Speyside Traditional Cask 16 yo Berry Bros. & Rudd

 

 

 

48,2° 

Distillery Officially Unknown - Speyside

Bourbon Casks 

Independent Bottling 

By Berry Bros. & Rudd

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

It is also the role of a bottler to offer blended products that are representative of a brand or, as in this case, a tradition. Producing only single casks is all well and good, but it also lacks creativity. Berry Bros. & Rudd, the oldest spirits merchant, rises to the challenge with this 16-year-old whisky from a mysterious Speyside distillery. It is not specified what is meant by a traditional cask, but it seems obvious that these are Bourbon casks. More specifically, it is said to be a blend of 30 casks of various ages, but with a minimum of 16 years. One website states that it is uncoloured, but all the others say the opposite. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

On the nose, creamy nuts and orange marmalade, springtime freshness that gives it a lovely fullness, orchard fruits, peanut butter, buttered toast, melted caramel, waxed wood, shortbread and crispy biscuits. It's pleasant on the palate, honey, green apple, a zest of lemon, slight touch of mandarin, brown sugar, and elegant spices, nutmeg, cinnamon, clove. The finish is quite long, going far, birch bark, green tea, dried raisins and apricots, earthy roots, toasted hazelnuts, perhaps a touch of aniseed or parsley. 

 

In Short, 

It's really not bad at all. It has a distinctive character, good balance and a full nose. I don't know if this is the traditional way of making whisky, but it's a success. It's something that lovers of the genre will find easy to drink, but you have to be prepared to pay a certain amount for it. Personally, I find it expensive for what it is. 

Score : 87

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                            To Be Listened While Sipping : 

                                            Bleach Lab - In Your Arms

Daftmill 2009 Fife Strength 15 yo

 

 

 

56,3°

Distillery : Daftmill - Lowlands

19 1st Fill Bourbon Barrels, 1 Pedro Ximénez Sherry Cask 

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

One of the things I like about Daftmill is the accuracy of their information. This one is the product of a maturation process in 19 first-fill bourbon barrels and only one Pedro Ximénez sherry cask. The barley used is Optic barley, and 3,840 bottles were available for sale. This is an annual series that has been around since 2022, so this is the third batch, and we are awaiting the fourth.  

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The nose is a little closed, but reveals some surprises. Buttered bread, shortbread biscuits, freshly cut raw wood, dry hay, French toast, apple pie, garden flower honey, mirabelle plums, creamy vanilla, ripe bananas, and a generous dose of lemon. On the palate, it is almost exclusively fruit, peaches, pears, apples, and perhaps a little exoticism, mango, papaya. Various spices, cinnamon, grey pepper. Powerful, fairly long finish, hazelnuts, sticky caramel, cooked fruit, grainy cereals, peppermint. 

 

In Short, 

It makes me smile when I read here and there that the single sherry cask distorts the distillery's profile. Yet it only accounts for 5% of the liquid. The influence of sherry is real, but very subtle, merely intensifying the product's fruity character. Which is a good thing, in my opinion. The result is a very good whisky that retains the distillery's distinctive character and has a beautiful maturity. On the other hand, I find the price very high. I know that the distillery's artisanal standards increase production costs, but still. 

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Ghostly Kisses - Blackbirds

Octomore x4 + 10 Concept 0.2 10 yo

 

 

 

70°

Distillery : Bruichladdich - Islay

Bourbon, Sweet Wine and Sherry Casks 

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2019

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 162 ppm

 

 

 

The Octomore Concept is a series of only two bottlings, the first released in 2017 and the second in 2019. The bottles are smaller, containing only 50 cl, for a highly experimental product. Here, the liquid has been distilled four times, which is very rare and increases the alcohol content. It was then aged for ten years in three different types of casks. 3,000 bottles were available for sale.  

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Extremely smooth and balanced nose, apple crumble with a hint of vanilla, lemon cream, papaya, a slice of pineapple. The peat is in the background, refined, chiselled, discreet. Green seaweed, kelp, a trail of salt. It is very iodine-rich and airy. After a while, you can smell cereals, hay, young and raw wood, herbal notes. On the palate, it is spicy but silky, lychee and white currants, pear, then pepper, clove. The finish is very long, even endless, extremely powerful, pieces of charcoal, cumin, a good dose of lime, grapefruit, asparagus. Vanilla peat full of gravel. Fresh mint.

 

In Short, 

Despite the very high alcohol content, it is perfectly integrated, and it is magnificent because it is so smooth and balanced. The peat is very subtle, and I challenge anyone to recognise this Octomore in a blind tasting. It is truly incredible and worth exploring for any whisky lover. Unfortunately, the price is huge, and it's prohibitive. What's more, it is very difficult to find it after all these years.  

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Sutej Singh - Oceans Apart

Bowmore 26 yo French Oak Barrique The Vintner's Trilogy

 

 

 

48,7°

Distillery : Bowmore - Islay 

Ex-Bourbon Barrels and French Oak Wine Finish

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2017

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 25 ppm 

 

 

 

This sample comes from another era, when Bowmore was often the subject of intense ageing experiments with wine casks. This is less often the case today. Here, the whisky has been aged for 13 years in ex-bourbon barrels, then for exactly the same number of years in French oak wine casks. So it's not really a finish, but rather a second maturation. Despite the low alcohol content, it does appear to be a cask strength bottling, as several websites point out. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

A moist breeze laden with red berries, fermented cherries, coffee and dates, raspberry coulis, lacquered wood, chocolate icing, blueberry tart, concentrated redcurrants. Almond paste, candied apples. Smoke is in the background, barely perceptible, flecks of soot here and there, sloshing peat. Fig biscuits. Pearls of iodine. Despite a tiny lack of power on the palate, it is a marvel, lychees, orgeat syrup, rose Turkish delight, pear brandy, white grapes, and more red fruits galore. The spices are not so light, pepper, grated nutmeg, cardamom. The finish is not very powerful, but extremely long, hazelnut butter with a pinch of salt, dried bananas, chestnut cream, scrambled eggs, pan-fried mushrooms. Squares of milk chocolate, coffee grounds.

 

In Short, 

In all honesty, it had been a long time since I had tasted whisky of this quality. It's something that isn't done anymore, I'm afraid. It just goes to show that cask finishing can produce something exceptional, as is the case here. It's brilliant because on the one hand you have the influence of the ex-bourbon barrels, bright, smooth and mellow, and on the other, the intense fruitiness of the wine casks. Wonderful tension between the two. This is the second member of the Vintner's Trilogy that I've tasted, so now I only have one left, the oldest. As for the price, unfortunately it's enormous. It's a bit discouraging. 

Score : 91

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                            To Be Listened While Sipping : 

                                            Johann Johannsson - Flight From the City

Bunnahabhain 12 yo Cask Strength 2025 Edition

 

 

 

56,4°

Distillery : Bunnahabhain - Islay

1st Fill and Refill Oloroso Sherry Casks

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Almost Unpeated 

 

 

 

This is the fourth edition of the 12 Year Old Cask Strength, a series that was launched in 2021. If the numbers don't add up, it's because there was none in 2024, for reasons that no one has explained. Either they ran out of stock, or the 2023 edition took a long time to sell, and they didn't want the new edition to come out before the previous ones were at least close to being sold out. In any case, I hope this collection will continue, I tasted the 2022 edition, which I talked about here, and I really liked it. I have the entire collection in my cupboard, waiting for the right occasion to open them.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

A cascade of fruit, ripe plums, damsons and mirabelle plums, slightly fermented cherries, blueberries. Melting caramel and dates, dried figs, noble wood, crushed hazelnuts, Muscat grapes. A slight hint of iodine. Very smooth on the palate, chestnut cream, caramel, dried bananas, green apples, then strong spices, pepper, cloves, nutmeg. Fairly long finish, but not really explosive, mellow wood, warm chestnuts, cooked oranges, rich herbs, subtle touch of bitterness.

 

In Short, 

The 2022 edition is better, in my opinion. With this one, the nose is superb, but it's less successful afterwards, and the finish falls apart a little. But anyway, it's far from bad, it's still a very fine whisky, reserved for sherry lovers of course, but I find it better balanced and with more character than the A'bunadh or other 105s. What's more, the price is very reasonable, which is why I never fail to buy one. 

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Tinsley Ellis - In From the Cold

Daftmill 2011 Winter Batch Release 2024 12 yo

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : Daftmill - Lowlands

1st Fill Bourbon Barrels 

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

At Daftmill, whisky is only produced at certain times of the year, in the middle of summer and in winter. This distillery is first and foremost a farm, hence the words “Single Farm Estate” on the bottle, which means that in order to run the farm, it cannot focus solely on whisky. As a result, production is tiny, at around 100 casks per year. This bottling is therefore significant, as it is the product of 27 first-fill bourbon barrels, and 7,500 bottles were released for sale. Made with Publican barley, harvested in August 2009 and malted a year later, distillation took place in December 2011. The barrels were then stored on site before bottling in the summer of 2024. This is therefore a 12-year-old whisky. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The nose is very airy, even ethereal, hints of the countryside, vanilla and hay, liquid honey and slices of lime, ripe Conference pears, white peaches, a few herbaceous notes and thick wax. Young wood, malted cereals, very subtle notes of candied fruit. On the palate, it is mellow, though a little less expressive, but with character, honey and butter biscuits, rustic wood, crushed banana, a few almonds, orchard fruits, pepper and cloves. Fairly long, powerful finish, liquorice stick, aniseed, still earthy roots, candied lemon, peppermint, white chocolate. 

 

In Short, 

It has personality and character, it is airy, woody, herbal, but above all fruity. It is very well made, under artisanal conditions, and deserves respect. Beautiful spring freshness, beautiful expressiveness on the palate, very decent finish despite the reduction. Really a bottling I could consider, but this bold manufacturing process involves a significant cost, which does not necessarily reflect the quality of the product. 

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Lucille Two - Suddenly

MacPhail's 30 yo 2024

 

 

 

46°

Distillery Officially Unknown - Speyside

Sherry Casks

Independent Bottling 

By Gordon & MacPhail 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Launched in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated 

 

 

 

This MacPhail's has been around for over 15 years, but in 2024, the bottle design was completely changed and the alcohol content increased to 46°, so this is a brand new product. I'm not sure if it's a limited edition, but the code on the bottle indicates a date (25/04/2024), which could suggest that there is only one batch. The name of the distillery is a complete secret, with not even a hint of a rumour or clue from the demonstrators, so we will have to content ourselves with tasting the beverage without any preconceived ideas.. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

On the nose, almond powder, brioche, shortbread and malted biscuits, brown sugar, ripe apricots, baked apples sprinkled with cinnamon, raisins and dates. Slightly rustic but still elegant wood, tanned leather. The palate is simpler but still very pleasant, creamy vanilla, melting caramel, toasted cereals, acacia honey, milk chocolate, woody notes. Distinctive spices, and a touch of mandarin. Long finish, moderately powerful, dried bananas, oak bark, tobacco crumbs, mint leaf, liquorice stick.  

 

In Short, 

It's very well made, but it's still a typical sherry that lacks a little originality and character. That said, I didn't detect any sulphur, contrary to what I've read here and there. It remains refined and subtle, fairly well balanced. Overall, I find it robust, woody, even rustic, reminiscent of Longmorn, but I'm certainly wrong about that. When I see the price, I find it incomprehensible. How can it be so expensive when it's reduced and not even a single cask? 

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                       

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           The Necks - The Royal Family

Ardbeg Ten Cask Strength Committee Exclusive 2026 10 yo

 

 

 

61,7°

Distillery : Ardbeg - Islay

American Oak Ex-Bourbon Casks

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 54 ppm

 

 

 

It is probably the first major release in the world of whisky in 2026. Many fans of the distillery, myself included, had long fantasised about a Ten Cask Strength, and they have finally agreed to make our dreams come true. This limited edition is therefore a replica of Ardbeg Ten, which has been around for over 25 years, but with a really high alcohol content. Personally, I think Ardbeg Ten is a total success, it is one of the very best bottlings still available for under E60, if not the best. So to have it in a Cask Strength version is truly an achievement. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The nose is softer than the reduced version, the peat is less powerful than usual, iodine mingles with a fairly subtle vanilla, a zest of lemon, shovelfuls of salt and limestone, gravel, sleet. Plums and Conference pears. On the palate, however, it is something else entirely, oily, silky, very delicate, but with beautiful power. Vanilla Turkish delight, lychee juice, almond oil, then it becomes herbaceous, reeds, chives, lots of pepper and cloves. Violent finish, but not as much as I thought, mint, asparagus, vanilla icing, biscuit dough, a pinch of salt. White ashes.

 

In Short, 

It's better than I expected. Although the nose is a little subdued, it's very similar to the reduced version, but with less explosive peat. Then the palate is really delicious and subtle, leading to a powerful but not overly so finish, where once again the nuances prevail over the power. It reminds me more of the old Ardbegs than the recent ones, as the peat was much less strong and there was a more delicate and smooth profile. So there are significant differences with the reduced Ten, but fundamentally, it's the same DNA. The price is very attractive, provided you buy it in the right place, because on the secondary market it's just ridiculous. 

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Yndling - Some Things You Don't Get