Caperdonich 21 yo Peated Small Batch Release Batch N° CP/002

 

 

 

48°

Distillery : Caperdonich - Speyside

American Oak Barrels 

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2020

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Slightly Peated 

 

 

 

The distillery also produced peated juice, surprising as it may seem, and apparently in sufficient quantities to produce five batches of 21-year-old whisky between 2019 and 2023. This one is the second batch, released in 2020, and we can be sure that the maturation process will not distort the distillate. The level of peat is light, I don't know the exact amount, but in my opinion it is less than 20 ppm. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

It is very balanced, light and rustic, very fresh apples and citrus fruits, cut hay and herbaceous notes, with a fairly garden-like peat, cooked vegetables, orange peel with a hint of salt, freshly ground cereals. On the palate, slightly rough vanilla, roasted pineapple and chocolate-covered apple, the spices are quite intense, black pepper, cloves, cumin. Long and powerful finish, it becomes more earthy, with some dried fruit, old books, seductive smoke, tubers, nuts, lianas, truffles.

 

In Short, 

The peat adds that touch of personality that was missing from the distillate, making it more rustic and intense, with more character and contrast, but it still has a beautiful balance. A very good experience for me, it's a shame that the price means I can't afford to buy it. 

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Mia Marlene - Witching Hour

Caperdonich 21 yo Small Batch Release Batch N° CA/002

 

 

 

48°

Distillery : Caperdonich - Speyside

1st Fill American Oak Barrels

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition  

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2020

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated 

 

 

 

This bottling series was released well after the distillery closed in 2002. There were five batches, dating from 2019 to 2023. This is the second, so it was bottled in early 2020, just before lockdown. The ageing process is not complex, leaving plenty of room for the distillate to shine. No idea how many bottles were produced.  

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Creamy and braised vanilla, delicate floral notes, lilac, lily, candied fruit, orange, banana, shortbread biscuits dusted with icing sugar, green apple, fresh pear, small clementines, mirabelle plums. On the palate, it is silky smooth, pear purée, beaten egg whites, whipped cream, a generous dash of vanilla, very subtle spices. The finish is pleasant, walnuts and hazelnuts, English cream, a pinch of coconut, wood shavings, white chocolate, cake batter, sponge cake. Peanut butter.

 

 

In Short, 

It is delicate, airy and smooth, but the fruit flavours are varied and complex, with a slight sweetness. It is very well made, but perhaps it lacks a little personality to make it stand out more. In any case, I found it very pleasant to drink. The price is based on the rarity of the product, not its quality, which is why it is so high. 

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :  

                                           Dzivia - Flower Maiden

Octomore 2019 Edition 16.1 The Impossible Equation 5 yo

 

 

 

59,3°

Distillery : Bruichladdich - Islay

1st Fill Bourbon Casks 

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 101,4 ppm

 

 

 

The first version of the 16th Octomore batch is like the others, aged in Bourbon casks and made with Concerto barley from mainland Scotland. Each time, it's the same, and each time, there are a few small differences, which are always nice to notice.  

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Very creamy nose, but not like pastry cream, with a pile of peat and a medicinal touch, dried heather, almonds, cut hay, intense mineral notes, vanilla and lemon, but in the background, semi-salted butter, barley sugar, apricot jam and floral fragrances. On the palate, roasted hazelnuts, coconut, salted and creamy caramel, green apple, seaweed, ginger. Abundant peat and spices. Very long, very well-crafted finish, a generous pinch of salt, marzipan, chimney fire, dark chocolate and mint, honey, ether. Intense pepper and lots of smoke.

 

In Short, 

Since 12.1, I have found the Octomore .1 series to be consistently excellent. 13.1 and 15.1 were very elegant, and this one is more rustic, more country-style, but still with a certain elegance. Farmhouse touches rub shoulders with mineral notes, fruit and sweetness meet peat. Honestly, it's expensive, but I don't find the price that excessive. 

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Patriarkh - Wierszalin IV

Caol Ila 2012 Decadent Drams 13 yo

 

 

 

53,1°

Distillery : Caol Ila - Islay

1st Fill Sherry Hogshead

Independent Bottling 

By Decadent Drinks 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 35 ppm

 

 

 

Caol Ila and sherry generally go well together. Here we have a 13-year-old whisky that has matured in a single first-fill sherry hogshead, promising a beautiful fruitiness. 212 bottles have been released for sale. The Decadent Drams range was launched last year, succeeding the previous range, Whisky Sponge, which ended at the same time. Nearly 50 whiskies have already been released. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It :  

Creamy peat, chestnut cream and damp charcoal, pencil lead and fig, blueberry jam. A few red fruits coated in melted chocolate, smoked bacon, chimney soot, well-hidden mineral and earthy elements, quartz, sea spray, seaweed. Full ashtray. On the palate, it is deep, woody, honey and caramel, strawberry coulis, a good layer of peat, varnish, old leather, mastered spices. On the finish, burnt rubber, it is long, powerful, but not quite explosive, a touch of iodine and dust, exotic fruits, coffee beans. A mint leaf. 

 

In Short, 

Yes, it's a particularly good Sherry Caol Ila, but I'm not entirely convinced. Admittedly, the balance is very good, the fruity notes and peat are not overpowering, and you can detect the subtle characteristics of the distillate, but it lacks that little something extra, that touch of genius that would make it perfect. What's more, the price is still very high for what it is, let's not exaggerate.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Calva Louise - Camino

An Islay Distillery 19 yo Macbeth A Whisky Collection The Witches Series First Witch

 

 

 

51,7°

Distillery Officially Unknown - Islay

Pedro Ximénez Sherry Butts 

Independent Bottling 

By Elixir Distillers 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 54 ppm

 

 

 

Seventeen bottlings have already been released, from 17 different distilleries, to illustrate the first 17 characters in the tragedy of Macbeth. That leaves 25 out of the 42 planned. And among the expressions in Act I, I hadn't had the opportunity to taste this 19-year-old from the island of Islay, which is in fact an Ardbeg. Ageing in Pedro Ximénez Sherry Butts should give it a fruity flavour. 1,800 bottles have flooded the shops.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Immediately, the typical Ardbeg heavy smoke, thick and charred, but also slightly sweet. Sharpening leather, fig cream, raisins, blood oranges, dark tobacco, and all kinds of candied fruit. Behind this, a touch of iodine and seaweed. On the palate, it is very intense, with oranges mingling with smoked bacon, blackberry jam sprinkled with cinnamon, dark chocolate, mocha, characterful spices. The finish is endless, powerful, chestnut cream, delicately bitter chocolate, damp black earth.

 

In Short, 

This is a truly memorable, even exceptional Ardbeg. The sherry is perfectly balanced and the peat is very intense without being overpowering. It's just perfect. Ardbeg has always been successful with its sherry cask maturation, and this one is no exception. That said, Ruben claims that it is a two-year finish, not a full maturation, but he is the only one to say so. In any case, it's a killer, sold at a completely crazy price.

Score : 91

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           New Model Army - Vagabonds

Glentauchers 27 yo Macbeth A Whisky Collection The Thanes Series Lennox

 

 

 

48°

Distillery : Glentauchers - Speyside

Refill Bourbon Barrels

Independent Bottling 

By Elixir Distillers

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated 

 

 

 

The exploration continues within the Macbeth Collection, a bold project launched by Rare Livingstone and Elixir Distillers, which consists of releasing an original whisky for each character in Shakespeare's masterpiece. So far, 17 expressions have been released, out of a planned total of 42. Here, a 27-year-old Glentauchers illustrates the character of Lennox. It has been aged in refill bourbon barrels and has yielded 300 bottles. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Nose full of creamy vanilla and orchard fruits. Golden Smith apples, Williams pears, peaches of all colours, nectarines, yellow plums, bananas. Some citrus fruits too, floral fragrances, varnished wood, beeswax. Cut hay, damp grass. On the palate, it is smooth and even fruitier, if possible, pineapple, papaya, mirabelle plums, coconut, crème brûlée, caramel and cereals mixed with honey. Dancing spices. The finish is elegantly woody, satiny, slightly smoky berries, dried fruit, walnuts and hazelnuts, candied ginger.

 

In Short, 

It's quite rare to find a Glentauchers of this age, and one aged in Bourbon Barrels at that. It has a lovely character typical of Speyside, with rich, pulpy fruit, sometimes candied, and beautiful floral fragrances. I would have liked a few mineral notes in addition, but it is already very good as it is. The price is of course too high for this humble servant, but it is well worth a few sacrifices. 

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           The Boo Radleys - From the Bench at Belvidere

Octomore 2019 Edition 16.2 The Impossible Equation 5 yo

 

 

 

58,1°

Distillery : Bruichladdich - Islay 

Oloroso Sherry and Bordeaux Wine Casks, Madeira and Moscatel Finish

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 101,4 ppm

 

 

 

The 16th batch of Octomore has a rather complicated second version: aged in Oloroso sherry and Bordeaux wine casks, it was then finished for a year in Madeira and Moscatel wine casks. The result is bound to be at least a little fruity. The barley used is Concerto from mainland Scotland.  

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Suffocating, intoxicating, blinding smoke. Quite dry, full of soot and charcoal, thick, almost solid. Iodine and limestone, salt deposits, stalactites. And behind that, raspberries, a few strawberries, cranberry jam. At the very bottom, crispy cereals, muesli, puffed rice. Pastry cream, rustic woodiness, brown sugar. On the palate, it is silky, light, evanescent, a bubble of icing sugar on a honey and walnut cake, then intense spices, cumin, black pepper, chilli. Very slight touch of bitterness. Extremely violent and long finish, cola, damp leather, salt dough, charcoal nuggets, apricot juice, dates, egg cream, brewer's yeast, basalt and granite rocks.

 

In Short, 

Octomore still has that magical, contrasting character, between fruit, subtlety and enormous smoke, like a tidal wave. However, this time, the balance is less effective. You can smell the alcohol on the nose, and the spices are very strong on the palate. So I'm a little disappointed, but I'm still giving it a very good rating, because all of this is made up for by the totally incredible finish, which is as long as it is complex and devastating. In short, it's not as good as usual, but it's still a success. Obviously, the price is very high, but what is money after all?

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Pile - Bouncing in Blue

Lagavulin 12 yo Special Release 2025 Grain & Embers

 

 

 

56,5°

Distillery : Lagavulin - Islay

Refill Casks, Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso Seasoned Casks

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 38 ppm

 

 

 

It is always a pleasure to see the return of the Diageo Special Release range, which comes out every year around September, particularly Lagavulin, since it is the most famous bottling and the only one that is released every year. Here, the maturation process is somewhat unusual, as Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso Seasoned Casks have been added to the more traditional Refill Casks. Let's hope it's more successful than the 2022 and 2023 experiments, which I didn't particularly like.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

At first, it's iodine and the tide, sea spray, and strong mineral notes, gypsum cliffs, limestone, quartz, slate. Rocky peat, with a hint of caramel and vanilla, seductive smoke full of soot, then there are ripe plums, crushed bananas, pastry cream, brown sugar, old wood, lemon and a zest of pineapple, papaya, prickly pear. On the palate, it is very mellow, white grapes and lychee, dragon fruit, then very powerful spices, cloves, cumin and chilli. Rose water. Long and delicately intense finish, white chocolate, dry earth, blond tobacco, lime, a slight woody and bitter note at the end.

 

In Short, 

There has been a lot of criticism of this one, both from those who demand the same Bourbon Cask maturation every year, and from those who were hoping for a genuine Cask Strength Sherry bottling. Personally, I liked it. I see no reason to be disappointed, as it retains the typical characteristics of Lagavulin 12 Year Old, with its mineral and iodine notes, heady peat and tobacco. The additional casks just add a little more fruitiness and sweetness, which is a plus. Indeed, a totally sherry cask strength bottling would be a good idea, perhaps another time, but in the meantime, this one is not bad at all. It's only the price, which is too high, that prevents me from buying it. 

Score : 89 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Kirlian Camera - K-Pax