Well, I started with a review of the last whisky in the Early Days Collection (The Messenger). Today I am diving into the very first: The Pioneer.
The Pioneer was the first release from Box Distillery. It contains 50 percent unpeated whisky matured for three years in bourbon “ankare” (40 litre), 35 percent peated whisky (31 ppm) matured for three years in bourbon “ankare” and 15 percent unpeated whisky matured for two years in bourbon casks (200 litre) and then finished in casks of new Swedish oak (100 litre). It is bottled at 48,1 ABV.
The Pioneer seems to be available in Norway at NOK 1200.
Malt and citrus meet my nose at first. Caramel, licorice and leather. Warm and oily on the palate. Leather and salt. A lot of citrus on the palate as well. The malt is present, but not dominating. It reveals the age of the whisky, I think. Actually a fresh taste! A fruity and rich finish that lingers. Coffee and leather after a while. It gets dry in the very end.
The bottle is almost empty. I am lucky to have another one!
My score: nose 21 / taste 22 / finish 21 / balance 22 = 86
– Tone
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