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

Ardmore 2009 Artist #15 The Dark Side of the Moon 15 yo

 

 

 

57°

Distillery : The Ardmore - Highlands

1st Fill Pedro Ximénez Sherry Finish

Independent Bottling 

By La Maison du Whisky 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 12 ppm

 

 

 

Once again selected from casks stored in Signatory Vintage's warehouses, this 15-year-old Ardmore was finished in a first-fill Pedro Ximénez sherry hogshead, yielding 337 bottles. The artwork chosen to adorn the label is entitled Identity Demands, by Sthenjwa Luthuli.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

A beautiful and thick sherry, enhanced by a slightly charred, dry and earthy peat. Red fruit coulis, blackberries, blueberries, pie crust with a pinch of sea salt, elegant smoke and toasted cereals, hot bacon and caramel, apricots and redcurrants. On the palate, creamy honey, a few drops of oil, fermented fruit, rare beef steak slightly charred in places, ginger, dried banana, various spices, cloves, black pepper. Long and explosive finish, liquorice, still-smoking cigar ash, coffee and dark chocolate, a few exotic fruits rubbed on varnished wood, semi-salted butter, malted barley.

 

In Short, 

This is a very well-made sherry, thoroughly successful, with a touch of originality. There are also coastal notes and some remnants of the distillery's profile, but the balance is still very good. The price is a little high, but fans of sherry and the distillery will find it well worth it.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Lor3l3i - Ghost

Ben Nevis 2015 Artist #15 The Dark Side of the Moon 10 yo

 

 

 

58,3°

Distillery : Ben Nevis - Highlands

1st Fill Sherry Finish

Independent Bottling 

By La Maison du Whisky

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Almost Unpeated 

 

 

 

This year, the Artist range is launching not one, but two series. The first was Something in the Water, created in collaboration with Elixir Distillers. The second is this one, The Dark Side of the Moon, created with the assistance of Signatory Vintage. And I'm starting with this 10-year-old Ben Nevis, finished in a first-fill sherry butt. 655 bottles were filled, and the artwork decorating the label is by Sthenjwa Luthuli and is untitled.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

A sherry at its best, with syrupy red fruits, blueberries, cherries, redcurrants, exotic wood, a drop of balsamic vinegar, subtle mineral notes and liquorice, blood oranges, dark melting chocolate, black damp earth, a hint of pepper, terracotta, dates and saffron. On the palate, liquid honey, argan oil, coffee, blackberry jelly, raspberries and wild strawberries, orange blossom. Spices mingle with wood. Very slightly vinous finish, chestnut cream, dry leaves, bark, dried apricots, red fruit paste. Pan-fried mushrooms with parsley.

In Short, 

An intense, dark and foresty sherry, it's difficult to identify the distillery's profile, but that doesn't matter because it's really good and original, dirty, full of personality. Ben Nevis whiskies always have something extra, and in this case, the cask is truly excellent. A few more years and it would have been truly great, though. As for the price, it's reasonable, so buying it would be no shame.

Score : 89

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Etta Marcus - Teenage Messiah

Blair Athol 2011 Cask Strength Collection 13 yo c. 6

 

 

 

57,7°

Distillery : Blair Athol - Highlands

1st Fill Ruby Port Hogshead 

Independent Bottling 

By Signatory Vintage 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

I tend to enjoy whisky aged in port casks, but I'm not sure how it will turn out with Blair Athol. This one spent 13 years, 6 months and 15 days in a first-fill Ruby Port Hogshead. Ruby Port is very sweet, and that could be overpowering. 310 bottles are available for sale.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It :  

Nose candied fruit, jams, it's mellow and sweet but with body, soft toffee, apple crumble, red plums, milk chocolate, roasted hazelnuts, cinnamon, a few blueberries, wild strawberries, raspberries. Ginger. On the palate, sponge cake, slightly drier fruits, stuffed dates, orange peel, cherry clafoutis, subtle cereal notes, liquorice stick. Lively spices, clove, black pepper. Fairly long finish, but not quite explosive, roots, nutmeg, pomegranate seeds, dark chocolate, a knob of cream, chestnuts.

 

In Short, 

The port is very present, with the distillery's typical mellow profile. There is a certain balance, but it still lacks a little personality. Again, however, the price is very reasonable, so it's worth giving it a try.

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Bachar Mar-Khalifé - Olive Tree

Jura 2009 Cask Strength Collection 16 yo c. 16

 

 

 

54,4°

Distillery : Isle of Jura - Islands

1st Fill Oloroso Sherry Butt Finish

Independent Bottling 

By Signatory Vintage 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated  

 

 

 

This native of the Isle of Jura certainly spent its early years in a Bourbon cask before being finished in a 1st Fill Oloroso Sherry Butt. 677 bottles were produced. It seemed to me that it was very slightly peaty, but apparently not. Not to be confused with its sister cask, Cask 15, distilled and bottled on almost the same day, with the same finish.

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

A sweet and slightly floral sherry with red fruits, but above all dried fruits, dates, nuts, figs and a square of dark chocolate. Pine needles, salty notes but also a little earthy. Wood varnish, sticky resin. On the palate, olive oil, dried apricots, quince jam, with a slight acidity, but also woody notes, mahogany, forest honey. Various spices, cinnamon, nutmeg, black pepper. Long and powerful finish, damp leather, roasted almonds, dried herbs, fruit jellies, caramel and resin. Thyme.

 

In Short, 

The sherry is very present and blends quite well with the distillery's profile, but it still dominates. This makes for a good whisky, with a very successful nose and finish, but there are a few flaws on the palate. The price is reasonable, so it's worth giving it a try. Refill casks would have been better, though.

Score : 89 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

                                            Japanese Breakfast - Honey Water

Speyside (M) 2009 Exceptional Cask 100 Proof Edition #13 16 yo

 

 

 

57,1° (100° Proof)

Distillery Officialy Unknown - Speyside

Olroso Sherry Butts

Independent Bottling 

By Signatory Vintage 

Limited Edition

Single Malt

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured 

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

We are already at the 13th Exceptional Cask in the 100 Proof range, launched in January 2024. There's no point in hiding it, this is a Macallan, aged in Oloroso Sherry Butts for 16 years. So this is a real rarity we have here.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

A pulpy and mellow sherry, intense and dark. Soaked wood, red fruit salad, redcurrants, watermelon, blueberries, chocolate coulis, balsamic vinegar, walnuts and dates, coq au vin, orange peel, melted caramel, blackberry jelly, damson plums. Very slight hint of sulphur. On the palate, thick honey, raspberries and red peppers, dark chocolate squares and stretto coffee, grilled hazelnuts, roasted almonds, Agen prunes, cinnamon galore, nutmeg, cloves and a good pinch of pepper. Fairly long, powerful finish with notes of charcoal, terracotta, goji berries, coppery reflections, intense and varied spices, black and damp earth with small mushrooms. Forest undergrowth.

 

In Short, 

This Macallan is truly superb. The sherry is intense and deep, giving rise to extreme and varied flavours. At the same time, it is not overpowering, on the contrary, it releases the aromas. Given the rarity of the product and the incredibly low price, if you are even slightly fond of this profile, don't hesitate. My opinion is that it won't stay on the market for long.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Telenova - The Deep

Ben Nevis 2015 Whisky Live Paris 2025 10 yo

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : Ben Nevis - Highlands

1st Fill Oloroso Sherry Butt Finish

Independent Bottling 

By Signatory Vintage

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Almost Unpeated

 

 

 

Signatory Vintage was responsible for the special bottling in honour of Whisky Live Paris 2025, and for the occasion we were provided with this Ben Nevis finished in a 1st Fill Oloroso Sherry Butt. We don't know how long the second maturation lasted, nor where the first one took place, but at least it's a Single Cask. 856 bottles were on sale, exclusively at the exhibition shop. I assume it's non-chill filtered and non-coloured, because it's Signatory Vintage, but there's no mention of this anywhere.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

It starts off airy, then develops into thick sherry, crushed cherries, redcurrant jam, raspberry coulis. Traces of charcoal, floral notes, light iridescent smoke, a pinch of salt and a few malted cereals. Smooth and sparkling woodiness reminiscent of the distillery's profile. On the palate, there are fewer red fruits, but it is sweeter, juicy pears and orange peel, raisins, dates, various spices, pepper, nutmeg, cumin. The finish is quite long and punchy, charcoal, coastal notes, soft sand, iodine, caramel and liquorice, dark tobacco, marzipan.

 

In Short, 

It's very pleasant to drink, the sherry does its job well, but you lose a little of the distillery's profile. For me, it's a good whisky with a strong sherry presence. It's well made and complex, but it lacks originality, I've drunk plenty of big sherries like this. What's more, it's reduced. On the plus side, the price is really low for a single cask. That's why it's sold out everywhere at the moment.

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Fleurie - White Lace

Caol Ila 1984 Artist #15 Something in the Water 40 yo

 

 

 

51,3°

Distillery : Caol Ila - Islay 

Refill Hogshead

Independent Bottling 

By La Maison du Whisky

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 35 ppm

 

 

 

Sometimes you get lucky and come across genuine antiques, such as this Caol Ila, undoubtedly the pinnacle of this year's Artist range, having spent 40 years in a previously used hogshead, allowing the distillate to shine. Only 99 bottles have been produced, making it a true rarity. The artwork chosen to illustrate it is Meandering Through Relationships I, by Radhika Surana.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Very fresh nose, concentrated coastal character, lacey iodine, abundant sea spray, seaweed and sea breeze. Very light but present peat, which adds depth. Oysters, razor clams, fresh sardines, scallops. Coarse sea salt, sprinkled with lemon, grapefruit and a dash of vanilla. A few herbaceous and mineral notes in the background, slate, reeds, peppermint. Very subtle floral fragrances, wispy smoke. On the palate, it is oily, full of mineral salts, very balanced. On a layer of peat, bottarga, bulgur wheat, salicornia, sweet cereals, almond paste, lard. Very discreet spices, nutmeg, white pepper. The spices become stronger on the finish, which is endless, explosive, the salt leaning slightly towards mint, acacia honey, lemon zest, liquorice. Then, soot and charcoal bring back all the peat and smoke.

 

In Short, 

It's truly magnificent, we really have all the essence of Caol Ila, incredible depth and complexity, and it goes in all directions. It is one of those wonderful whiskies whose tasting is more of a journey than an appreciation. The price, on the other hand, is as high as the International Space Station, it's really reserved for an elite.

Score : 92

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Michelle Gurevich - Feel More