Irish Diamonds 2005 The Alambic Classique Collection Small Batch N°01 16 yo

 

 

 

59,4°

Distillery Officially Unknown - Ireland

Ex Burgundy Barrique Barrel

Independent Bottling 

By Alambic Classique 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2021

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

The Irish Diamonds Collection was launched in 2017 by Alambic Classique, a highly renowned German bottler. Since then, around fifteen expressions have been released. The name of the distillery is unknown, but there were only three in Ireland at the time, and Midleton does not usually produce single malt. That leaves two possibilities: Cooley and Bushmills, with the former being by far the most likely. However, the aromatic profile also resembles Bushmills, so we can never be certain. The whisky was aged entirely in an ex-Burgundy Barrique Barrel, it seems, and 268 bottles came out of it. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

On the nose, greengage and quince jam, with strong woody notes, melting caramel, liquorice, green apples, malted cereals. Vanilla and thick honey, red grapes, orange shortbread biscuits, dried fruit, very slight acidity. On the palate, it is creamy, jammy, malty, but it is the wood that stands out most, softened by caramel and plums, wax and a touch of charcoal, spices, soaked leather, rather candied fruit towards the end, grapefruit and damson plums. Explosive and long finish, full of character, tannins, cooked fruit, almost syrupy, treacle, bitter herbs, pine needles.

 

In Short, 

I found it difficult to appreciate this one, as I was given it to taste right after a very strong Laphroaig. But overall, I think I understood its value. It is very woody and fruity, the wine blends well with the whole, it has a powerful and pleasant character, it is a good product, which does not particularly have an Irish profile. If you can find it at a good price, there is no reason to hesitate. No reason to break the bank either. 

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

  

                                           Shadow Casters - Fade Me Black

Talisker Surge

 

 

 

45,8°

Distillery : Talisker - Islands

1st Fill American Oak Ex-Bourbon Barrels

Original Bottling 

Travel Retail Edition

Single Malt 

Launched in 2022

Unchillfiltered

Peated around 22 ppm 

 

 

 

This is the distillery's new expression, designed for travel retail but available almost everywhere. It replaces Dark Storm, which has apparently disappeared. There is some encouraging news about this one: it is aged exclusively in first-fill Bourbon barrels and is non-chill filtered. However, it is coloured, but this does not affect the taste. All of which makes it very interesting. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Earthy peat, animal sweat, wet dog, subtle coastal notes, pearls of iodine, sea breeze, seaweed, kelp, limestone. Candied apricots, treacle, varnished wood, caramel and milk chocolate, drops of fir tree honey. On the palate, powerful caramel, quince jam, it's slightly watery, dried banana, vanilla, lychee, and the distillery's typical peppery note. Fairly long and powerful finish, charcoal, liquorice, smoked wood, hazelnuts, Carambar, mint sweets, cola. Foam, sea spray. 

In Short,  

As is often the case with this type of bottling, it is a blend of very young and older whiskies, which means that the whisky oscillates between all the flaws of immaturity and a few more pleasant notes. Overall, it is not bad without being particularly interesting, except for the finish, which is powerful and quite long. I wouldn't recommend buying it, as it's more expensive than the 10-year-old, which I think is better. But if you're longing for Talisker and this is the only one you have to hand, it'll do.

Score : 84

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           deary - Seabird

Glenburgie 2011 The Fishes of Samoa 12 yo

 

 

 

59,8°

Distillery : Glenburgie - Speyside

1st Fill Bourbon Barrel

Independent Bottling 

By Archives 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

The Fishes of Samoa collection launched by Archives, a Dutch bottler founded by the same people who launched Whiskybase, has a really good reputation. Personally, I have never been disappointed. Here we have a relatively young Glenburgie, aged in a first-fill bourbon barrel for 12 years, 7 months and 17 days. 223 bottles are available for sale, with a very attractive alcohol content. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Immediately, yellow fruits, thick honey, mellow touches, mirabelle and greengage plums, straws, earthy notes, pencil lead, mineral notes, limestone, chalk, lemon slices, peppermint, wood wax, ripe apricots, waste oil. On the palate, crème brûlée, egg custard, crisp green apples, liquorice sticks, beeswax, light woodiness, candied peaches, all sprinkled with cinnamon, pepper and cloves, mashed banana. Beautiful finish, powerful and long, punchy, bread dough, marzipan, ginger, blood oranges, slivered almonds, reeds. Vanilla and mint.  

 

In Short, 

A very good Glenburgie, a little fruit bomb, and as it is young, with some more original, vegetal, metallic and mineral notes. This makes for a Glenburgie full of character, but where the fruit is by no means neglected. My only slight reservation is that I would have liked to taste it with six or seven more years of ageing. But the advantage is that it is very inexpensive, and there are even a few bottles still available, so now is the time to grab a bargain. 

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           La Fonda - Kaleidoscope

Glenburgie 1998 High Spirits To Celebrate Mr Stefano Cremaschi 40th Birthday 21 yo

 

 

 

53,6°

Distillery : Glenburgie - Speyside

Bourbon Cask 

Independent Bottling 

By High Spirits' Collection

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2019

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated 

 

 

 

I was completely unfamiliar with High Spirits' Collection, an independent Italian bottler founded in Rimini by Nadi Fiori at the end of the last century. Nadi Fiori has been in the whisky business for over forty years now, and it's fair to say that his products are often rare and exceptional. Here we have a 21-year-old Glenburgie distilled in 1998, distributed to celebrate Stefano Cremaschi's birthday, and what a wonderful gift that is. The nature of the cask is not specified, but based on the profile of the whisky, I would guess that it is a Bourbon Cask. Only 80 bottles in total were released, 40 of 750 cl and 40 Magnums of 1500 cl. I had access to one of these magnums.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

On the nose, beautiful springtime richness, dew at dawn in a damp and leafy landscape, fairly rich floral tones, wood wax, liquid honey, white plums, juicy pears, macerated almonds, yellow apples, slices of melon. On the palate, it is very oily, olive oil, lychee juice, rose Turkish delight, creamy vanilla, orange zest, quince jam, roasted pineapple, then spices settle into green tea, cardamom and pepper. Very long and herbal finish, grapefruit and honey, calissons d'Aix, white grapes, a pinch of salt.

 

In Short, 

A beautiful expression, where fruit is prominent but topped with delicate, oily notes of rose and almond. I think this is an excellent whisky, and what's more, the bottle had only just been opened when I tasted it, so I'm sure it will blossom and become even better. The price is of course significant, especially as it is a rarity and sold out everywhere, but it is one for collectors and die-hard enthusiasts. 

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           No Clear Mind - When You're Not Here

SMWS 2008 48.171 Berrylicious 15 yo

 

 

 

52,7°

Distillery : Balmenach - Speyside

Ex-Bourbon Hogshead and 2d Fill Toasted American Oak Barrique Finish

Independent Bottling 

By Scotch Malt Whisky Society

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

Founded in 1983, the Scotch Malt Whisky Society has now bottled nearly 15,000 casks in almost 43 years. Suffice to say, it's easy to get a little lost in all this variety and all these codes. Here we have a 15-year-old Balmenach which, after 12 years in a simple Bourbon Hogshead, was finished in a Toasted American Oak Barrique. As long as it's not mezcal or rum, I'm fine with it. 241 bottles have been produced, and at the time of writing, very few are still available. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It :  

Runny caramel and dates, varnished wood rubbed with Muscat grapes, woodland undergrowth, dry leaves, forest berries, roasted hazelnuts and peanuts, orange zest, whipped cream, a few candied yellow plums, possibly pineapple. On the palate, vanilla cream, coconut powder, intense woody notes, apricot kernel, smoked wheat galette, Basque cake with blueberry jam, very discreet spices. Long and fairly powerful finish, cola, milk chocolate, pieces of bark, resin, acacia honey. Vanilla pod, eucalyptus leaf. 

 

In Short, 

I found it very woody, even forest-like, but it's still a success. There is no bitterness, or it is almost imperceptible, the fruits are varied, and there is a good balance. I'm not very familiar with this distillery, so I don't know if this is typical of its profile, but in any case, it's very good. The release price was OK, but the price at which it's available today is a little too high for my taste. 

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Wild Horses - When I Was Younger

White Peak 2018 Thompson Bros. 7 yo

 

 

 

57,1° (100° Proof)

Distillery : White Peak - England

1st Fill Ex-Bourbon Cask

Independent Bottling 

By Thompson Bros. 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 10 ppm

 

 

 

White Peak is an English distillery located in Derbyshire, it opened in 2016 and has been quietly going about its business ever since. In 2022, they released their first expressions, but success has yet to materialise. They use local yeasts and a very long fermentation time of 140 hours, which should produce something interesting. But it was last year that two independent bottlings were released that got connoisseurs talking, one in Elixir Distillers' Whisky Trail collection and the other being this one. Aged for seven years in a first-fill bourbon cask, it yielded 247 bottles and attracted the curious. From what I have read, this is the 16th cask filled at the distillery. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

A nose full of character, angelica, agave, a pinch of salt and a tiny whiff of iodine. It is crystalline and citrusy, slices of lime, shellfish, light earthy peat, vanilla cream, toasted almonds, young and fresh wood, cooked egg yolk, spices and various cereals. On the palate, there is more fruit, vanilla and yellow plums, crunchy pears, still full of citrus, grapefruit and lemon. Light mineral notes, even coastal, salty, balanced spices. The finish is quite long and honestly powerful, wheat semolina, more candied lemon, ginger nuggets, almond paste, salt flakes, foam and moss. 

 

In Short, 

It is completely original and intriguing, light peat giving depth, while brewer's yeast brings notes of citrus and salty iodine. The very long fermentation intensifies the cereal notes, and the Bourbon cask appears to be of good quality, resulting in a beautiful fruitiness. Considering its age, it is a complete success, and what's more, at a reasonable price. Looking forward to discover older expressions. 

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Strange Fruit - Monopolar

Craigellachie 1997 Les Fûts oubliés 25 yo

 

 

 

50,5°

Distillery : Craigellachie - Speyside

Hogshead

Independent Bottling 

By Celtic Whisky Distillerie

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated 

 

 

 

Celtic Whisky Distillerie is a French distillery founded in 1997, but it is also an independent bottler that purchased a few casks a long time ago. These few casks are now bottled and ready for sale, now that the distillery and all its stock has been sold to Maison Villevert. Five have been released so far, and 17 are planned. This one is a 25-year-old Craigellachie, aged in a single hogshead for 25 years, 10 months and 25 days. As the cask was stored in the cellars of the Breton distillery, it does not have the Scotch Whisky designation. However, it is indeed a Single Cask and only 289 bottles are available, exclusively at Le Comptoir Irlandais in France. The label is the work of the visual artist Erika Raio. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Malty and honeyed notes, very subtle with wax and varnish, stewed fruit and soft wood, caressing spices, a whiff of smoke. Soft caramel, chestnut cream, candied apricots, juicy greengages, delicate floral scents, mirabelle plums. On the palate, Comice pears, lychees, it's soft and velvety, vanilla and grated coconut, raisins and dried figs, a pinch of cinnamon, oak bark. Fairly long, explosive finish, chocolatey, cereal, hummus, a drop of olive oil, a few crunchy nuts, green tea. 

 

In Short, 

It's not much like the usual Craigellachies, it's not as robust and there's less character, but on the other hand it's very subtle and honeyed, the wood is particularly well balanced, I really liked it. With this expression, you're totally in Speyside, whereas Craigellachie often has a Highlands feel to it, and honestly I prefer it that way. What's more, the price is incredibly low, perhaps because it doesn't have the Scotch Whisky designation. Definitely an opportunity not to be missed. 

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           SpaceAcre - Say

North British 1991 Zn09 Cyberpunk

 

 

 

45,6°

Distillery : North British - Lowlands

1st Fill Bourbon Barrel

Independent Bottling 

By Mava Spirit

Limited Edition 

Single Grain 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

It's been a long time since I've had the pleasure of tasting something from Zero Nine Spirits, a French bottler specialising in rum, but which also produces whisky. This one is a North British, a distillery located in the Gorgie district of Edinburgh, which produces only grain whisky. According to several websites, it has been aged for 32 years, but this is not specified on the label. The label may contain an error, as some show a bottling date of 2023, while others show 2024. A total of 244 bottles were produced.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

At first a bit waxy, the it is incredibly floral with light fruit, liquid honey, ripe white plums, mirabelles, greengages, Frécinette bananas, rose petals, tulips, dahlias, coconut, papaya, melon. It is also airy, with hints of barley sugar and caramel sweets. On the palate, it is smooth and fruity, creamy vanilla, orange zest, guava, a few woody notes, infinitesimal spices. The finish is long, almost explosive, the fruit becomes candied, vanilla icing, cooked parsnips, fennel, very delicate bitterness.

 

In Short, 

You don't recognise Single Grain here, there's no cereal profile or wood glue. It's particularly floral and fruity, very refined, and with a lovely long finish despite the low alcohol content. A total success if you ask me, and at a very attractive price. I'm even considering buying some, even though it's not at all my cup of tea usually. 

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

                                           Phaeleh - The Mist