Highland Park 2005 Whiskyland Chapter Sixteen 20 yo

 

 

 

55,5°

Distillery : Highland Park - Islands

Refill and 1st Fill Sherry Hogsheads 

Independent Bottling 

By Decadent Drinks 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 20 ppm

 

 

 

It’s rare that a Whiskyland Chapter isn’t a Single Cask, but it happens. As in this case, where we are dealing with the blending of a Refill Hogshead distilled in 1997 and a 1st Fill Sherry Hogshead distilled in 2005. Which means that one part of the product is 20 years old, but the other is 28. Moreover, Sherry should be measured under these conditions, and enrich the distillate rather than dominate it. 332 bottles came out of this marriage. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Nose old school Sherry, very balanced, with a light granular peat, gravel and smoke, heather and cereals. Dried apricots, blood oranges, leather and hay, caramelized nuts. Discreet iodine, some sea spray. Waxy lemon, floral honey, melted butter, a square of dark chocolate. On the palate, it is smooth, silky, very elegant woodiness, toasted fruits, mirabelles and greengages, brown tobacco, dried figs, liquorice, then a layer of moist peat. Cloves, a pinch of pepper. Finally a very long finish, just powerful enough, sandalwood, cooked mushrooms, soy sauce, wood shavings soaked in onion jam. 

 

In Short, 

Superb Highland Park where the sherry and distillate offer a magnificent balance, with some nuances of Bourbon. I have a soft spot for this distillery and I can say that here it’s perfect, there is everything a fan can dream of. The price is unfortunately very high, but I have to say that it’s understandable. 

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                             To Be Listened While Sipping : 

                                             Maia and the Squires - 451 

Teeling Sommelier Selection Alentejo Wine Casks

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : Teeling - Ireland

Ex-Bourbon Barrels and Portuguese Alentejo White Wine Finish

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Blended Whiskey 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

This Sommelier Selection series has been in existence for a few years now. This batch is the 6th, bottled in 2024 and released for sale the following year. Batch 7 has been released since then. I already tasted Batch 3, which I had found not bad, it was finished in Amarone wine. This Batch 6 raises a slight suspicion, as white wine sometimes gives acidity in the barrels. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Yellow fruits, mineral notes, some cereals, vanilla, mirabelles and grapes, greengage and quinces. Pinch of salt, which fails to hide a slight acidity, granite and gypsum, muesli bursting with caramel, tall herbs. On the palate, it goes well, but it’s a bit light, apples, pears and other orchard fruits, chlorophyll, angelica, custard cream, honey drops. Discreet spices. Quite long finish, almost sparkling, bread dough, dark tobacco, chocolate filled with nuts. Quite a bit of lemon at the end. Malted biscuits. 

 

In Short, 

It's decent, though a bit off on the palate, but I don't understand the purpose of this series. The character of the wine doesn’t work with this Blended Whiskey, so the marriage can only be a bit messy. The wine itself was certainly good, the whiskey is not bad, but the two together seem to contradict each other. Maybe with a less cereal, more floral distillate, it would have been fine. But that’s just my feeling, maybe I missed something. 

Score : 83

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                             To Be Listened While Sipping : 

                                             The xx - I Dare You 

Bruichladdich 2005 Old Islay 20 yo

 

 

 

53°

Distillery : Bruichladdich - Islay

1st Fill Bourbon Barrel, 1st Fill Sauternes Barrique and 2d Fill Sherry Finish

Independent Bottling 

By Decadent Drinks 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2026

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

This series "Island Hopping" is starting to reveal a few gems. After the Ledaig 20 years old and the Bunnahabhain 21 years old, here is a Bruichladdich 20 years old. Even more, it was the subject of a small experiment. It is the blending of two casks, a Bourbon barrel distilled in 2002, and a Sauternes barrique distilled in 2005. But, a little more than a year before the bottling, they transferred the liquid into a 2d Fill Sherry Butt, but not just any one. The one that contained the very first chapter of the Whiskyland series. It’s a 26-year-old Springbank. The result cannot fail to interest me, and I am very happy to have been able to take my share from one of the 200 bottles available. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Sherry is quite present all the same, warm leather, candied apricots, blood oranges, caramelized currants. Then, it is probably the Sauternes that brings more yellow fruits, melon, pineapple, white grapes. But also creamy vanilla and lemon zest. The whole is rather balanced, with a generous pinch of salt and iodine. On the palate, it is woody, solid, grainy, even farmy, but still a misty and deep sherry. Umami, candied fruits, pastry cream, measured spices. Long and powerful finish, fresh figs, blond tobacco, chocolate pralines, filled with hazelnuts. Liquorice stick, almond milk, cinnamon and nutmeg. 

 

In Short, 

It’s really interesting, even bluffing. We find the influence of three different casks, Bourbon, Sauternes, and the finish in Sherry. But without the character of the distillate being overlooked either. Really very original, a work of goldsmith. On the other hand, I don’t agree at all with the price, which is very high for a 20-year-old. 

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                             To Be Listened While Sipping : 

                                             Red and the Rabbits - Redhead Deadhead

Teeling Small Batch Series Santa Teresa Limited Edition

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : Teeling - Ireland

Ex-Bourbon Barrels and Ex-Rum from Santa Teresa in Venezuela Finish

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Blended Whiskey

Bottled in 2026

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

The Small Batch is Teeling’s flagship product. Few people know this, but it is always finished in rum casks. However, this one is a limited edition, finished in rum casks from the Santa Teresa solera in Venezuela. In fact, it’s part of an exchange, the Santa Teresa solera has also released a rum aged in Irish whisky casks. For the original Teeling Small Batch, the finishing process lasted six months, I assume it’s the same for this one. However, there’s no mention of why the Venezuelan rum is better than the Nicaraguan rum used for the original. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The rum appears to be of a certain quality,  beetroot, caramel and honey, molasses, refined sugar with essence, dark chocolate, coconut flakes, lychees, macerated almonds, metallic undertones, raisins, figs. On the palate, it is slightly oily, coconut oil, waves of vanilla, almond paste, egg custard, pineapple in syrup, peach melba, light spices. A decent, almost long finish, crumble dusted with cinnamon, vanilla pod, clove, crème fraîche. Egg yolk, coconut pearls. Cereals. 

 

In Short, 

Yes, it’s a bit better than Teeling’s previous rum-cask-aged things. But I struggle with this sort of ageing, it’s too sweet for my taste, it masks the grain notes, which are the fundamental flavour of whisky, and it rarely results in a lovely finish. That’s somewhat the case here, despite a decent nose and an almost interesting finish. Not much to get excited about, though. 

Score : 83

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                             To Be Listened While Sipping : 

                                             All Tvvins - Darkest Ocean

Cragganmore 1989 Whiskyland Chapter Twenty-Four 36 yo

 

 

 

51,8°

Distillery : Cragganmore - Speyside

Refill Hogshead

Independent Bottling 

By Decadent Drinks 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated 

 

 

 

Every bottling in the Whiskyland series has something magical about it, it reveals something we never suspected about the distillery, or perhaps something we suspected but which had not yet come to light. It really is the very best whisky on offer at the moment. And this one is no exception, 36 years in a simple refill hogshead, that’s enough to reveal the true identity of this all too little-known distillery. Cragganmore is owned by Diageo, and whilst it’s true that there are a few original bottlings available, they’re hardly convincing, due to their low alcohol content and cold filtration. These 158 bottles should give a better idea of what the distillery is really capable of. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Juicy, candied fruits, apricots, mirabelle plums, Reine-Claude plums, sliced pineapple, papaya, grapefruit segments, ripe melon, bananas, coated in beeswax, candle wax, marzipan. Lemon zest, gourmet cereals, bark and cinnamon. Pastry cream. On the palate, it’s almost as marvellous, velvety vanilla, oranges and clementines, juicy peaches, Belle Hélène pears, dusted with freshly cut hay. Spices masterfully balanced. A very long, perfectly executed finish, yuzu, floor wax, apple crumble, heather honey, courgette flowers, daffodils. Forestal scents, humus. 

 

In Short, 

As the presenter said, “it’s like wax in a pillow of feathers”. It really is a whisky from another world, wonderfully fruity, yet characterised by notes of wax, citrus and an alluring woodiness, in short, everything a whisky needs to leave a lasting impression. On the other hand, the price has soared to frightening heights. That’s a real shame. 

Score : 91+

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                             To Be Listened While Sipping : 

                                             Caspian - Remain

Miltonduff 2002 Decadent Drams 22 yo

 

 

 

52,8°

Distillery : Miltonduff - Speyside 

2d Fill Bourbon Barrel and Refill Hogshead 

Independent Bottling 

By Decadent Drinks

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated 

 

 

 

To create this, the team at Decadent Drinks have blended a second-fill bourbon barrel distilled in 1991 with a refill hogshead dating from 2002. The result is therefore officially 22 years old, but part of the spirit is much older, at least 33 years. In total, that makes 245 collector’s bottles, just one of which would be enough to make us happy. I wonder whether the Refill Hogshead isn’t, at least in part, made from a sherry cask. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

It is very fruity, very lemony, with a very pleasant spring-like freshness, beeswax, forest honey, dried apricots, quince jam, fig compote, Tarte Tatin, peaches in syrup, white grapes, melt-in-the-mouth caramel, elegant oak, butter-braised notes, candied ginger. On the palate, it is very well-balanced, both rich and smooth, very old-fashioned style, cooked mirabelle plums, cinnamon, pine needles, and the right amount of spice, cloves and nutmeg. The finish is quite long, more refined than powerful, fruit cake, wood varnish, old library, liquorice, then a few mineral and leafy notes.

 

In Short, 

A truly beautiful experience, a whisky that is both generously fruity and seems to come from another era. Blending two such different casks creates a certain tension in the final product, which piques one’s curiosity. I enjoyed it very much, but I’m not entirely convinced. It’s more interesting than moving. The price is, of course, quite high, but I don’t find it outrageous. 

Score : 89+

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                             To Be Listened While Sipping : 

                                             Faery - Blyth

Teeling French Agricole Rhum Casks

 

 

 

46° 

Distillery : Teeling - Ireland

Bourbon Casks and Ti Ced' Vanilla Macadamia Rum Finish

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Blended Whiskey

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated 

 

 

 

There are very few details available about this bottling. It is a limited edition announced in 2024, apparently available only in France. It is a Teeling Small Batch that has undergone a 12-month finishing process in casks previously containing Ti Ced’ flavoured rum, infused with vanilla and macadamia. I must admit I hesitated a little before tasting it, but nothing ventured, nothing gained. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

There are notes of cereal, fresh wheat, hay. But these quickly give way to sweet flavours, vanilla pod, cane sugar, agave. Green apple, mild caramel, slight woodiness. Not-quite-ripe Reine-Claude plums. On the palate, it is light, the influence of rum is noticeable, baked apples, cinnamon and a hint of citrus. Coated pralines. A few spices, ginger, aniseed. An unremarkable finish, biscuits, honey-toasted bread, apple peel, crème fraîche, wood shavings, walnuts. Water lilies.

 

In Short, 

I didn’t find it particularly interesting. The whisky itself is already of average quality, and on top of that they’ve added this rum finish, which spoils it. It’s too sweet for my taste, and the same flavours linger from the nose right through to the finish. It lacks complexity. Fortunately, the high alcohol content adds a bit of a kick, and the finish does have a certain appeal after all. 

Score : 82-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                             To Be Listened While Sipping :

                                             Snow Patrol - Chasing Cars

Teeling Single Malt

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : Teeling - Ireland

Virgin American Oak, Ruby Port, Caravelos White Port, Madeira and Bourbon Finish

Original Bottling 

Core Range

Single Malt

Launched in 2014

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

Teeling Single Malt was launched in October 2014, five months before the Teeling distillery opened. At the time, it was therefore an independent bottling, drawing on stocks from Cooley, a distillery founded in 1987 by John Teeling and sold in 2012, though without the stocks. The original Teeling Single Malt was therefore a Cooley whisky, with some casks dating back as far as 23 years, and was the result of a blend of five types of cask, Sherry, Port, Madeira, White Burgundy and Cabernet Sauvignon, following an initial maturation in Bourbon casks. However, after 12 years, the recipe apparently changed, as the distillery’s website indicates a different maturation process, still involving five types of cask but not the same ones. I assume that, at present, all the whisky comes from the Teeling distillery, so this is indeed an original bottling. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It :  

On the nose, toasted cereals, crunchy roasted maize, mashed banana, and a subtle mineral touch. Tropical notes, wax, melted butter. Candied citrus fruits, melons, figs, caramel, vanilla-flavoured milk. Mountain honey. On the palate, still very fruity, but also quite watery, peaches and pears, lacquered wood, milk chocolate, intense spices, cloves, ginger, grey pepper. The finish isn’t very long, but it’s decent, rusks, small and slightly tart apples, roasted hazelnuts, nougat, cane syrup. Shortcrust pastry. 

In Short, 

I’m not particularly impressed, the nose is interesting, but the fivefold finish muddies the waters a bit, there are too many varied flavours that clash. On the palate, it’s too light, and the finish is rather short. I’m often a bit wary of Single Malts from Ireland. As far as I’m concerned, they should stick to Pot Still.

Score : 83

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                             To Be Listened While Sipping : 

                                             The Script - The Man Who Can't Be Moved