Ben Nevis 2015 100 Proof Edition #80 10 yo

 

 

 

57,1° (100° Proof)

Distillery : Ben Nevis - Highlands

Oloroso Sherry Butts Finish

Independent Bottling 

By Signatory Vintage

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2026

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Almost Unpeated

 

 

 

For now, there are eight Ben Nevis in the 100 Proof range, launched in January 2024 by Signatory Vintage. Three are labelled ‘Heavily Peated’, and three have been matured exclusively in first-fill sherry casks, making them more or less ‘sherry bombs’. Only two are fairly well-balanced, No. 63, which I’ll be discussing shortly, and this one, which was just finished in Oloroso sherry butts, after an initial maturation that was surely in bourbon casks. That’s why I find it interesting, one can hope that it captures the essence of Ben Nevis in all its complexity, completely unaltered by sherry or peat. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

A creamy nose with hints of blood oranges and citrus, mashed banana, wax-coated wood, mountain honey, meringue, a touch of iodine, perhaps a drop of exotic fruit, papaya, pineapple. Very light acidity. On the palate, it is quite smooth, buttery and oily, but quite strong spices emerge, black pepper, cumin, a trace of molasses, egg yolk. The finish is quite long, powerful, wood charcoal, liquorice, a slight bitterness, terracotta. A zest of lemon. We find a little bit of peat.

 

In Short, 

Yes, I recognised the original Ben Nevis character in it, that fuzzy, funky quality which, in my opinion, has been somewhat lacking in the other bottlings in the same range. Unfortunately, a few minor flaws on the palate – too much spice, suggesting over-active casks – prevent me from giving it a higher score. But apart from that, it’s a very successful whisky that will delight fans of the distillery. I’d recommend buying it, especially as the price is ridiculously low. 

Score : 87

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                    To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                                    Body Electrik! - Spaghettification

Linkwood 2012 100 Proof Edition #68 12 yo

 

 

 

57,1° (100° Proof)

Distillery : Linkwood - Speyside

1st and 2d Fill Oloroso Sherry Butts

Independent Bottling 

By Signatory Vintage

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

This is the fourth Linkwood to be released as part of the 100 Proof range launched in January 2024, and a fifth followed shortly afterwards. Suffice to say, this is a distillery that often has surplus stock to sell off. As is often the case in this collection, the whisky is matured in sherry butts, but in this instance there are refill casks, so the sherry influence shouldn’t be too strong. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Lovely spring freshness, orchard fruits, crisp apples, Comice pears, fresh lemon, white grapes, grass after the rain. Behind, twisted leather and soft caramel, the crust of well-baked bread, a few dried fruits, raisins, apricots. Mint and chlorophyll. Varnished wood. On the palate, it’s almost immediately very spicy, with intense pepper, green chilli, wood and green tea, not-quite-ripe Reine-Claude plums. A powerful, long finish, with bursts of violence, floor wax, charcoal croutons, slight bitterness, hazelnuts, liquorice. It does burn a little, though.

 

In Short, 

The nose isn’t bad at all, in fact, it’s quite pleasant and well-structured. The finish is, of course, powerful and fairly long. However, the palate doesn’t quite live up to expectations, it reveals overly active casks that make the whisky too spicy. Let’s just say you need to drink it quickly. That’s why I’m reluctant to recommend buying it, despite the low price. 

Score : 87

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                   To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                                   Jonathan Bree - You're so Cool

Ardmore 1985 Whiskyland Chapter Thirty-Six 41 yo

 

 

 

45,3°

Distillery : The Ardmore - Highlands

Refill Hogshead

Independent Bottling 

By Decadent Drinks 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2026

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Almost Unpeated

 

 

 

At the end of last year, as part of the same range, a 40-year-old Ardmore was released. It was ‘Chapter Twenty-Five’, a blend of two Refill Hogsheads released especially to celebrate the birthday of Angus MacRaild, one of the founders of Decadent Drinks. That’s why there was a birthday cake depicted on the label. But in fact, there was a third Refill Hogshead cask, Angus had simply decided to keep it for later. That ‘later’ has now arrived, and here it is. Distilled in the same year as the two sister casks bottled for the anniversary, it is now 41 years old. Only 102 bottles are being released, perhaps the team decided to keep a few for themselves, which I certainly wouldn’t hold against them. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Very subtle peat that builds slowly, kerosene, sticky honey, varnished wood, exotic fruits, mango, maracuja, pineapple, candied banana, a hint of wax and juicy apples. Very subtle vanilla, a touch of lemon zest, a pinch of salt. On the palate, it’s perfect, the peat is slightly mineral, with a chiselled limestone quality, but overall it’s very smooth, oily yellow plums and elegant oak, the vanilla is a little more pronounced. An incredibly powerful finish given the low alcohol content, hail, pepper and cloves, marzipan, fig cake. A touch of herbaceousness. 

 

In Short, 

It was truly exquisite, very subtle and impressive, it’s hard to write a review that does justice to this nectar. Although I did find the peat quite pronounced, a lovely power on the finish and some absolutely fabulous notes of wax. Great elegance, superb balance, a bit old-school but also very modern. Without a doubt one of the best Ardmores available on the market. Of course, the price puts a damper on some people’s ambitions, but it’s not that expensive for what it is. 

Score : 91

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                   To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                               Tina Arena - True Faith

Auchentoshan 1998 Asta Morris Heritage 24 yo

 

 

 

54°

Distillery : Auchentoshan - Lowlands

Ex-Bourbon Cask

Independent Bottling 

By Asta Morris 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2022

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

Let’s take a quick trip to Belgium, as that is where Asta Morris was founded in 2009, under the guidance of Bert Bruyneel, a whisky enthusiast. They release only a few bottlings a year, but they are of great quality. Here is an Auchentoshan of a respectable age, matured in a simple Bourbon cask, the ideal choice for exploring new horizons. 164 bottles were available for sale.  

 

 

 

Let's Taste It :  

Immediately, a wonderful burst of fruit, further enhanced if you add a drop or two of water, mirabelle plum tart, very ripe yellow plums, bananas, juicy white grapes, Comice pears, Granny Smith apples. Alongside this, a good dose of melted butter, a hint of warm wax, cane sugar, untreated wood, caramelised pralines, a generous dash of vanilla, candied lemon. On the palate, the vanilla becomes more pronounced, it’s slightly less complex, but I detect a touch of exoticism, shortbread biscuits, candied chestnuts, almonds. The finish is long and powerful, which is surprising after such sweetness, very juicy, leavened bread, runny honey, a pinch of mandarin. The spices are very subtle overall, including nutmeg.  

 

In Short, 

I’m by no means an expert on this distillery, but it strikes me that this is a very successful and rather original whisky. It lacks the characteristics I’ve heard mentioned, the famous ‘chewing gum’ note, and the smooth, delicate character that comes from triple distillation. Instead, it has a lovely character, with plenty of fruit and richness, whilst remaining very well-balanced and approachable. A summer whisky that needs a few drops of water to really come into its own. You can still find it here and there, but at a price that’s hard to swallow. Perhaps scouring the auctions is still the best option. 

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                    To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                                    Lizzy MacAlpine - The Light in the Painting

Ardbeg Lord of The Isles 25 yo

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : Ardbeg - Islay

Bourbon and Sherry Casks

Original Bottling 

Core Range

Single Malt 

Launched on 2001

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 54 ppm

 

 

 

Let’s take a brief look back at the history here. When Glenmorangie PLC bought Ardbeg in 1997, the distillery was on its last legs. And yet it had incredible potential. The first expression they released was the now legendary 17-year-old, which was magnificent but had a low alcohol content (40% ABV). Then came the Ardbeg Ten in 2000, which is still available today and is one of the finest Core Range expressions in the history of whisky. And the third expression is this one: the Lord of the Isles, launched in 2001. It is 25 years old, so distilled in 1976, and, as I’ve read, it also includes casks dating from 1974 and 1975. 85% of the casks are Bourbon casks, 15% are Sherry casks. It remained in production until 2007, when it was discontinued. That said, the one I tasted was apparently bottled in 2008, according to the waiter, who knows his stuff very well. I couldn’t check the date on the bottle, it was too dark. In any case, it is certainly one of this distillery’s most sought-after bottlings. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Immediately, a wall of enticing, rounded and velvety smoke. But what’s interesting is what lies behind it, it's creamy, vanilla, goat’s milk, lilac, mashed banana. If you dig a little deeper, you find all the distillery’s hallmarks, it’s very complex, with a very subtle minerality, limestone and quartz, measured hints of iodine, seaweed and gravel, soot and rocks, fly ash, petrichor. Light lemon and caramel in very small quantities. On the palate, vanilla éclair, egg yolk, egg custard, with a good layer of peat in the background. Spices derived from the wood, cinnamon, coriander, cloves. Bittersweet cream, mandarin peel, and a zest of candied citrus. A very long finish, which seems to lift the ground, ashy, earthy, charcoal-like. A few herbaceous notes, melted butter, warm wax, Belle Hélène pear, flint, tinder, hot ashes. 

 

In Short, 

It truly lives up to its reputation, highly complex, with incredible balance, intense yet not at all aggressive. The alcohol is, moreover, beautifully integrated. Undoubtedly the distillery’s finest expression in the Core Range. If you’re a fan of the distillery, you simply must have tasted it at least once. However, owning a bottle is reserved for the very wealthiest amongst us, given the price of this gem. There’s no point in dreaming about it. 

Score : 91

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                   To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                                   And Also The Trees - Slow Pulse Boy

Ledaig 2009 The Whisky Agency An Independent Bottling 16 yo

 

 

 

52,9°

Distillery : Tobermory - Islands

Hogshead

Independent Bottling 

By The Whisky Agency

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 37 ppm 

 

 

 

Founded in 2008, the German company The Whisky Agency is one whose high standards are well established. Here is a 16-year-old Ledaig, matured in a single hogshead that had previously contained bourbon, yielding a mere 295 bottles. No additives, no chill filtration, and bottled at cask strength, these are the company’s standards. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

A lovely balance between a sharp minerality and a mellow bourbon, vanilla and caramelised honey, underpinned by a wild, barely restrained peatiness. It’s almost indulgent, vanilla éclair, a hint of lemon, kelp and dried seaweed. Chalk and blond tobacco. The palate is very vanilla-driven, a touch of clove, lychees, a gentle sweetness, orgeat, subdued spices. A very long finish, tamed power, candied lemon, prickly pear, white peach. Towards the end, it’s almost acrid, burnt wood, lumps of lignite, dark pipe tobacco. 

 

In Short, 

For me, this is a classic Ledaig, exactly as it should be, with a lovely balance between the elegance of the cask and the bold character of the spirit. I really love this distillery because it offers such contrasts. That said, this is a fine effort, but nothing exceptionally stunning or original either. It’s very well made, exactly what you’d expect, but nothing more. The price strikes me as slightly high, but any fan of this style will find it to their liking. 

Score : 89   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                    To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                             Valerie June - Smokestack

Hazelburn 2018 Oloroso Cask Matured 7 yo

 

 

 

47,9°

Distillery : Springbank - Campbeltown

Fresh Oloroso Sherry Casks

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2026

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

The first Hazelburn Oloroso Cask Matured was released in 2017, and had been aged for 13 years. Subsequent releases were aged for roughly the same number of years, and the 7th Batch, released at the end of November 2023, was even 15 years old. We then had to wait a year and a half – it seemed as though the series had come to an end – before the 8th Batch arrived, but it was only 8 years old. This one, the latest release, is even younger, at just 7 years old. It was released in July, with 9,000 bottles spreading across the market. The recipe remains the same, Oloroso sherry casks, mainly first-fill, and triple distillation, but with a much shorter maturation period. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Caramel cake, chocolate fondant. Molasses, toffee, dates, redcurrants, prunes, Muscat grapes, bark macerated in wine, cherries in brandy, spongy leather, acacia honey, hazelnuts, brown sugar. Very fruity on the palate, raspberry, pomegranate, blueberries, quite oily, a hint of tobacco, pepper and clove. A fairly long finish, fig and raisins, earth and a slightly overpowering note of nutmeg, coffee grounds. The oak is very prominent, with a touch of bitterness. Peach stone, pipe tobacco. Very slight salinity.

 

In Short, 

The whisky’s youth isn’t particularly noticeable, but the sherry is intense. This gives it a lovely nose and a very pleasant palate, and the finish is good, but the whisky was on the verge of becoming too oaky. Perhaps that’s why it was bottled so young? Unless it was due to a shortage of stock, which would be the most reasonable explanation. In any case, there is complexity, but I’m not entirely satisfied with this one, there are some flaws. What’s more, the price is high for a 7-year-old, but then again, it’s a Springbank, so everyone buys it regardless of the price. 

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                   To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                                    VHU - Estrella de la Mañana

Glen Ord 2012 100 Proof Edition #46 12 yo

 

 

 

57,1° (100° Proof)

Distillery : Glen Ord - Highlands

1st Fill Bourbon Barrels

Independent Bottling 

By Signatory Vintage 

Limited Edition

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

This one was released over a year ago, but I only managed to get hold of a sample recently. Perhaps that was a mistake, as I know just how unfairly overlooked this distillery is, and the rare 100 Proof bottlings aged in bourbon casks are often interesting. All the more so as this one is 12 years old, which is not that bad.  

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

A lovely lemony freshness, with a slight acidity. Subtle bursts of iodine, skilfully distilled. Brioche, lamb’s lettuce salad, a drizzle of creamy vanilla. Oily grains, lime blossom honey, a whisper of chlorophyll. Fairly subtle floral notes. The oily character is repeated on the palate, but the influence of the wood is also evident, bark, splinters, a few very ripe plums, fairly robust spices, herbaceous touches. It is quite mellow. Candied lemon on the finish, quite long, almost pastry-like, liquorice and cola, hazelnuts, macerated apples. The oaky notes linger nonetheless. Crushed pepper.

 

In Short, 

As expected, it’s a lovely, fruity whisky, smooth and oily, with a welcome hint of grain. Fans of this style would do well to give it a try. All the more so as the price is very reasonable, just like the rest of the range.

Score : 87

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                            To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                             Marissa Nadler - Drive