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, Cask Strength

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, Cask Strength

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, Cask Strength

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

Elements of Islay Sherry Cask

 

 

 

54,5°

Distilleries Officially Unknown - Islay 

1st Fill, Refill Sherry Butts and Hogsheads 

Independent Bottling 

By Elixir Distillers 

Core Range 

Single Malt 

Launched in 2022

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 37 ppm

 

 

 

The third member of the Core Range at Elements of Islay is this Sherry Cask. It has been aged entirely in a variety of sherry casks and is a blend from two distilleries, one located on the south coast (rumoured to be Laphroaig) and the other on the north coast (certainly Caol Ila). To be more precise, it is said to be 65% Caol Ila and the rest Laphroaig.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Sherry, coastal and airy, even mineral, with just the right amount of peat coated in caramel and encrusted with charcoal, soot and fuel oil. Dark chocolate, brown tobacco, cigar ash. Apple compote, candied ginger, mint leaves. A hint of sea spray, limestone and seaweed. On the palate, it is unctuous, blood oranges, maple syrup, dried apricots and candied fruit, dates, quinces, burnt caramel, soft toffee, cloves and nutmeg. Lemon cake. Autumn leaves. The finish is quite long and powerful, biscuits dipped in tea, brown sugar, cinnamon, saffron, crème brûlée, cocoa powder. Roots, spread with molasses, and a very slight medicinal touch. 

 

In Short, 

The sherry is not too overpowering, you can feel the character of Islay, the maritime notes and a solid peat, although not very strong. That said, there is quite a lot of fruit, the nose is a little shy at first, then the palate is very rich, and the finish is enchanting. This makes for a beautiful bottling, complex and measured, seductive and easy to drink. Worth trying for fans of peat and sherry, but Uigeadail is the same price.  

Score : 87

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Tolstoys - Mad

Elements of Islay Bourbon Cask

 

 

 

54,5°

Distilleries Officially Unknown - Islay

1st Fill and Refill Bourbon Casks

Independent Bottling 

By Elixir Distillers 

Core Range

Blended Malt 

Launched in 2022

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 37 ppm

 

 

 

In 2022, when the Elements of Islay range was revamped, this stuff appeared. I imagine it more or less replaces Peat Full Proof, which disappeared at the same time. You might think it's the same as Cask Edit, with a higher alcohol content, but that's not the case. Cask Edit is a blend of Bourbon and Sherry Casks, while Bourbon Cask has been matured entirely in Bourbon Casks of various types. As with Cask Edit, rumour has it that the two distilleries involved are Caol Ila (65% of the product) and Laphroaig (35% of the product). It is written on the box that there is one distillery from the south coast of Islay and another from the north, or several others. Some say that a third distillery is involved, but nothing is certain.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

On the nose, airy and coastal Bourbon, with sea spray and tide, seaweed and kelp, mineral notes, a good hint of coarse salt and iodine. Behind that, vanilla honey, caramel and lemon, cake icing, brioche. Thick peat, of course, soot and tar, fuel oil and diesel. On the palate, it is smoother, slightly oily, green apples and citrus fruits, herbaceous peat, bandages, lively spices, cloves, cumin and black pepper. The finish is quite long and robust, shortbread biscuits, pebbles, sand, mud, rustic wood and salty peat. A mint leaf. 

 

In Short, 

To be honest, it's very similar to the Cask Edit, which I tasted just before. It's just more intense on the finish, and more marked by the Bourbon casks. I don't see what's really better than Cask Edit, except for the finish. On the contrary, the absence of sherry casks means there is less complexity and balance. The price is reasonable, even low, but I'm not thrilled with the product, so I don't know if I would recommend buying it. 

Score : 86

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Ophelia Malory - Misunderstood