New Zealand

The Heart Cut #19 Thomson Whisky Review

Get ready for a marriage of two fine New Zealand drinks: single malt whisky and Pinot Noir. This Thomson bottling from The Heart Cut proves wine finishes can create magic.

OVERALL RATING

8
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Tasting Notes

About:

A single malt from New Zealand producer Thomson Whisky, matured in a New Zealand Pinot Noir cask, bottled and released by English independent bottler The Heart Cut.
Appearance:
Amber
Nose:
Fresh raspberry, prunes, blueberry muffin, and blanched hazelnuts. The sweetness ranges from dark brown sugar to caramelizing sweet potato. Touches of cedar, nougat and fruity tobacco smoke.
Palate:
More blueberry muffin with cooked red fruits, prunes and dried figs. Hints of wood polish and damp leaves. Dark chocolate and melted butter. Sweet smoke underpinned by salinity, like barbecue sauce and seasoned pork fat.
Finish:
Soft red fruits (strawberry, raspberry, cherry) balanced by woody spices, malty weight and ashy smoke. It’s lengthy, with a late menthol hit.
Comments:
The red wine cask is very present here, lending powerful fruit and spice notes that complement the slight savoriness of the spirit. Despite heavyweight flavors, it retains a nice lightness on the palate.

Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by The Whiskey Wash or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.

Beth Whymark

Following six years in regional journalism, Beth entered the world of spirits in 2020 after joining Paragraph Publishing, the company behind Whisky Magazine and the World Whiskies Awards. She was editor of Whisky Magazine from September 2022 to July 2024 and served as one of the publication's tasters. Her current role is in content marketing, working day-to-day with a number of Scotch whisky brands, and she is still reading and writing about and tasting whiskeys from around the world in her spare time.

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