Caol Ila 2010 Single Cask Collection Foundations 14 yo c. 311752

 

 

 

57°

Distillery : Caol Ila - Islay 

Hogshead and Oloroso Sherry Finish

Independent Bottling 

By Berry Bros. & Rudd

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 35 ppm

 

 

 

Caol Ila is, as everyone knows, the largest distillery on Islay, and independent bottlings abound, with the prestigious house of Berry Bros. & Rudd being no exception. But this one has been selected by La Maison du Whisky to be part of the Foundations Collection, so there must be something special about it. Aged in a Hogshead, it was then finished in an Oloroso Sherry cask, resulting in 265 bottles reserved in priority for the French market.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

This is a fine, classic Caol Ila with a strong, creamy sherry. Red fruit, amarena cherries and candied raspberries, a slice of bacon and a hint of iodine, enhanced by woody notes, leather and dates, figs. The palate is expressive but a little dry, with redcurrants, liquorice and a pinch of salt. Lively spices, pepper, cloves, nutmeg, mixed with hot toffee and a few cereals. Long finish, where the peat finally comes through, thick, ashy, notes of earth, iodine, loamy charcoal, elastic, but also some blueberries, blackberries.

 

In Short, 

There's nothing really special here, it's a rather classic Caol Ila but very well made, with good balance and subtle nuances. I did find it a little gentle, though, as I only felt the power of the peat in the finish. It will appeal to those who prefer very well-integrated peat. On the other hand, the price seems a bit high to me,  so it's better to wait for a promotion, it's still available at La Maison du Whisky, but not for long I think.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Solarcycles - Moonblind

SMWS 2011 39.278 Plums in the Spice Cupboard 11 yo

 

 

 

61,6°

Distillery : Linkwood - Speyside

1st Fill Ex-Bourbon Barrel 

Independent Bottling 

By Scotch Malt Whisky Society

Limited Edtion 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

At the Scotch Malt Whisky Society, the figures are starting to look dizzying. This is already the 278th bottling of Linkwood in 2023. After all, Pip Hills and his friends have been churning out whisky for 42 years. This Linkwood could not be more classic, with an ageing process that is a credit to the distillate. 225 bottles came out of the cask.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Influenced by the title, I think of plums of all colours, but also raspberry marmalade, chocolate-covered pear, delicate floral notes, birch bark, candied lemons, red apples, and a few forest touches. On the palate, the strength of the alcohol makes itself felt, but it remains very fruity, with dried apricots, pears, watermelon and a good measure of pepper. The finish is fairly violent, but not too long, with ginger, cloves, pineapple, prickly pear, cashew nuts, hazelnuts and a drop of charcoal.

 

In Short, 

It's a bit high in alcohol, and that doesn't go very well with the subtlety of the aromas, that's what I thought. What's more, it's quite fruity, but not the deluge of fruit you'd expect from Linkwood. In short, it's a good whisky, complex, imposing, but not up to what you'd expect. It's much better with a few drops of water. It's not expensive, but very hard to find.

Score : 88  

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Junodream - White Whale

Caperdonich 1996 Cadenhead's Closed Distilleries 20 yo

 

 

 

46,4°

Distillery : Caperdonich - Speyside

Bourbon Hogshead

Independent Bottling 

By William Cadenhead Limited

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2017

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

Caperdonich is a distillery that closed in 2002 and was destroyed in 2010. It is impossible to reopen it, as they did with Brora and Port Ellen. Its bottlings are therefore condemned to oblivion, but before that happens, I managed to hold on to this one, aged 20 years and released by Cadenhead. The simple maturation process preserves the distillate, and 264 bottles were produced.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Candied lemon, dash of creamy vanilla, warm brioche, breadcrumbs, soufflé. Soft doughnut sprinkled with icing sugar. Sweet pears, green grapes, melon and prickly pears. Some floral and herbaceous tones, freshly cut grass, wild mint leaf. In the background, light wax, a little liquid. Marshmallow. On the palate it's a tad light but fresh, airy and very well balanced. Lime, dried fruit, delicate woodiness, peach stones. More ripe orchard fruits and discreet spices, ginger, cloves. Quite long, syrupy finish, still fruity, beeswax, rosewater. Some cereals. 

In Short, 

It's very well made, light and subtle, typically Speyside, pastry-like and delicate, full of sunshine and sweetness. For fans of the profile, Caperdonich seems to be a hidden treasure, perhaps close to being gone forever. This one is, of course, sold out everywhere, but is still sometimes found at auction.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

                                           Abøn - Morphus

Caol Ila 2011 Gifted Stills of Scotland

 

 

 

43°

Disitllery : Caol Ila - Islay

Bordeaux Wine Barriques

Independent Bottling 

By Jean Boyer 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2018

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured 

Peated around 35 ppm

 

 

 

Jean Boyer has released a number of Caol Ila in his Gifted Stills of Scotland collection. They're all aged in Bourbon casks, except for this one, which grew in Bordeaux wine barriques, from an estate in the east of Bordeaux. It could well be a Pomerol, a Saint-Emilion, a Fronsac, a Côtes de Blaye or an Entre-deux-mers. Wine Barriques are normally 225 litres long, and the number of bottles produced is 1180, so we can calculate that three barrels were used. As for the age, it does not exceed 7 years at best.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Beautiful, deep and grainy peat mixed with slightly fermented red fruit, tarry, earthy notes, damp bark, vegetal moss, mushrooms cooked with herbs, sultanas, redcurrants, hot chestnuts that melt in the mouth, stagnant soot, charcoal balls, a few drops of petroleum. On the palate it's very pleasant, dark chocolate, dried strawberries, bread dough, chestnuts, but the spices are quite strong, black pepper, nutmeg, cloves. The finish is rather long, but not very explosive, with chocolate-covered fruit, heather earth, lacquer, roasted hazelnuts.

 

In Short, 

We were several people who tasted it blind, and we were surprised by the quality of the product. Despite its youth and the reduction in alcohol, we found it to be a complex, deep whisky with a lovely peatiness that will delight connoisseurs. The price is a bit high, but it's worth it. Unfortunately, it has not been available anywhere for a long time.

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Black Doldrums - Mae's Desire

Dufftown 2008 Thompson Bros. 16 yo

 

 

 

51,5°

Distillery : Dufftown - Speyside

Oloroso Hogshead 

Independent Bottling 

By Thompson Bros. 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

You can trust the Thompson brothers to find the nugget among the little-known distilleries. This one is a Dufftown from the town of the same name, which spent no less than 16 years in an Oloroso Hogshead, resulting in 218 bottles.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It :  

Superb Oloroso Sherry cask, delicate woodiness, mahogany, peach stones, muscat grapes, red fruit tart, raspberry coulis, but not too overpowering, leaving an autumnal fragrance to the whole, dead leaves, dried grass, and a very slight charcoal note. Yellow wax, royal jelly, a zest of lemon. On the palate, it's more on the dried fruit side, with dates, figs and apricots. Plum jam, a few cooked mushrooms, a square of dark chocolate. Intense spices, nutmeg, cloves, cumin. The finish is long, woody, chocolatey, foresty, with some extra red fruit and marmalade, and a small slice of bacon.

 

In Short, 

Not only is this a little-known distillery to discover, but the cask used is truly exceptional. The Sherry is intense but allows the distillate to express itself. That's why it's a real must-have, and the value for money is incredible. But of course, it's impossible to find.

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           In Isolation - Middle Child Millicent

Ledaig 2005 The Single Malts of Scotland 14 yo c. 900171

 

 

 

57,9°

Distillery : Tobermory - Islands

Sherry Butt

Independent Bottling 

By Elixir Distillers 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2019

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 37 ppm

 

 

 

We tend to think that Ledaig is best aged in bourbon casks, but it's not bad in Sherry either. For that reason alone, you should try this one, aged in a Sherry Butt for 14 years and one day, and distributed in 2019 by the Singh brothers. 618 bottles came to the public, so maybe there's one left somewhere.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Very intense nose, with bewitching smoke and a deep and dirty Sherry, dates soaked in tar, torn leather, gas oil, fuel oil, cormorant, harbour smells. Figs and dark chocolate, damp earth, overcooked meatballs, but well spiced, maybe a medicinal touch, but not sure. Soot and seafood. On the palate, same ingredients, but fruitier, quince jam and bits of cooked apple, smoky wood, cinnamon, watermelon, prunes, more chocolate. A thick dose of peat. Very long finish, full of charcoal, of earth, cooked mushrooms, forest undergrowth, chocolate fondant, autumn leaves, humus.

 

In Short, 

But it's excellent! It's really the stuff I can't resist, really dirty peat and deep Sherry. Ledaig is perfect for that. Plus, the price is great, obviously it's sold out everywhere, now I know why, but if there's one lying around anywhere, let me know.

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Heartworms - Retributions of an Awful Life

Bowmore 2014 Old Particular 10 yo c. DL18875

 

 

 

48,4°

Distillery : Bowmore - Islay

Refill Bourbon Barrel 

Independent Bottling 

By Douglas Laing & Co. 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 25 ppm

 

 

 

At Douglas Laing, they bottle quite a few Bowmores, just 7 last year. Including this one, which spent 10 years in a Refill Bourbon Barrel before being delivered to the public in the form of 288 bottles. Old Particular is sometimes Cask Strength, but when it's not, it's always reduced to the same level, as in this case, 48.4°.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

An airy, crystalline peat combined with brioche and pastry cream. Small candied lemons, discreet notes of vanilla, exotic fruits, papaya, banana, prickly pear. A generous pinch of salt, rock, sea spray, foam full of kelp. Quartz and silica. It's very well-balanced on the palate, but a little light. It's silky, smooth, fruit pastes, barely perceptible oak, cooked apples, discreet spices, a nut of treacle. Long, very restrained finish, an ounce of charcoal, limestone, guano, wild honey, hot corn.

 

In Short, 

An excellent Bowmore, full of sea spray, with notes of lemon and exotic fruit. Everything you'd expect from this distillery. What a shame it's not a Cask Strength, that would be a marvel. But it's still very pleasant to drink, and bewitching. The price seems a little high to me, so best to buy on special offer.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           The Cacks - Remedy

Blended Malt Scotch Whisky 1999 Berry Bros. & Rudd c. 1

 

 

 

50,1°

Distilleries Officially Unknown - Scotland

Hogshead

Independent Bottling 

By Berry Bros. & Rudd 

Limited Edition 

Blended Malt 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

We often forget that Berry Bros. & Rudd, as well as being the UK's oldest independent bottler, is also a specialist in blends. It was they who launched Cutty Sark in 1923. This one was aged in the same cask for at least 23 years, yielding 324 bottles. It's a shame, but I don't know anything about this Blended, not the region, nor the exact age, and even less about the distilleries involved. All we know is that it's malty and Scottish.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

First of all, a very fine balance, with walnuts and other shelled fruits, a few dried fruits, dates, apricots and bananas on the one hand, and a delicate, vaporous, chiselled woodiness on the other. Citrus fruits, green apples, a certain spring freshness. The palate is similar, with wood and dried fruit, enhanced by a zest of lemon, spices that are lively but not too strong, and always a fine balance. The finish is quite long, slightly explosive, with blood oranges, earthy touches, burnt caramel and hot chestnuts.

 

In Short, 

It's a fine blended, well-balanced, with a nice continuity between the nose, the palate and the finish, which will satisfy fans of the genre. For me, it's good but it lacks personality and character. What I like about it is that it's a bit old school. Anyway, there's no point in looking for it, there's no information anywhere about it. Where to find it, at what price, I can't find anything. Someone must have kept all the bottles for himself.

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Layla Vaughn - A Love That Could Never Be