Benromach 2014 Single Cask Collection Itinéraires 10 yo

 

58,3

Distillery : Benromach - Speyside

1st Fill Sherry Hogshead 

Original Bottling

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 12 ppm

And the last Benromach selected by La Maison du Whisky to be part of the Itinéraires Collection is this one, a young and spirited whisky that matured in a first-fill sherry hogshead, for a total of 304 bottles. Made with Concerto barley and produced using a long fermentation process, this is a pure old-school bottling.

Let's Taste It : 

Very mellow on the nose, with greengages, juicy mirabelle plums, but also mineral, quartz, salt and chalk. The peat is discreet. Dried fruit, figs, pineapple, apricots, fresh walnuts and cashews. Some citrus fruit, damp leather and apple compote. On the palate, beautiful finesse, lovely woodiness, floor wax, milk chocolate, creamy vanilla, liquorice and ginger. Intense spices, salted almonds, orange peel. Long and elegant finish, creamy and herbaceous, dried mandarins and Conference pears, shortbread biscuits with fine sea salt, brewer's yeast, cooked egg yolk.

 

In Short, 

It's not that old school, it's a beautiful, intense sherry without being overpowering. The distillery retains its mineral profile, but I found little cereal or cut hay. It's nicely fruity and spicy, yet smooth and balanced at the same time. The price is more or less decent, so it's worth considering a purchase.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Leif de Leeuw Band - Small Town

Benromach 2009 Super Tuscan Wine Cask Collection Itinéraires 15 yo

 

 

 

58,2°

Distillery : Benromach - Speyside 

1st Fill Sassicaia Wine Cask 

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 12 ppm

Another Benromach selected by La Maison du Whisky to be part of the Itinéraires collection, this one was aged in a Sassicaia cask from Tuscany. It is 15 years old, but at 17 days short, it was 16. 272 bottles were put on sale.

Let's Taste It : 

The influence of wine is powerful, black grapes, tannins, blackberry soup, light and liquid soot. Forest honey, pine resin, cold ashes. Dark chocolate, coffee, a zest of lemon. Dried fruit, dates, figs. Persistent woodiness. On the palate, it is smooth, fruity, very ripe pear, candied fruit, vast and intense spices, clove, cumin, pepper. Creamy vanilla, coconut milk. Long finish, but not so powerful, black berries, various cereals, candied lemon, fried onions, some mineral and earthy notes. Charcoal and roots.

In Short, 

I tasted it twice. The first time, I liked it, but the second time, I found that the influence of the wine was too strong and that the overall balance was off. Perhaps what changed was how long the bottle had been open. But what is certain is that the wine is very present, and full maturation in wine barrels is risky. I don't think it's advisable to buy this one, especially as the price is very high. 

Score : 87

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           DakhaBrakha - Carpathian Rap

Benromach 2002 Single Cask Collection Itinéraires 22 yo

 

 

 

57,2°

Distillery : Benromach - Speyside 

1st Fill Bourbon Barrel

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 12 ppm

 

 

 

After being the subject of an entire series within the Artist range last year, the distillery is continuing its partnership with La Maison du Whisky and has allowed the latter to select this cask from their warehouses. Having aged for 22 years, 6 months, three weeks and three days in a Single 1st Fill Bourbon Barrel, this is a pure Benromach. Only 157 bottles were released from the barrel, making it a rarity reserved for the French market. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It :  

A nose that is entirely typical of the distillery, very clean and expressive, with notes of fleur de sel, dry hay, light vanilla, floor wax, pine needles, melted butter, generous lemon squirts, grainy cereals, orange peel, pulpy mirabelle plums, fresh apples, a pinch of cinnamon and nutmeg. On the palate, fruit paste, with liquorice, and still that intense salinity, creamy honey, vanilla and citrus, herbaceous and woody notes, various spices. Long, powerful finish, lemon cream, slices of green apple, pine bark, curry, dried banana, malted barley, ferns.

 

In Short, 

This is truly the quintessence of Benromach. I've tasted better ones than this one, but I don't think any more authentic. The others were either aged in sherry or something else that diminished the influence of the distillate, or had a creamy profile due to the Bourbon cask, which was very pleasant, but again, the distillate wasn't as prominent. There's personality here, and even a lot of character, with salt and dry hay, abundant cereals and pulpy fruits. This is the bottle for all fans of the distillery, so much so that it's completely sold out today, despite its fairly high price. It's a shame, I would have enjoyed it.

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Kindred Valley - Why I'm Crying

Compass Box This is not a Blend

 

 

 

50°

Distillery : Clynelish 

1st Fill Bourbon Barrels and Former Bowmore Finish

Independent Bottling 

By Compass Box 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 8 ppm

 

 

 

Compass Box has always had a history with Clynelish. Of the fifteen bottlings I have tasted from them, only three did not contain Clynelish. That is why, when the question of releasing a Single Malt arose, it had to be a Clynelish. That said, this is not the first Single Malt released by Compass Box. The first two Myths & Legends, dating from 2019, were already single malts. This one is a blend of seven first-fill bourbon barrels, into which some Clynelish distilled in 2015 was added. Then, in 2025, it was transferred for eight weeks to casks that had contained Bowmore since 2002. Finally, 1,278 bottles were produced, specially designed for the French market.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

A very coastal nose, salty, full of sea spray and iodine, but also a sweet fruity flavour, fine creamy vanilla, candied lemon, Belle-Hélène pear. Rustic cereals, a slight medicinal touch, forest and woody fragrances, a few spices, acacia honey. On the palate, peat makes its entrance, but discreetly, beeswax, almond milk, dried herbs, sleet, melted butter, and a slice of pineapple. Clove and nutmeg. Rich, fairly long finish, with a certain power, notes of liquorice, even aniseed, salicornia, eucalyptus, rosemary. It is vaguely floral, dried flower fritters, and hazelnuts.

 

In Short, 

A Clynelish that bears the mark of Bowmore, salty and coastal, but which also retains a very pleasant fruitiness, with hints of wax and ointment. It is very good, very successful, very close to excellence. Perhaps just a little young. The elegance of Clynelish blends with a certain maritime roughness. The price is nevertheless high, to be reserved for fans of the profile.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Black Veil Brides - Lost it All

Ardbeg Smoketrails Napa Valley Edition

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : Ardbeg - Islay

Bourbon Barrels and Napa Valley Red Wine Casks

Original Bottling 

Travel Retail Edition 

Single Malt 

Launched in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 54 ppm

 

 

 

The third Travel Retail bottling to be launched by Ardbeg is this one, a blend of Bourbon Barrels and red wine casks from Napa Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon apparently. It seems that the entire batch was bottled in 2024, for a release in January 2025. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Quite intense peat, greasy smoke, cotton candy, subtle fruity notes in the background. Spongy wood, braised damsons, blackberry jam, overwhelming iodine. Sea spray, foam, almond paste. Finally, earthy notes, dry earth, crumbling. Tannins, tar, liquorice. It's quite clear on the palate, vanilla, but peppery, aniseed, candy that melts under the tongue, olive oil. The spices become stronger and stronger, cumin, cloves. Soft caramel. Quite violent, long finish, chicory, caramel, dripping charcoal, lots of liquorice. Dried red plums. Fragments of lignite.

 

In Short, 

All in all, it's not bad, but there are some major flaws. In my opinion, the liquid is very young, which means that the nose lacks a little complexity, and it's very light on the palate. Fortunately, the finish is really pleasant and makes up for it a little. It's the worst Ardbeg I've tasted so far, offering little of interest. At the price it's sold for, it's too expensive for what it is, but luckily I got it on special offer. I'm not sure I won't regret my purchase, though.

Score : 85  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           High Vis - Mind's a Lie

Tormore 2002 Legacy Casks 22 yo

 

 

 

48,5°

Distillery : Tormore - Speyside

1st Fill Bourbon Barrel 

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated 

 

 

 

Among the 15 to 20 bottlings released this year in the Legacy Casks range, this one is the oldest. Distilled in May 2002 and bottled in the same month in 2025, it spent at least 22 years and eleven months in a 1st Fill Bourbon Barrel, yielding 140 bottles. Though it is not indicated on the label, several sources confirm that the age is indeed 22 years.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

On the nose, pine resin, candied lemon with some exotic fragrances, it is waxy, even slightly medicinal, and at the same time greedy, ointment and vanilla, a touch of coconut. Then, sand, a few mineral notes, and spices galore, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon. Elegant woodiness. On the palate, lemon coulis, it's creamy with grapefruit and tarte Tatin, ginger. But also blond tobacco, green liquorice, spices mingling with herbaceous flavours. Very long and quite powerful finish, with a pinch of salt, verbena, mint leaf, cardamom, cereal muesli, rustic wheat, malted barley. Crushed chestnuts. 

 

In Short, 

There's real character in there, and that's what I liked about it. Despite its intensity, it's perfectly balanced, with each stage of the tasting flowing naturally from the previous one. Everything seems logical and refined, yet original. It's a real success, and bodes well for what the Singh brothers want to achieve with this distillery. It won't be anything sensible or discreet, it reminds me of Benromach, or even Clynelish. As for the price, however, there's nothing revolutionary about it, it's still quite high, at least not for everyone, since it's sold out almost everywhere, less than two months after its release.

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           King Hannah - This Hotel Room

Arran 2014 Private Cask Collection Itinéraires 10 yo

 

 

 

57,8°

Distillery : Isle of Arran/Lochranza - Islands

1st Fill Bourbon Barrel

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated 

 

 

 

In the Itinéraires collection launched at Whisky Live Paris 2025, this Single Cask from the Lochranza distillery, formerly known as Isle of Arran, is sure to intrigue. Matured for 10 years and almost 9 months in a single first-fill bourbon barrel, it will showcase the distillate. 233 bottles are available for sale, suggesting that the cask was small, which promises a beautiful interaction with the wood.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Light and indulgent nose with a hint of wax, grainy cereals, pine forest, orchard fruits, yellow apples, Comice pears and a touch of citrus zest. Smooth and supple woodiness, mint leaf, ginger and a pinch of cinnamon. On the palate, it is creamier, candied vanilla, frosted lemon, herbaceous notes and acacia honey. Spices full of vitality but not overpowering. Long, full-bodied, powerful finish, glue and green liquorice, blond tobacco, dried fruit, dates, pineapple, hazelnuts, muesli, verbena, bay leaf. Fried onions.

 

In Short, 

A beautiful, well-crafted Arran, typical of the distillery but with a touch of originality nonetheless. Despite being a first-fill bourbon barrel, it is not overly fruity or sweet, but rather has notes of wax, forest and various spices. As for the price, it is a little high for what it is, so it might be better to wait for a promotion.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Horsegirl - In Twos

Daftmill 2011 Collection Itinéraires 13 yo

 

 

 

58,9°

Distillery : Daftmill - Lowlands

1st Fill Oloroso Sherry Butt 

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Farm Estate 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

As part of the Itinéraires Collection launched by La Maison du Whisky at Whisky Live Paris 2025, this Daftmill was aged for 13 years in a first-fill Oloroso sherry butt supplied by Bodega José y Miguel Martin, before being released in a limited edition of 300 bottles. It is a Single Farm Estate, which means that the bottling was entirely conceived on the Daftmill farm, the barley is grown and malted on site, the whisky is matured and even bottled on site.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It :   

Intense and honeyed sherry, red fruit purée, raspberries, redcurrants, apricots, milk chocolate, curry and goat's milk, hazelnuts, cashews, fruit jellies, and a hint of citrus fruits, lime, orange and mandarin. Cedar bark, pine needles. On the palate, the honey is more liquid, with a dash of vanilla, dry grass, jams, deeply present malted cereals, which complement the spices. A woody, elegant, long and powerful finish, with balsamic vinegar, pine resin, dry bark, ginger, crushed chestnuts.

 

In Short,

To be honest, I don't know what to think of this Daftmill, I've tasted it twice. The first time, I really liked it, but the second time, I found the sherry flavour much too strong, slightly acidic and unbalanced. I imagine both are valid, depending on when the bottle was opened. If the bottle has been open long enough, it's fine, but if it's just been opened, it's too strong. Other factors must come into play, but it's these small details that can turn a very good product into something excessive and unbalanced. In any case, the price here is far too high. Even if the whisky is as good as what I tasted the first time, it's too expensive.

Score : 88  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Humbe - Morfina