There was a time, not so long ago, when the phrase "Israeli whisky" would have drawn blank stares at any decent tasting event. That time has passed. Milk & Honey Distillery, founded in Tel Aviv in 2014, has done more than any other producer to put the Eastern Mediterranean on the single malt map, and their Elements Series continues to make a compelling case for why we should all be paying attention.
The Sherry Cask expression from the Elements Series is bottled at 46% ABV without chill filtration — a decision I always respect, as it allows the spirit to speak with its full voice. As a NAS release, Milk & Honey are asking us to judge this whisky on character rather than age statement, and given the climate in Tel Aviv, where maturation is dramatically accelerated by the heat, that feels like the right call. Whisky aged in those conditions interacts with oak at a pace that would be unrecognisable to a Speyside warehousing manager. What might take eight or ten years in a Scottish dunnage warehouse can develop in a fraction of that time under the Israeli sun.
The sherry cask influence is the defining feature here. Milk & Honey have leaned into rich, fruit-forward maturation, and the result is a single malt that sits confidently in the sherried whisky conversation alongside far more established names. At 46%, there is enough strength to carry weight without tipping into harshness — a balance point that suggests careful cask selection rather than simply pulling from whatever was ready.
Tasting Notes
I will reserve detailed tasting notes for a future in-depth session with this expression. What I can say is that the sherry cask profile and the 46% bottling strength set clear expectations: expect dried fruit character, a degree of spice from the oak, and a richness that the non-chill-filtered approach preserves. The Elements Series is designed to showcase individual cask influences, and the sherry here is very much the leading voice.
The Verdict
At £52.75, this sits in interesting territory. You are not paying the premium that comes with a Scottish distillery's century of heritage, but neither are you getting a bargain-bin experiment. What you are getting is a genuinely well-made single malt from a distillery that has earned its reputation through quality rather than marketing. Milk & Honey have won medals at the IWSC and other international competitions for good reason — they take the craft seriously.
A score of 7.6 out of 10 reflects a whisky that delivers on its promise. The sherry cask influence is well-judged, the bottling strength is appropriate, and the price is fair for what is still a relatively limited-production spirit from a young but ambitious distillery. It is not going to displace your favourite Macallan or GlenDronach, but it was never trying to. This is a whisky with its own identity, shaped by a climate and a terroir that produce something genuinely different. That, to me, is worth the price of admission.
Best Served
Pour this neat at room temperature and give it ten minutes to open up in the glass. A few drops of water will help if you find the 46% too assertive on first approach, but I would suggest trying it without first. The sherry influence benefits from warmth, and the non-chill-filtered character means there is texture here that cold temperatures would mute. If you are feeling adventurous, this would also work beautifully in a simple Highball with quality soda water — the sherried sweetness plays well against carbonation, and it makes for a surprisingly elegant long drink on a warm evening.
