Milk & Honey (M&H) APEX Terroir Sea of Galilee (56.2% ABV) (700 ml)
$124.99
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M&H APEX Terroir Sea of Galilee – 56.2% ABV (700 ml)
Batch SG/01 | Limited Release | 3,001 Bottles
APEX Terroir: The Science of Place and Maturation
Israel’s M&H Distillery, founded with guidance from the late Dr. Jim Swan, has made climate-driven maturation a central part of its whisky-making philosophy.
The APEX Terroir series investigates how whisky develops when matured in four geographically distinct environments: the Dead Sea, Jerusalem Mountains, Negev Desert, and Sea of Galilee.
By examining temperature, humidity, elevation, and evaporation, the series explores how the storage environment influences the interaction between spirit, oak, and atmosphere.
Sea of Galilee: Humidity Meets Heat
The Sea of Galilee expression was matured near the point where the Sea of Galilee meets the Jordan River, approximately 154 meters below sea level.
This location combines substantial warmth with moisture associated with the surrounding freshwater environment. Temperatures range from 11°C to 38°C (51.8–100.4°F), while relative humidity ranges from 40% to 75%.
The reported annual angel’s share is approximately 16%, considerably lower than the Dead Sea’s 25% but more than double the Jerusalem Mountains’ 7%.
The relationship between temperature and humidity is especially important in whisky maturation because both alcohol and water evaporate through the cask, but not necessarily at the same relative rates.
In comparatively dry environments, water loss can be substantial. Under more humid conditions, the balance may shift toward proportionally greater alcohol evaporation. Actual changes in alcoholic strength depend on the cask, its contents, and the surrounding environment.
M&H highlights the competing effects of heat and humidity at the Sea of Galilee as defining features of this maturation site.
The resulting whisky displays a rich, exotic profile with dates, banana, marmalade, honey, and warming spices, followed by pronounced tannic and woody notes.
Technical Specifications
- Distillery: M&H (Milk & Honey), Tel Aviv, Israel
- Series: APEX Terroir
- Batch: SG/01
- ABV: 56.2%
- Bottle Size: 700 ml
- Production: 3,001 bottles
- Maturation Elevation: -154 meters
- Temperature Range: 11–38°C (51.8–100.4°F)
- Relative Humidity: 40–75%
- Reported Annual Angel’s Share: 16%
Official Tasting Notes
Nose: Exotic banana and dates, accompanied by roasted nuts, ginger, and aromatic market spices.
Palate: Rich marmalade and date syrup, followed by a pronounced wave of warming spices.
Finish: Complex spices and honey transition into tannic black tea and freshly stripped tree bark, creating a lingering woody finish.
Why This Expression Matters
The Sea of Galilee occupies an interesting middle ground between the intensely hot, dry Dead Sea and the cooler, more humid Jerusalem Mountains.
Its combination of heat and humidity makes it particularly valuable for examining the relationship between alcohol evaporation, water loss, and cask maturation.
Suggested Comparison: Taste alongside Dead Sea. Both are matured below sea level, yet their humidity levels, maximum temperatures, and annual evaporation rates differ substantially.
The contrast offers an opportunity to explore why similar elevations do not necessarily produce similar maturation conditions or flavor profiles.
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