Milk & Honey Apex STR Cask 750ML

Milk & Honey Apex STR Cask 750ML is a cask strength Israeli single malt whisky bottled at 57.8% ABV (115.6 proof) in a 750ml format. Matured in STR-treated ex-red wine casks under Tel Aviv's Mediterranean sun, this expression channels the pioneering work of the late Dr. Jim Swan — the Scottish whisky consultant who developed the STR cask technique — into a bold, fruit-driven spirit that helped establish Israel as a serious force in world whisky.

Quick Facts: ABV: 57.8%  |  Origin: Tel Aviv, Israel  |  NAS, Cask Strength  |  Distillery: Milk & Honey

Production & Heritage

Founded in 2014, Milk & Honey is Israel's first single malt whisky distillery, located in Tel Aviv. The spirit is double distilled from 100% unpeated malted barley — sourced from England — through copper pot stills, using reverse-osmosis-treated water optimized for fermentation. The Apex STR Cask expression takes its name from the specialized cask treatment: ex-red wine barrels are shaved to strip away deep wine-saturated wood, toasted at controlled temperatures to coax out vanilla and caramel compounds, then re-charred to introduce a carbon filtration layer and smoky sweetness. Tel Aviv's warm climate accelerates maturation significantly compared to cooler Scottish warehouses, concentrating flavor at a faster pace. Head Distiller Tomer Goren hand-selects casks for each Apex batch, and the whisky is bottled without chill filtration and with no color added.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Ripe dark cherry and plum preserve lead the nose, followed by bittersweet cocoa and toasted oak. Beneath those darker notes, vanilla custard emerges alongside orange zest and a delicate thread of chamomile.

Taste: The entry is immediate and fruit-forward — concentrated raspberry and blackberry compote coat the palate with vibrant intensity. At mid-palate, roasted coffee beans and dark chocolate ganache develop alongside dry ginger, green sage, and a building warmth of cinnamon bark. The 57.8% ABV delivers substantial weight without harshness, and a few drops of water open up additional spice complexity.

Finish: Long and structured, with cocoa butter, black pepper, and strong charred oak lingering well after the sip. A tannic backbone from the STR-treated wine casks gives the finish a dry, almost red-wine-like grip that distinguishes it from sweeter cask strength whiskies.

How to Drink Apex STR Cask

At cask strength, this whisky rewards patient, neat sipping — start undiluted, then add water incrementally to unlock successive layers of fruit and spice. A single large ice cube also tempers the proof gently while preserving the rich mouthfeel.

• Rob Roy: The dark berry intensity and tannic structure pair naturally with sweet vermouth, creating a richer, more fruit-driven variation.
• Blood & Sand: Its cherry and chocolate notes dovetail with the cocktail's orange juice and Cherry Heering components, adding barrel-proof depth.
• Whisky Sour: The high proof and concentrated fruit character stand up to citrus and simple syrup without being washed out.

Best For

• Whisky enthusiasts exploring single malts beyond Scotland and Japan
• Cask strength collectors seeking warm-climate maturation profiles
• Gifting a spirits-savvy friend something genuinely unexpected
• Side-by-side tastings comparing wine-cask-influenced single malts

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Apex STR Cask taste like? It delivers concentrated dark berry fruit — raspberry, blackberry, and cherry — layered with roasted coffee, dark chocolate, and warming cinnamon, finishing with cocoa butter, black pepper, and charred oak.

How does Apex STR Cask compare to Kavalan Solist Vinho Barrique? Both are warm-climate single malts matured in wine-treated casks, but Kavalan's Vinho Barrique tends toward tropical fruit and heavier oak sweetness from Taiwan's heat, while the Milk & Honey expression leans into darker berry fruit with a more structured tannic backbone from the STR treatment.

Is Apex STR Cask good for sipping neat? Yes — it is specifically designed for neat appreciation at full cask strength, and adding a few drops of water progressively reveals additional layers of spice and fruit that the high ABV initially keeps tightly coiled.

Where is Apex STR Cask made? It is distilled and matured at the Milk & Honey Distillery in Tel Aviv, Israel — the country's first single malt whisky distillery, founded in 2014 and situated in a Mediterranean coastal climate.

What foods pair well with Apex STR Cask? Dark chocolate truffles mirror its cocoa and berry notes. Aged hard cheeses like Manchego complement the tannic finish. Lamb tagine with dried fruits echoes the concentrated dark fruit character. Smoked duck breast pairs well with the charred oak influence. Fig and walnut tart bridges the whisky's fruit and spice registers.

What sizes does Apex STR Cask come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle at 57.8% ABV.

Is Apex STR Cask worth the price? It positions as a premium, small-batch cask strength single malt from a young but award-winning distillery, and its non-chill-filtered, natural-color presentation at barrel proof delivers intensity and complexity that justify its place in the upper tier of the category.

Why Apex STR Cask?

The STR cask technique at the heart of this whisky was developed by Dr. Jim Swan, who consulted for Milk & Honey before his passing — making these releases a direct continuation of his cask innovation legacy. The distillery itself earned global attention when a different expression won World's Best Single Malt at the 2023 World Whisky Awards, validating Israel's Mediterranean terroir as a legitimate whisky-producing environment. At 57.8% ABV with no chill filtration and no added color, the Apex STR Cask delivers the full, uncompromised result of warm-climate maturation in expertly treated wine casks. For drinkers seeking single malt character that simply cannot be replicated in a cooler climate, this is one of the most distinctive bottles in the category.