Cardhu 18 yo

 

 

 

40°

Distillery : Cardhu - Speyside

Bourbon and Sherry Casks

Original Bottling 

Core Range 

Single Malt 

Launched in 2011

Totally Unpeated 

 

 

 

This represents the top of the distillery's Core Range. It has more of a Sherry character than the 12-year-old, which is mainly aged in Bourbon barrels.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Very unexpressive, timid nose, egg custard, discreet cereals, vanilla cream, rye bread, sultanas, woody and slightly damp leather. Orange marmalade, runny toffee. A hint of blackcurrant. On the palate, it seems a little better, but it's still light. It's velvety, chocolate milk, watery pears, candied quinces, barely perceptible spices. Average finish, malted cereals, dried biscuits, raisins and lemon, chocolate chips, hazelnuts, cloves, ginger. Tobacco bits.

In Short, 

It's very disappointing considering the age. It's not bad in itself, it's just that it's very closed. Typical of a whisky that you barely taste. Harmless. Transparent. I had a hell of a time writing the tasting note, I couldn't think of anything to say. What's more, they put it at the same price as an 18 year old with personality.

Score : 84

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Cynthia Ruth - Good Years

Cardhu 12 yo

 

 

 

40°

Distillery : Cardhu - Speyside

2d Fill Bourbon Barrels and Sherry Casks

Original Bottling 

Core Range 

Single Malt 

Launched in 2005

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

Cardhu 12yo is one of the very first aged single malts on the market. There are specimens dating back to the 1960s. At the time, it was 43° ABV, and it was not until the 1980s that it was reduced to 40° ABV. And it was in 2002 that Cardhu 12 Year Old was changed from Single Malt to Vatted Malt, due to a lack of stock. This, of course, caused a huge scandal, and Cardhu 12yo Pure Malt was discontinued in 2004. The following year saw the resurrection of Cardhu 12 yo Single Malt, the one we'll be tasting today.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The nose is very light, but reveals lemon zest, spicy apples, blood orange, clementines, dried raisins, old prunes, mint jelly, and a few floral fragrances, half-wilted flowers. Plywood laths. On the palate, it's even lighter and a little acidic, green apples and unripe fruits, some discreet spices, lychees, cereals. The finish is a little better, at least it's well managed, chocolate, varnished wood, warm chestnuts, creamy vanilla, a drop of honey, a pinch of salt.

 

In Short, 

This is without doubt one of the worst aged Single Malts on the market. What's more, I find it a bit acidic, I must admit I've never liked it. Even so, I think it has improved a lot with time, the finish is neater, and the impression of eating raw orange peel has diminished. Of course, I don't recommend buying this whisky, this note is only there to prepare you psychologically to drink a dram at your brother-in-law's, or any other person who knows absolutely nothing about whisky, but who still has a Single Malt.

Score : 80 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Madonna - Like a Virgin

Ben Nevis 2015 100 Proof Edition #5 8 yo

 

 

 

57,1° (100° Proof)

Distillery : Ben Nevis - Highlands

1st and 2d Fill Oloroso Sherry Casks 

Independent Bottling 

By Signatory Vintage

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Almost Unpeated

 

 

 

This is the second Ben Nevis in the 100 Proof range launched by Signatory earlier this year. The first was heavily peated and the Sherry casks were refill; this one is barely peated, and the Sherry casks are more prominent.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Damp leather, red fruit, quince jam, prunes, smoky wood, cinnamon, viandox, tannins. Behind, fruity freshness, sparkling mirabelle plum, a drop of honey. Fruit pastes. Melting caramel. Alcohol averagely integrated. On the palate, lots of spice, liqueur-like raspberry, chilli, mustard, red pepper, steak juice. Very powerful finish, quite long, wood juice, spongy bark, cola, elderberry, raw chestnuts. Hazelnuts and chocolate. A hint of vanilla. Vegetal touches.

 

In Short, 

I found the Sherry too powerful and the wood had worked too much. The result is quite dirty and deep, which is good, but also unbalanced and very woody, which I liked less. On the palate, it's good, but very spicy. The finish makes up for all that, being intense, long and beautiful. The result is an uneven whisky, with some fine qualities but also many flaws. I didn't find any of the identity of this distillery, which I like very much. Nevertheless, it is more to the liking of enthusiasts, for its power and intensity. Personally, I'm not sure I'd recommend buying it, but I liked the finish.

Score : 87 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           VOLA - Bleed Out

Mac-Talla Oloroso Limited Edition

 

 

 

54,8°

Distillery Officially Unknown - Islay

1st Fill and 2d Fill Oloroso Sherry Butts

Independent Bottling 

By Morrison Scotch Whisky Distillers

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

 

 

 

Every year around Feis Ile, the famous spirits and music festival held on Islay, Mac-Talla releases a new limited edition. This one is the 3rd, and was aged exclusively in first and second fill Oloroso Sherry Butts from Bodega José y Miguel Martin. On some websites, I read that the distillate was aged for 7 years, and on others, 10 to 15. The first assumption is of course the most likely. 12 Butts were used, bringing a total to around 5,000 bottles. One site mentions a peat content of 30 ppm, which does not correspond to any of the levels used on the Isle of Islay, but Bowmore is at 25, and Caol Ila at 35, so the hypotheses oscillate between these two distilleries.

Let's Taste It : 

Dark, fruity, earthy Sherry on the nose. Light peat with a hint of minerality and sweetness. Blueberries, blackberries, blackcurrants, pie crust, custard, spices, brown sugar, cinnamon, wood and chocolate. Campfire, liquorice and tar. On the palate it's very decent, with red fruits and big spices, cardamom, cloves, blood orange, sultanas, a thin layer of ash. Long finish, earth and liquorice, espresso coffee and caramel, heather, cola, chocolate fondant, braised mushrooms.

 

In Short, 

An excellent little discovery, we don't talk about it much but the bottles are selling like hotcakes. The Sherry is very well integrated and blends magnificently with the peat, which is not too overpowering, it has everything it takes to delight connoisseurs. Bowmore often goes very well with Sherry, the fruit is intense and the iodine hardly noticeable, everything points to this distillery, especially as the Morrison family are one of its former owners. In any case, this is definitely a bottle up for grabs.

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Crying Vessel - For What It's Worth

Port Askaig 2004 Bourbon Cask 14 yo

 

 

 

45,8°

Distillery Officially Unknown - Islay 

1st Fill Bourbon Casks

Independent Bottling 

By Elixir Distillers 

Limited Edition

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2018

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured 

This is one of the many limited editions launched within Port Askaig over the years. According to highly informed people, it's not Caol Ila this time, but Bunnahabhain. This is the fruit of 11 first-fill Bourbon casks, the contents of which were distilled in 2004. If it is indeed Bunnahabhain, it is very rare to have peated liquid of this age from this distillery.

Let's Taste It : 

Smooth on the nose, with a more discreet peatiness. Slight maritime touch, but mostly white fruits and almonds. Waxy smoke, pastry cream and maple syrup. Vanilla and marshmallow. Behind, ocean air, sea breeze, iodine. Fig and chocolate. Light on the palate, but full of spices, orchard fruits, goat's milk, but also thick peat. Lychees, oysters. Long but not very explosive finish, liquid honey, hazelnuts, pine cones. Sand from the beach. A grain of salt. Churned butter.

 

In Short, 

The nose is very pleasant, with enough little iodine to make us think that this is not Caol Ila. On the palate, however, it's not very expressive and I have to admit I'm a bit disappointed. The finish is nice but not great either. Overall, I don't find this expression up to the standard of the brand's others. As far as the peatiness is concerned, Caol Ila is something else than Bunnahabhain. And I think I now know why Bunnahabhain only sells young peated whiskies. After a certain age, the distillate loses its character.

Score : 86

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Rival Sons - Soul

Williamson 2013 Càrn Mòr Strictly Limited 9 yo b. 2023

 

 

 

47,5°

Distillery : Laphroaig - Islay 

Bourbon Hogshead 

Independent Bottling 

By Morrison Scotch Whisky Distillers

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 43 ppm 

Morrison and MacKay, which became Morrison Scotch Whisky Distillers in 2021, bought a large number of casks from Laphroaig distilled in 2013. To date, they have produced 6 such bottlings, between 2021 and 2023, all named Williamson at the distillery's request and as a tribute to the woman who ran the distillery between 1954 and 1972. 2 are cask strength, and 4 are reduced, and of these 4, only one was bottled in 2023. The others are more difficult to distinguish. This one is a blend of 5 Boutbon Hogsheads that produced 1,798 bottles.

Let's Taste It : 

Right away, beautiful medicinal peat and limestone, betadine, bandages, coarse sea salt, sea foam and seaweed, sea breeze, iodine, kelp, star anise. Crushed white fruits, plums, yellow apples. Oysters, buttery vanilla, gravel. The palate is velvety and maritime, with a fine layer of peat, seafood, scallops and boutargues, custard and mirabelles, measured spices, pepper and cumin. On the finish, clove, bark, charcoal, upside-down ashtray, gypsum and quartz, mint leaf. Almonds.

In Short, 

A concentrate of Laphroaig, a beautiful peat that is at once medicinal, mineral and maritime. An intense experience, where you feel all the telluric vibrations of Scotland. And with that, the price is acceptable, it's worth it.

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Ghost Cop - Trouble

Knockando 12 yo

 

 

 

43°

Distillery : Knockando - Speyside

Bourbon and Sherry Casks 

Original Bottling 

Core Range 

Single Malt 

Launched in 2021

Totally Unpeated 

 

 

 

Like its elders from the same Core Range, Knockando 12 yo was created in 2021, because previously all bottles of Knockando were vintage.

Let's Taste It : 

The nose is light, evanescent, sponge cake, vanilla, ethereal white fruit, a drop of honey, buttered toast, grainy cereals, beeswax, apricots and mirabelles. Pastry cream, a pinch of icing sugar. Quite fruity on the palate, with orchard fruits, green apples and Comices pears, but also yellow plums, honey and a touch of bitterness from the wood, discreet spices. It dries out at the end, giving way to a short finish, which crumbles very quickly and disappears as if it had never been there. Candied lemon and banana.

In Short, 

It's a low-end whisky, and the question is whether it's good for the price it's offered at, which is often very low. And I don't really have an answer, the fact is that there's not a lot of pleasure to be found in it. The Sherry is nowhere to be found, it's just there to round things off a bit. The casks leave a bitter taste, and the nose is really light.

Score : 81

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Laura Murren - This Love is From Below

Old Perth Cask Strength

 

 

 

58,6°

Distilleries Officially Unknown - Speyside

Independent Bottling 

By Morrison Scotch Whisky Distillers

Core Range

Blended Malt 

Launched in 2021

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated 

 

 

 

Old Perth is a brand that was born in 1908, thanks to the efforts of Peter Thomson, a native of Perth in Scotland, who was keen to add an alcoholic drink of his own to his grocery shop. It was a Blended Whisky with a good reputation, containing Macallan and Highland Park among other things, and not much grain whisky. But in the early 1980s, the heirs had to abandon its distribution. The brand was sold several times, until it fell into the hands of Morrison and Mackay, an independent bottler. It turns out that one of the members of the MacKay family had once worked for the Thomson family. They relaunched the brand in the early 2010s, and it became a perfectly decent Blended Malt. Then, in 2021, Morrison & Mackay became Morrison Scotch Whisky Distillers, and the Old Perth range was completely revamped, aged only in Sherry casks. The distilleries used are unknown, but it is sure they are from Speyside. The demonstrator told me that they were distilleries famous for their Sherry cask bottlings. So Macallan and Aberlour come to mind.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Buttered sherry topped with caramel, intense and varied red fruits, blueberries, black cherries, blackcurrants, it's very velvety and round, raspberry jam, but also a zest of lemon, walnuts and treacle. Dried figs and apricots. On the palate, the spices are present from the outset, with caramelised leather and nutmeg. The red fruits are still there, with a round, velvety texture that's a great success. Cinnamon and nutmeg. The finish is fine, quite powerful, long, heather, cola, black pepper, chocolate cake. A few earthy touches, black mushrooms and bark.

 

In Short, 

This is a perfectly successful Blended Malt, well up to the standard of a Single Malt. Everything is very well integrated and the balance is perfect. It lacks a little complexity, it's really Sherry and nothing else, but it's very well done, perfect for enthusiasts. What's more, I can see that the price is very reasonable. A must try if you like Sherry.

Score : 87

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Van Der Graaf Generator - Darkness