Cadenhead's Peated Blended Malt Scotch Whisky 2025

 

 

 

57,7°

Distilleries : Caol Ila, Bunnahabhain and others - Scotland

Independent Bottling 

By William Cadenhead Limited 

Limited Edition

Blended Malt 

Launched in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Heavily Peated

 

 

 

In a number of Cadenhead shops, you can find demijohns filled with whisky. There are three of them: one for Bourbon, one for Sherry and one for Peated. It is impossible to know exactly what is inside them, as the contents change depending on what is added over the months. You can have a bottle filled by hand, either 20 cl or 70 cl. So I was able to taste a sip of Peated Blended Malt from a bottle that had been filled in 2025, with an alcohol content of 57.7%. I was assured that the two distilleries most used are Caol Ila and Bunnahabhain, but nothing is known about the others.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Quite oily peat on the nose, with hints of the sea, silt, seaweed, kelp, and a good dose of sea spray, whelks, razor clams, oysters, mussels, limestone and quartz, chalky rock, tar, creamy vanilla, and a vague zest of lemon. On the palate, it is rough, the peat becomes earthy, a little drier, dark chocolate and coffee, bottarga, Morteau sausage, lots of pepper and cloves. Banana, perhaps lychee. Quite a long and powerful finish, chalk and fuel oil, some subtle fruit, yam, black radish, a few drops of citrus.

 

In Short, 

For me, it's the perfect daily dram. The alcohol content is a little strong, admittedly, but it has character and lovely contrasts between the peaty, mineral and maritime notes and the fruits that linger in the background. It's powerful and intense, which is just how I like it. I admit it lacks a little subtlety, but that's why it's a daily dram. It offers good value for money and is worth trying. 

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Frankie and The Witch Fingers - Empire

Auchentoshan 20 yo Whisky Craft Season Two

 

 

 

55,1°

Distillery : Auchentoshan - Lowlands

2d Fill Hogshead 

Independent Bottling 

By Whisky Craft

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

Whisky Craft is a very young Scottish bottler that came into being just this year. They are now on their fifth bottling, an Auchentoshan that spent 20 years in a second-fill hogshead, yielding 225 bottles. The distillation date has not been disclosed, but it is definitely a single cask, most likely cask strength, included in the company's second release, called Season Two.

Let's Taste It : 

It is fresh and lemony, with salty and mineral notes that give it character, chalk, gypsum, limestone. But very quickly, juicy fruits come through, Williams pear, mirabelle plum, and cotton candy, strawberry chewing gum, with a lovely caramel coulis and pastry cream. On the palate, grapefruit and mountain honey, orange zest and ripe banana. The spices are very subtle. On the finish, shortbread dough, a pinch of salt, then it becomes herbaceous, mint, sage, reeds. A very light peppery touch, oak leaf, walnut.

 

In Short, 

I am still unfamiliar with this distillery, but I have been told that it fits the profile of a very good Auchentoshan perfectly, and I am inclined to believe it. I enjoyed the fruit, citrus and cotton candy notes, but what surprised me most was the mineral character that gives it such a distinctive personality. This is definitely a whisky worth exploring, and it offers very good value for money. A bottler to keep an eye on.

Score : 89 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Röyksopp - Stay Awhile

Ledaig 2009 The Art of Maturation Benchmark Collection Itinéraires 16 yo

 

 

 

50,4°

Distillery : Tobermory - Islands

1st Fill Amontillado Octave Sherry Cask

Independent Bottling 

By Murray McDavid

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 37 ppm

 

 

 

Part of the Collection Itinéraires, this Ledaig has been aged in Amontillado sherry casks, a fairly dry sherry. Only 81 bottles have been produced, which is very few, and they are reserved for the French market.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The nose is fruity and airy, coastal and cereal-like. Candied lemon, pomegranate and redcurrants, ripe pears overwhelmed by medicinal and salty peat, full of sea spray and seaweed. Evanescent iodine, and in the background, muesli and almond milk, beeswax. On the palate, a strong dose of peat at first, then quartz, salt, and gradually, pastry cream, citrus coulis, passion fruit. Discreet spices. Quite a long finish, almost explosive, liquorice, blond tobacco, ash and seaweed, unrefined sea salt. Mussels and rice powder.

 

In Short, 

Despite the strong influence of sherry, this Ledaig retains its character, softened only slightly by a parade of ripe, sometimes candied fruits. There is a beautiful balance and variety of flavours between the sweetness of the fruit and the mineral roughness. This will appeal to any self-respecting fan of the distillery, without being a masterpiece. It is neither quite as assertive nor as subtle as that. But it is still an enjoyable experience. The price is quite high, as evidenced by the fact that it is not yet sold out despite the small number of bottles available. 

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Rocket - Another Second Chance

Bowmore 2014 Old Particular 11 yo

 

 

 

62,4°

Distillery : Bowmore - Islay

Refill Bourbon Barrel

Independent Bottling 

By Douglas Laing & Co. 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 25 ppm

 

 

 

This Bowmore yielded only 220 bottles and spent 11 years in a single refill bourbon barrel, ensuring that the distillate is showcased to its best advantage. It was added to the Collection Itinéraires for Whisky Live Paris 2025 and is therefore reserved for the French market.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Very intense nose, creamy, fruity, mirabelle and greengage plums, vanilla, abundant citrus fruits, coated in rich, salty peat. Dried fruit, pineapple and banana, liquorice, under a shower of ashes and sea spray. Iodine gradually balancing out. Very pleasant on the palate, with the fruit slightly overwhelming the peat, it's pulpy, citrusy, even exotic, lychee, grapefruit, papaya, with pear and apple. The spices are restrained. The finish is quite long, iodine and oily, with shortbread biscuits, herbaceous notes, reeds, bamboo, a mineral background, slate, quartz, sleet and, of course, cold ashes.

 

In Short, 

A very pleasant Bowmore, intensely fruity, where iodine and peat are a little more discreet, but still very present in the background. That said, I find it lacks a little body or authenticity, I've come to expect better from this distillery. But excellence breeds high standards. In any case, despite the price, which I find high, it is already completely sold out.

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Orvak - Only You

Talisker 2011 Old Particular 14 yo

 

 

 

54,8°

Distillery : Talisker - Islands

Refill Hogshead 

Independent Bottling 

By Douglas Laing & Co. 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 22 ppm

 

 

 

Independent bottlings of Talisker are rare, which is why this one deserves attention, especially since it is aged 14 years to the day (it was bottled on the anniversary of its distillation), matured in a Refill Hogshead that will bring out the best in the distillate, and only 227 bottles exist. It has been included in the Itinéraires collection designed by La Maison du Whisky on the occasion of Whisky Live Paris 2025.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Fresh and coastal nose, lemony and mineral, with oysters, whelks, a good dose of iodine and sea spray, seaweed, rough smoke, spongy peat, slate and quartz shards. Coarse sea salt. Behind that, creamy vanilla, apples and pears, perhaps even lychee and almonds. It's fine and chiseled on the palate, liquorice and salicornia, light citrus, grapefruit, a dash of English custard, still vanilla, a little milky, spices full of character, black pepper, cloves, cumin. Chalky, salty finish with a hint of cereal, limestone and scallops, olive oil, a zest of lemon.

 

In Short, 

So typical. It's Talisker through and through, nothing more, nothing less. Absolutely nothing exceptional, but with a distinctive identity, a unique character, deeply marine and mineral, with a noticeable peatiness that is never overpowering. It's the dream bottling for all fans of the distillery, but nothing remarkable for those who are not particularly fond of it. The only problem is the price, which is very high, but it must be said that independent Taliskers are so rare that it is entirely in line with the market.

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Remina - Silence and the Silver Sea

Benromach 2014 Single Cask Collection Itinéraires 10 yo

 

58,3

Distillery : Benromach - Speyside

1st Fill Sherry Hogshead 

Original Bottling

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 12 ppm

And the last Benromach selected by La Maison du Whisky to be part of the Itinéraires Collection is this one, a young and spirited whisky that matured in a first-fill sherry hogshead, for a total of 304 bottles. Made with Concerto barley and produced using a long fermentation process, this is a pure old-school bottling.

Let's Taste It : 

Very mellow on the nose, with greengages, juicy mirabelle plums, but also mineral, quartz, salt and chalk. The peat is discreet. Dried fruit, figs, pineapple, apricots, fresh walnuts and cashews. Some citrus fruit, damp leather and apple compote. On the palate, beautiful finesse, lovely woodiness, floor wax, milk chocolate, creamy vanilla, liquorice and ginger. Intense spices, salted almonds, orange peel. Long and elegant finish, creamy and herbaceous, dried mandarins and Conference pears, shortbread biscuits with fine sea salt, brewer's yeast, cooked egg yolk.

 

In Short, 

It's not that old school, it's a beautiful, intense sherry without being overpowering. The distillery retains its mineral profile, but I found little cereal or cut hay. It's nicely fruity and spicy, yet smooth and balanced at the same time. The price is more or less decent, so it's worth considering a purchase.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Leif de Leeuw Band - Small Town

Benromach 2009 Super Tuscan Wine Cask Collection Itinéraires 15 yo

 

 

 

58,2°

Distillery : Benromach - Speyside 

1st Fill Sassicaia Wine Cask 

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 12 ppm

Another Benromach selected by La Maison du Whisky to be part of the Itinéraires collection, this one was aged in a Sassicaia cask from Tuscany. It is 15 years old, but at 17 days short, it was 16. 272 bottles were put on sale.

Let's Taste It : 

The influence of wine is powerful, black grapes, tannins, blackberry soup, light and liquid soot. Forest honey, pine resin, cold ashes. Dark chocolate, coffee, a zest of lemon. Dried fruit, dates, figs. Persistent woodiness. On the palate, it is smooth, fruity, very ripe pear, candied fruit, vast and intense spices, clove, cumin, pepper. Creamy vanilla, coconut milk. Long finish, but not so powerful, black berries, various cereals, candied lemon, fried onions, some mineral and earthy notes. Charcoal and roots.

In Short, 

I tasted it twice. The first time, I liked it, but the second time, I found that the influence of the wine was too strong and that the overall balance was off. Perhaps what changed was how long the bottle had been open. But what is certain is that the wine is very present, and full maturation in wine barrels is risky. I don't think it's advisable to buy this one, especially as the price is very high. 

Score : 87

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           DakhaBrakha - Carpathian Rap

Benromach 2002 Single Cask Collection Itinéraires 22 yo

 

 

 

57,2°

Distillery : Benromach - Speyside 

1st Fill Bourbon Barrel

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 12 ppm

 

 

 

After being the subject of an entire series within the Artist range last year, the distillery is continuing its partnership with La Maison du Whisky and has allowed the latter to select this cask from their warehouses. Having aged for 22 years, 6 months, three weeks and three days in a Single 1st Fill Bourbon Barrel, this is a pure Benromach. Only 157 bottles were released from the barrel, making it a rarity reserved for the French market. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It :  

A nose that is entirely typical of the distillery, very clean and expressive, with notes of fleur de sel, dry hay, light vanilla, floor wax, pine needles, melted butter, generous lemon squirts, grainy cereals, orange peel, pulpy mirabelle plums, fresh apples, a pinch of cinnamon and nutmeg. On the palate, fruit paste, with liquorice, and still that intense salinity, creamy honey, vanilla and citrus, herbaceous and woody notes, various spices. Long, powerful finish, lemon cream, slices of green apple, pine bark, curry, dried banana, malted barley, ferns.

 

In Short, 

This is truly the quintessence of Benromach. I've tasted better ones than this one, but I don't think any more authentic. The others were either aged in sherry or something else that diminished the influence of the distillate, or had a creamy profile due to the Bourbon cask, which was very pleasant, but again, the distillate wasn't as prominent. There's personality here, and even a lot of character, with salt and dry hay, abundant cereals and pulpy fruits. This is the bottle for all fans of the distillery, so much so that it's completely sold out today, despite its fairly high price. It's a shame, I would have enjoyed it.

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Kindred Valley - Why I'm Crying