Auchentoshan 12 yo

 

 

 

40°

Distillery : Auchentoshan - Lowlands

Refill American Oak Bourbon Barrels and Oloroso Sherry Casks

Original Bottling 

Core Range 

Single Malt 

Launched in 2008

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

In fact, the first bottles of Auchentoshan 12 Year Old date back to the 1980s. But the alcohol content varies and it's probably not always the same recipe. The 12-year-old as it is sold today apparently dates from 2008, and is the result of a blend of Bourbon Barrels and Sherry Casks. It has been distilled three times, like everything else from this distillery. It really is the flagship of the Lowlands.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

On the nose, it's soft and delicate, but indulgent: custard, crème caramel, buttery vanilla, pulpy white grapes, reines-claudes and yellow apples, lemony fragrances, grapefruit and tangerine, sponge cake. On the palate, there's more lime and acidic pear, with a few spices, cloves and pepper, liquid honey and fresh cream. The finish is rather well done, but light, with chocolate and cola, woody spices, puffed rice, ginger and hazelnuts. Crushed almonds, sultanas.

 

In Short, 

It's really well done, I was expecting something light, and it is, but with real consistency. It's easy to drink and glides along on its own. It's not my favourite profile, and I think it's a bit expensive for what it is, but who am I to judge?

Score : 84

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

                                           English Teacher - Albert Road

Port Charlotte 2013 PMC : 01 Cask Exploration Series 9 yo

 

 

 

54,5°

Distillery : Bruichladdich - Islay 

Ex-Bourbon Casks and Pomerol Wine Finish

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 40 ppm 

Here is the sixth edition of the Cask Exploration Series. Made with Concerto barley, it was first matured in Bourbon casks for 4 years, then it followed a second maturation in Pomerol casks, one of the most famous appellations in the Bordeaux region. This second maturation is longer than the first and lasted 5 years. The spirit was bottled in March 2023.

Let's Taste It : 

From the very first nose, well-controlled vinous fragrances, noble wood, blueberries and ripe pears. Thick, oily peat, liquorice, melting caramel. Fermented grapes, plums, chocolate ash, tinder, heather. If's slightly syrupy on the palate, red fruits, blackcurrants, redcurrants, bananas, with a thick layer of peat, ash and charcoal. The spices are lively, cloves, pepper and nutmeg. The finish is violent, punchy but not aggressive, with charred wood, burnt toffee, dried figs and roots. Damp earth.

 

In Short, 

It's not the best of the series, the wine barrels overpower the rest a little and the balance isn't perfect. But it's very enjoyable anyway, especially the finish, which is very well mastered despite the violence. The price is a bit high, so it's best reserved for fans, which is why I've got one.

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           pg.lost - Suffering

The Singleton Sublimely Smooth 18 yo Dufftown Distillery

 

 

 

40°

Distillery : Dufftown - Speyside

Refill American Bourbon and European Sherry Casks

Original Bottling 

Core Range 

Single Malt 

Launched in 2011

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

The Singleton of Dufftown 18yo was released just three years after the 15yo, which leads me to believe that it is exactly the same juice, but a little older. This product, initially reserved for Europe, is now available all over the world. It is the distillery's oldest expression in the regular range. Initially, it was subtitled Traditionally Batch Distilled, then Perfectly Balanced and Smooth, and finally, as from 2020, Sublimely Smooth.

Let's Taste It : 

The nose is at last complex, with crème caramel, white chocolate ganache, a variety of pulpy fruits, apples, apricots, pears, bananas, pineapple, with a hint of vanilla and a zest of lemon. On the palate, it's still a little light, but it comes through: woody, floral, white grapes and rosewater, a pinch of icing sugar, very light spices. The finish is interesting, with toasted cereals, young wood, tannins, hazelnuts, almonds, cola, cloves and a very slight touch of bitterness.

In Short, 

You have to wait until it's 18 years old before you get something complex, a real profile. It's still a little too light in alcohol, and the cold filtration erases the flavours, but there's something appreciable nevertheless. I wouldn't go so far as to buy it, but it gives you a good time. Fans beware, the price varies considerably.

Score : 86

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Feist - Forever Before

The Singleton Fruity Decadence 15 yo Dufftown Distillery

 

 

 

40°

Distillery : Dufftiwn - Speyside 

Refill Bourbon, European Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso Sherry Casks

Original Bottling 

Core Range 

Single Malt 

Launched in 2008

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

The Singleton brand was born in 1986, when the idea was to bottle Single Malt from the Auchroisk distillery, but the gentlemen at Diageo felt that the name Auchroisk was too difficult to pronounce and would sell better under the name Singleton. The Singleton of Auchroisk was then abandoned, and it wasn't until the 2000s that the brand was relaunched, with three distilleries: Dufftown for the European market, Glen Ord for the Asian market, and Glendullan for the American market. The 15-year-old was later launched, initially for the travel-retail market. But today it can be found everywhere. When it was first released, it was subtitled Traditionally Batch Distilled, then in 2018 it became Perfectly Balanced and Smooth, and finally in 2020, with new packaging, it changed its name to Fruity Decadence. Unfortunately, it's cold-filtered and coloured, and the alcohol content is kept to a minimum.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The fruits are more pronounced, even tangy: blood orange, clementine, melon, lemon and grapefruit juice, juicy apples and pears, white grapes, prickly pears. Creamy vanilla in the background, with a few floral hints. The palate is still very clear, but a little less so than with the 12-year-old, still fruity, slightly honeyed, biscuity, with very light spices. The finish is decent without being really remarkable, barely long, light but a tad punchy, toasted wood, cereals, egg custard, vergeoise and sponge cake. Almonds.

In Short, 

It's exactly the same profile as the 12-year-old, only a little better. It's beginning to be pleasant, without being really interesting. The price rises slightly, but it's still cheap. You have to like light products, but it's not that badly made. Not my thing at all anyway.

Score : 84

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Merce Lemon - Backyard Lover

The Singleton Luscious Nectar 12 yo Dufftown Distillery

 

 

 

40° 

Distillery : Dufftown - Speyside

Refill Bourbon, European Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso Sherry Casks

Original Bottling 

Core Range 

Single Malt 

Launched in 2006

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

Singleton is a brand that brings together Single Malts from several distilleries, Glen Ord, Auchroisk, Glendullan, but the one from Dufftown is certainly the most widespread. It's chill-filtered and reduced to 40°, so you might think it's reserved for cocktails, but it can also be enjoyed neat. The first editions were subtitled Traditionally Batch Distilled, but the packaging and subtitles have changed over the years, with the current one dating from 2020 and subtitled Luscious Nectar.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

It's smooth and fruity, creamy, with clear and liquid honey, orchard fruit and floral touches. Yellow and green apples, Comices pears, a zest of lemon, ripe apricots, soft bananas and a few exotic fruits, pineapple, papaya. On the palate, it's unfortunately very light, but there's still a hint of light fruit with a bit of icing sugar, the spices are very discreet. The finish is obviously not very powerful or long, but it's well done nonetheless, with various cereals, whipped cream, meringue and mint leaves.

 

In Short, 

It could be quite good, but reduced as it is, and chill-filtered, there's not much left in terms of flavour. On the other hand, it's well-balanced and easy to drink. The price is certainly attractive, but even free, I don't know if I'd want it. Too shy and restrained for me.

Score : 83

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           The Sundays - Goodbye

Indri Drù

 

 

 

57,2°

Distillery : Piccadilly - India

Bourbon Barrels

Original Bottling 

Core Range

Single Malt 

Launched in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

It was in 1993 that the Piccadilly distillery was born in northern India, financed by a large group of the same name, which distributes spirits and films and manages hotels. Two other distilleries will follow, but it seems that the whisky, in which the group has invested since 2018, comes from the original one. This Drù was launched in 2023, and is presented as being Cask Strength, but I doubt that this is the case, as each Batch (there are 4 to date) is presented with the same alcohol content. I consider it to be part of the regular range, because 4 Batches in just one year implies a regular production flow. And there's no difference between the different Batches, apparently.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The profile is highly original, deeply woody, just-cut young wood, a few drops of sap, caramel and dark chocolate, creamed asparagus, braised greengages. Vanilla extract, orange peel, liquorice stick. Prunes. On the palate, cinnamon, mandarin, light vinegar. Hazelnuts. Melon, banana and tropical fruits. The spices are measured, cloves, nutmeg. Warm, lively finish, quite powerful but not so long, cola, liquorice rolls, oak bark. Dried apricots, quince purée.

 

In Short, 

It's rich and woody, without being too bitter. It's well-crafted and nuanced, and will delight anyone who likes an original profile and a full-bodied whisky, without being too peaty. If you look hard enough, you'll find it at a very reasonable price.

Score : 87

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Castle Rat - Cry for Me

Octomore 2018 Edition 15.1 5 yo

 

 

 

59,1°

Distillery : Bruichladdich - Islay

1st Fill and Recharred Ex-Bourbon Casks

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 108,2 ppm

 

 

 

I'm always happy to discover a new Octomore Batch. So, nothing particularly new for the 1st version of this 15th Batch, except that some casks have been recharred, that means burnt a second time with a blowtorch after being filled and emptied with Bourbon.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The nose is very smooth and elegant, with candied vanilla, juicy mirabelle plums and polished wood. The peat isn't all that strong, but the smoke is bewitching. Almond paste, crème caramel, wafers filled with vergeoise. Semi-salted butter biscuits. Very well-balanced palate, fruit pastry, buttery croissants, the peat is in the background, powerful but tamed. The spices come to the fore, but there's nothing revolutionary about that, the finish is very well managed, with a few notes of bitumen and waxed wood, but also exotic fruits, banana, mango and apricot. Melting caramel, wood resin. Ricola sweets.

 

In Short, 

After the 12.1, which was a monster of explosive peat, a concentrate of choking smoke, Adam Hannett sought to do something more elegant and balanced with the Octomore .1s. The first result was the 13.1, which I found a little too gentle. I wasn't able to taste the 14.1, but in my opinion the 15.1 is the pinnacle of elegance for a peated whisky, and therefore the culmination of the quest that began, somewhat clumsily, with the 13.1. It is also, in my opinion, one of the best Octomores in the .1 series, after the 12.1 of course. Taste it at least once in your life, whether you like it or not, and if you like it, it's without restraint.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           neànder - Aăs

Tomatin Legacy

 

 

 

43°

Distillery : Tomatin - Highlands

1st Fill Bourbon Barrels and Virgin Oak Casks

Original Bottling 

Core Range 

Single Malt 

Launched in 2013

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

Launched in 2013, this is the distillery's bottom of the range. From what I've read, 80% of it is juice that has spent 7-8 years in 1st Fill Bourbon Barrels, and the rest has spent 4 years in virgin casks. It's 43°, but cold-filtered and coloured.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Dried lemon and young wood, freshly cut. Pastry cream and orange blossom, sweet potatoes. Vanilla and coconut. The bitterness of the virgin casks is well hidden. The palate is unfortunately clear, but still correct, pineapple and grapefruit, mashed banana, lychee, lime. Wood chips and white pepper. A few herbaceous touches. Apple juice and peaches. Very woody finish, but also fruity, orchard fruit, icing sugar. Liquid honey. Caramel and cola.

 

In Short, 

It's not as bad as all that, the palate is very clear and the finish is light, but the nose is successful. The price is very low, so this is an opportunity to discover this distillery through the back door.

Score : 84

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Ella Fall - Like Mothers Do