205, bottled 2011, 58% ABV

Typical cost of this bottle; €€€€€

Glass: Classic Malt

Colour: Light amber

Nose: Just explodes with lightly perfumed fragrances, delightfully light but very aromatic. Then a suggestion of mandarin in the background followed by the development of faint woodiness.

Palate: This is sweet, perfumed, massively intense and also including brandy snap or even butterscotch. Marvellous.

Finish: Very long and intriguing with all from the nose and palate just concentrated further.

Overall Impression: Light and extremely intense with lots of sweet exotic fruitiness. In fact it's mental, bloody marvellously mental.