Longmorn 2008 Hidden Spirits 17 yo

 

 

 

50,7°

Distillery : Longmorn - Speyside

2d Fill Bourbon Barrel

Independent Bottling 

By Hidden Spirits 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated 

 

 

 

Let's take a quick look at Hidden Spirits, an independent Italian bottler founded in 2013 that I am particularly fond of. Here we have a Longmorn that has spent 17 years in a second-fill bourbon barrel, which should give the distillate plenty of time to express itself. The label features a vintage bus, which is why this whisky belongs to the Glasgow Bus Series. 217 bottles are available for sale.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Creamy nose, thick vanilla and Italia grape pulp, white chocolate, banana purée, and various citrus fruits, lime, mandarin. Orchard fruits, Golden Smith apples and Conference pears, elegant and spicy woody notes. On the palate, it is indulgent, banana cake, brioche, vanilla icing, melted butter, subtle spices, cumin. Fairly long finish, still indulgent, honeyed, pine resin, shortbread biscuits, mint and candied fruit, malted cereals, roasted hazelnuts, a small grain of coffee. A pinch of salt. 

 

In Short, 

It is elegant and rich, well-made, delicately woody and abundantly fruity, all lovers of this profile will appreciate it. It is still available at an attractive price, but that is unlikely to last, so I suggest purchasing it now. 

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Ma Polaine - Been Loved Too Much

Ardnahoe Bholsa

 

 

 

50°

Distillery : Ardnahoe - Islay

Predominantly Oloroso Sherry and Bourbon Casks 

Original Bottling 

Core Range 

Single Malt 

Launched in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 40 ppm 

 

 

 

And here is the second representative of Ardnahoe's Core Range, launched in March 2025. It is mainly aged in Oloroso Sherry Casks, around 60%, with the remainder consisting of Bourbon Casks. The absence of colouring and chill filtration is encouraging. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The sherry is a bit dry, red plum skin, dates, tanned leather, roasted nuts, a zest of blood orange, raspberry purée. The peat is definitely there, ash and soot, dark chocolate, dried meat spread with caramel. Candied cherries. On the palate, red fruit coulis, shortbread biscuits, Williams pear, light woodiness and subtle spices, raisins, liquorice. It's a little light. Fairly long finish, gently powerful, dried figs, hazelnuts, dirty charcoal, ginger, a few more red fruits. A touch of acidity. 

 

In Short, 

The sherry isn't too strong, nor is the peat. I'd need to taste it again, but I didn't detect any mineral or coastal notes either. This makes for a lovely whisky, with fruity, meaty and slightly acidic notes, without being unpleasant, but for me it lacks that little something that gives Islay its identity. Honestly, it's good, but I was expecting better, especially as the price is still high for a non-age-statement whisky. 

Score : 86

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Liv Sangster - Lonely Road

Ardnahoe Infinite Loch

 

 

 

50°

Distillery : Ardnahoe - Islay

1st Fill Bourbon and 1st Fill Oloroso Sherry Casks

Original Bottling 

Core Range 

Single Malt 

Launched in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 40 ppm

 

 

 

After launching its Inaugural Release in May 2024, Ardnahoe released the first product in its Core Range in November of the same year. Given the distillery's youth, it is not aged, but it is non-chill filtered and contains no colouring. The ageing process offers a balance between Bourbon and Sherry. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The Bourbon is generous, with caramel, vanilla and crème brûlée notes, along with coastal and iodine hints, dried seaweed and sea salt. White chocolate, orange peel and various citrus fruits. Vegetable peat, dried hay and chalky earth. Nougatine. On the palate, orchard fruits, green apples and Williams pears, perhaps a nectarine, soft biscuits dipped in milk, sponge cake, creamy vanilla. Relatively subtle spices, a pinch of cinnamon. A finish with character, pipe tobacco, smoked fish, waxed wood, lemonade, roasted nuts. Pistachio. A hint of minerality. 

 

In Short, 

It's really interesting, although still a little young and a little too bourbon-dominated for my taste. I would have given it 7 or 8 years rather than around 5, you don't really notice its youth, but it is still a little light on the palate. It shows promise, but they will need to do better if they want to reach the level of Caol Ila 12 Year Old or Ardbeg Ten. The price seems a little steep to me, but we must support young distilleries. 

Score : 86

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Racing Mount Pleasant - Your New Place

Elements of Islay Campfire Feis Ile 2025

 

 

 

54,5°

Distilleries Officially Unknown - Islay

PX and Oloroso Sherry Butts, 1st Fill Bourbon Barrels, Charred and Toasted New Oak Barrels 

Independent Bottling 

By Elixir Distillers 

Limited Edition 

Blended Malt 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 39 ppm

 

 

 

Since 2023, Elements of Islay has been producing a series called the Fire Trilogy, starting with Beach Bonfire in 2023, followed by Fireside the following year, and finally Campfire in 2025, released in time for Feis Ile. For the first two, there was a cask strength version and a reduced version, but for this one, there seems to be only the reduced version. Three distilleries are involved, from the north and south coasts of Islay. I'm betting on Caol Ila, Laphroaig and Bunnahabhain. But I can't say for sure. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It :  

Quite intense and complex sherry, various red fruits, grilled meat with caramel sauce, melting chocolate, raspberry coulis, cranberry jam, chimney soot, very solid peat, charcoal, small fried mushrooms. On the palate, a certain creaminess, melting marshmallow, blackberry purée, wild strawberries, thick layer of peat and lively but not overly strong spices, ginger, cloves, nutmeg. Apple and cinnamon crumble. Long, fairly powerful finish, liquorice, wet wood, roasted hazelnuts, merguez sausage.

 

In Short, 

It's not bad, not bad at all, and even complex and intense. It's a good blend of peat and sherry that will please any fan of this profile. The only concern is that it's as expensive as Uigeadail, which is still better. 

Score : 87

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Madam - To The Moon

Elements of Islay Sherry Cask

 

 

 

54,5°

Distilleries Officially Unknown - Islay 

1st Fill, Refill Sherry Butts and Hogsheads 

Independent Bottling 

By Elixir Distillers 

Core Range 

Single Malt 

Launched in 2022

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 37 ppm

 

 

 

The third member of the Core Range at Elements of Islay is this Sherry Cask. It has been aged entirely in a variety of sherry casks and is a blend from two distilleries, one located on the south coast (rumoured to be Laphroaig) and the other on the north coast (certainly Caol Ila). To be more precise, it is said to be 65% Caol Ila and the rest Laphroaig.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Sherry, coastal and airy, even mineral, with just the right amount of peat coated in caramel and encrusted with charcoal, soot and fuel oil. Dark chocolate, brown tobacco, cigar ash. Apple compote, candied ginger, mint leaves. A hint of sea spray, limestone and seaweed. On the palate, it is unctuous, blood oranges, maple syrup, dried apricots and candied fruit, dates, quinces, burnt caramel, soft toffee, cloves and nutmeg. Lemon cake. Autumn leaves. The finish is quite long and powerful, biscuits dipped in tea, brown sugar, cinnamon, saffron, crème brûlée, cocoa powder. Roots, spread with molasses, and a very slight medicinal touch. 

 

In Short, 

The sherry is not too overpowering, you can feel the character of Islay, the maritime notes and a solid peat, although not very strong. That said, there is quite a lot of fruit, the nose is a little shy at first, then the palate is very rich, and the finish is enchanting. This makes for a beautiful bottling, complex and measured, seductive and easy to drink. Worth trying for fans of peat and sherry, but Uigeadail is the same price.  

Score : 87

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Tolstoys - Mad

Elements of Islay Bourbon Cask

 

 

 

54,5°

Distilleries Officially Unknown - Islay

1st Fill and Refill Bourbon Casks

Independent Bottling 

By Elixir Distillers 

Core Range

Blended Malt 

Launched in 2022

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 37 ppm

 

 

 

In 2022, when the Elements of Islay range was revamped, this stuff appeared. I imagine it more or less replaces Peat Full Proof, which disappeared at the same time. You might think it's the same as Cask Edit, with a higher alcohol content, but that's not the case. Cask Edit is a blend of Bourbon and Sherry Casks, while Bourbon Cask has been matured entirely in Bourbon Casks of various types. As with Cask Edit, rumour has it that the two distilleries involved are Caol Ila (65% of the product) and Laphroaig (35% of the product). It is written on the box that there is one distillery from the south coast of Islay and another from the north, or several others. Some say that a third distillery is involved, but nothing is certain.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

On the nose, airy and coastal Bourbon, with sea spray and tide, seaweed and kelp, mineral notes, a good hint of coarse salt and iodine. Behind that, vanilla honey, caramel and lemon, cake icing, brioche. Thick peat, of course, soot and tar, fuel oil and diesel. On the palate, it is smoother, slightly oily, green apples and citrus fruits, herbaceous peat, bandages, lively spices, cloves, cumin and black pepper. The finish is quite long and robust, shortbread biscuits, pebbles, sand, mud, rustic wood and salty peat. A mint leaf. 

 

In Short, 

To be honest, it's very similar to the Cask Edit, which I tasted just before. It's just more intense on the finish, and more marked by the Bourbon casks. I don't see what's really better than Cask Edit, except for the finish. On the contrary, the absence of sherry casks means there is less complexity and balance. The price is reasonable, even low, but I'm not thrilled with the product, so I don't know if I would recommend buying it. 

Score : 86

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Ophelia Malory - Misunderstood

Elements of Islay Cask Edit

 

 

 

46°

Distilleries Officially Unknown - Islay

Refill Bourbon and Sherry Casks

Independent Bottling 

By Elixir Distillers

Core Range 

Blended Malt 

Launched in 2022 

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 37 ppm

 

 

 

In 2022, the Elements of Islay range changed. No more Single Malts, which is a shame, as these little bottles with code names had a certain charm. And the Core Range is changing its name, and probably its recipe too. The Entry Level becomes Cask Edit, that's probably less scary than Peat, which was the old name. Rumour has it that this Blended Malt is a blend of Caol Ila and Laphroaig, which wouldn't surprise me at all. It's reduced, which makes it more drinkable, and there's no chill filtration or colouring. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Fairly dry smoke, earthy, white lime, sea spray, tide, foam, seaweed. But it is very lemony, with a good pinch of salt and a hint of vanilla. Mineral notes, pencil lead, a touch of soot. A drop of caramel and chocolate, piles of still-smoky ashes. On the palate, it is a bit sweeter, grape pulp, green apple, honey and resin. Spices are present but not too strong, black pepper, cumin. Fairly long finish, relatively calm, chimney fire, braised bacon, perhaps a medicinal touch, peppermint. 

 

In Short, 

Of course, it's just a small blend with a reasonable alcohol content, but it's nice. It's exactly what you'd expect, no more, no less: a good dose of peat and character, without complexity or excessive strength. The kind of thing that goes down quickly and easily. The price is often quite low, offering good value for money. 

Score : 86

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Mars Red Sky - Strong Reflection

Aberlour A'Bunadh Edition 1 Sherry Cask Collection

 

 

 

56,2°

Distillery : Aberlour - Speyside

1st Fill American Oak and Oloroso Sherry Casks, 1st Fill Oloroso and PX Sherry Finish

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

In 1998, Aberlour launched the A'Bunadh series, which would go down in whisky history. It is a cask strength whisky aged entirely in Oloroso sherry casks. It was a resounding success, with 84 batches released until 2024. That year, the series came to an end and was replaced by a new series, A'Bunadh Sherry Cask Collection, which was launched the following year, last October. Here is the very first batch. The difference with the original A'Bunadh seems to be that, this time, the maturation is not entirely in sherry casks. A few American oak casks are also used. However, the finish is 100% sherry. I have stated that it is also uncoloured, as some websites specify this, but I am not entirely convinced. I have no idea how many bottles have been produced. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

It is creamy and balanced, although the sherry is quite intense. A lovely woodiness to start with, followed by dried fruit, slightly candied, dates, red apples, cherries, raisins, soft toffee, Tatin tart sprinkled with cinnamon, chocolate sarments du Médoc with orange, candied ginger. On the palate, Belle Hélène pear and vanilla caramel, intense spices, nutmeg, cloves, apple compote. Powerful and very long finish, brown sugar wafers, fig biscuits, lemon tart. Slightly smoky wood, hazelnuts and cashews. 

 

In Short, 

A beautiful roundness, very indulgent, and a sherry that is not too overpowering, although very present. I find that it works very well, and is more balanced than some of the A'Bunadh whiskies from the old series, where the sherry was really very strong. The nose is very subtle and complex, but lacks a little depth. The palate is very good, and the finish is fantastic. I was really surprised by the quality of the product. However, the price is a little high for a non age-statement whisky. 

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                            Lil'Ed and The Blues Imperials - I Still Love You