Macduff 2008 Fàire - Orizzonti di Riccardo Furini 16 yo

 

 

 

53,5°

Distillery : Macduff - Highlands

Sherry Cask 

Independent Bottling 

By Hidden Spirits 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

A new addition to this series launched in 2025 by Hidden Spirits, which brings together three bottlings that illustrate the works of Riccardo Furini. This time, it is a Macduff that has spent 16 years in a sherry cask and yielded only 105 bottles. The artwork featured on the label is entitled Orizzonte. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The sherry is stronger, more intense, forest berries, deep spices, soft bark, black earth, chocolate fondant, heather honey, raisins, braised nuts, a zest of blood orange. In the background, a few discreet mineral notes. Elegant woodiness, mahogany. On the palate, it is rich and balanced, red fruit jam, dates, stuffed figs, soft toffee and a slight pinch of salt. Warm, spicy finish, cocoa powder, hazelnuts and cashews, roots, cooked mushrooms. Filled cabbage. Cinnamon.

 

In Short, 

I really liked it, it has a certain personality, ranging from forest notes to a slight coastal saltiness. The sherry gives it a lovely fruitiness, but also enriches the character of the distillate. However, it is still a little expensive, so I'm not sure if I would recommend buying it. 

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Möng - Ohilen

Allt-a-Bhainne 2008 Fàire - Orizzonti di Riccardo Furini 16 yo

 

 

 

52,5°

Distillery : Allt-a-Bhainne - Speyside

Sherry Cask

Independent Bottling 

By Hidden Spirits 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

This is a new series from Hidden Spirits, an independent bottler founded in 2013 by Andrea Ferrari, featuring the works of Italian painter Riccardo Furini. The whisky chosen to launch this collection is an Allt-a-Bhainne that has spent 16 years in a sherry cask, yielding only 105 bottles. The artwork featured on the label is entitled Dauni. It appears that the whisky is not cask strength, but the alcohol content is high enough to satisfy anyone. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The nose is cereal-like, toasted wheat, muesli, malted barley, but it is also airy, damp hay, varnished wood. Some dried fruits, raisins, figs, quince jam and a touch of chutney. Roasted hazelnuts, dark chocolate. On the palate, the sherry is a little more expressive, wild berries set against woody notes, sea buckthorn tea, greengages and a coffee bean. Crunchy cereals, melted spices. A lovely finish, quite long but not quite explosive, cocoa powder, candied orange peel, soft bark, lichen and moss. 

 

In Short, 

It's very interesting, the sherry gives it a slightly austere fruitiness, reminiscent of undergrowth, the distillate is elegant, and the age gives it a beautiful maturity. Unfortunately, the price is a little high for what it is, in my opinion, but fans of this profile will enjoy it. 

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Lucinda Williams - The World's Gone Wrong

Ben Nevis 2018 Hidden Spirits 7 yo

 

 

 

53,1°

Distillery : Ben Nevis - Highlands

2d Fill Sherry, Peated Cask

Independent Bottling 

By Hidden Spirits 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Almost Unpeated

 

 

 

Also part of the Glasgow Bus Series, this 7-year-old Ben Nevis has been matured entirely in a second-fill sherry cask, which was previously filled with peated whisky. This gives the product a smoky character, a practice often seen at Ben Nevis, but not with sherry casks. Only 150 bottles are available for sale. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The peat is not too strong, the smoke is evanescent, and blends effortlessly with salty and fruity, even mineral notes. Melting chocolate, ripe mirabelle plums, spicy wood, dried dates and figs. Cold ashes, burnt coffee beans, meringue cream and flambéed banana. On the palate, damp leather and oak bark, liquid honey, sweet plums, caramel cream. Shimmering spices and subtle smoke. A fairly long and powerful finish, resinous wood, blowtorch-caramelised sugar, greengage clafoutis, cocoa, dry earth and a hint of salt.

 

In Short, 

True to its pedigree, this Ben Nevis is intense, complex and rich, as well as full of smoke. It has a beautiful character, but with a certain subtlety despite the youthfulness of the product. A lovely bottling, worth buying as the price is really low. 

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Sledges - June is Better Than July

Blair Athol 2011 Hidden Spirits 13 yo

 

 

 

51,4°

Distillery : Blair Athol - Highlands

1st Fill Sherry Hogshead 

Independent Bottling 

By Hidden Spirits 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated 

 

 

 

Continuing my tour of new releases from Hidden Spirits, I come to this 13-year-old Blair Athol, part of the Glasgow Bus Series, as the label features attractive vintage buses. It was aged in a 1st fill sherry hogshead, so I can expect a fruity flavour. 215 bottles were released from the cask.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Mountain honey, studded with dried fruit, raisins, figs, dates, brown sugar and melting chocolate. Crushed walnuts, fresh leather, a hint of orange zest, but also some mineral notes, chalk, quartz and gypsum. A pinch of salt. On the palate, it is smooth and velvety, mocha fondant, with cinnamon and candied ginger, nutmeg and delicate woody notes, rustic cereals and freshly cut hay. Fairly long finish, brioche, soft caramel, orange chutney. A touch of iodine and salt. 

 

In Short, 

It's not bad at all, the sherry is really well integrated. However, the balance isn't perfect, the mineral notes are a little strong, but after all, that gives it character. This bottling has its original side, but overall it's very old school, which is charming. What's more, the price is low, so those who are curious should take an interest.

Score : 87

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Alice Costelloe - Anywhere Else

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

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