Hellyers Road 2016 Ex-Libris Seize the Fire 8 yo

 

 

 

63,7°

Distillery : Hellyers Road - Australia

1st Fill Bourbon Barrel 

Independent Bottling 

By La Maison du Whisky

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Heavily Peated

 

 

 

At every Whisky Live Paris, we’re treated to a few bottlings from Hellyers Road, and they rarely disappoint. It’s true that a very special relationship has developed between La Maison du Whisky in France, which organises Whisky Live, and this distillery on the other side of the world. Here, an 8-year-old, aged in first-fill bourbon casks, with a production run of 206 bottles. The peat level isn’t specified, but I’d estimate it at around 30 ppm. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The peat is somewhat dry, sandy, coppery. The esters are nevertheless powerful, with herbaceous and citrus notes, including pulpy lemon and kumquat. Patinated vanilla, flower of salt, green olives, roasted nuts, smoky wood, cigar ash. On the palate, there is little expression, but good balance and still a certain character: smooth cereals, very ripe mirabelle plums, dried seaweed, and a few spices, clove, cumin. A powerful finish, though a little short, straw, brown sugar, exotic wood bark. Balsamic vinegar, candied ginger, coriander. 

 

In Short, 

It has a very distinctive character, it’s interesting and complex, with a recognisable identity, though not quite fully developed. One thing’s for sure, it’s a whisky unlike any other. I’d have loved to try the others in the range, particularly the 10-year-old, as I get the feeling this one needs a few more years of ageing to really come into its own. A lovely character nonetheless, the price is a bit crazy, otherwise I would certainly have considered buying it.

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Lost in Kyiv - Burst

Penderyn 2010 Collection Itinéraires 15 yo

 

 

 

56,8°

Distillery : Penderyn - Wales 

Bourbon Barrel

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Single Cask 

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

Fifteen years is not a particularly common age for Penderyn, which opened in 2000. The second advantage is that this whisky has been matured in a single Bourbon cask, allowing the distillery’s character to fully develop. Only 102 bottles were drawn from the cask and included in the Collection Itinéraires, launched by La Maison du Whisky on the occasion of Whisky Live Paris 2025, for sale primarily in France. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Honey dripping from your fingers and ripe fruit, mirabelle plums, Reine-Claude plums, quince jam, Conference pears, yellow apples. Candle wax and rich floral notes, lacquered wood, creamy vanilla and a zest of lemon. On the palate, the fruit is even more pronounced, baked apples, Belle Hélène pear drizzled with chocolate, plum clafoutis, crumble sprinkled with cinnamon, black pepper. A long, explosive finish where the oak comes to the fore, liquorice, dried vanilla, fruit paste, shortbread biscuits, a warm chestnuts. 

 

In Short, 

It’s just the right age, here we have a riot of fruit, with notes of wax and elegant wood, generous honey – everything needed to make a fine whisky. The 10-year-old was still a little shy, more mineral, this one is perfectly mature. The price remains high, however, but with such a rare product, that’s hardly surprising. 

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

                                           Nessi Gomes - All Related

Penderyn 2015 Collection Itinéraires 10 yo

 

 

 

60,2°

Distillery : Penderyn - Wales  

Bourbon Cask

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

Part of the Collection Itinéraires launched by La Maison du Whisky to mark Whisky Live Paris 2025, this Penderyn is notable for being made from Welsh barley. Then a single Bourbon cask, 10 years of ageing, and the job is done. 218 bottles were filled and released for sale primarily on the French market. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

A very fresh nose, cereal-like, freshly cut wheat and barley, slightly mineral, floral and minty, creamy vanilla, macerated lemon, chopped orchard fruits, apples and pears, pulp-filled mango and pineapple. A metallic and chlorinated note. Airy, fruity, herbaceous, oaky on the palate, reeds and very ripe yellow plums, honey and soya milk, greengage jam. Discreet spices, white pepper. An intense, deep finish, flaked almonds, white grapes, more candied vanilla, sliced lime. A pinch of salt, crème fraîche. 

 

In Short, 

This is typical of the distillery, there’s always that slight medicinal and metallic twist, accompanied by a lovely abundance of fruit. This is because of the Faraday stills, which have just a single heater and two columns. It’s a beautiful experience, with lovely complexity. However, the price is too high for my liking. 

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                            Freja - Falling Star

House of Hazelwood 1972 The Charles Gordon Collection The Old Ways 51 yo

 

 

 

50,1°

Distillery : Girvan - Lowlands

American Oak Cask 

Independent Bottling 

By House of Hazelwood

Limited Edition 

Single Grain 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

Here we have a cask that may well have been overlooked amongst the countless batches distilled in 1972 at the Girvan distillery. Back then, Single Grain Whisky was very different. Today, wheat is mainly used, but at the time it was maize, imported directly from the USA. But the biggest difference was that the stills retained heavier flavours, as they were made entirely of copper and had three columns. Charles Gordon was the man running the distillery he had founded himself at that time, and that is why this cask, fortunately unearthed today, pays tribute to him. Neither the original distillery nor the age are indicated on the bottle, but the newspapers reporting on the release of this little gem make no secret of it. Only 123 bottles were put on sale.  

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Grainy cereals, vaporous fruits, mirabelle plums, cooked pears, dates. Melt-in-the-mouth toffee, brown sugar, barley sugar, a knob of butter. Shoe polish, candle wax, beeswax, cough syrup. Apple crumble, plenty of cinnamon and cardamom. A hint of pineapple and vanilla cream, buttered toast, spring freshness. On the palate, shortbread biscuits dipped in tea, olive oil with notes of orange, rhubarb and cotton candy, egg custard. Mountain honey, wild flowers, a few red berries and discreet spices. Extremely long finish, cooked apples, black tea, burnt rubber, melting dark chocolate, slightly syrupy raisins. 

 

In Short, 

It’s absolutely superb, with an incredible intensity, so much so that I was surprised to learn it had been aged in just a single American oak cask. The influence of the wood is decisive here, creating a riot of varied flavours. As for the price, it is unfortunately astronomical, and out of reach for any honest worker who lacks the know-how to get involved in high finance.

Score : 91

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           East Duo - Nisli & Ushguli

House of Hazelwood 1968 The Charles Gordon Collection The Cask Trials 53 yo

 

 

 

49,2°

Distillery : Girvan - Lowlands

1st Fill Spanish Sherry Butt

Independent Bottling 

By House of Hazelwood 

Limited Edition 

Single Grain 

Bottled in 2022

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated 

 

 

 

The age may seem impressive, but of the thirty bottlings released by House of Hazelwood so far, this one isn’t even among the top five oldest. That said, 53 years is quite something. Especially when, like this one, it has been matured all that time in a single first-fill sherry butt sourced directly from Spain. 303 bottles have been produced. It is a grain whisky and, although the distillery’s name is not indicated on the bottle, it can only be Girvan, the distillery opened in 1963 by William Grant & Sons, who also own House of Hazelwood. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The sherry is very powerful, fermented fruits, Amarena cherries, luscious grapes, dried fruits too, dates, figs, apricots, pine resin, waterlogged wood, meat juices, red fruit coulis, blood oranges. Melt-in-the-mouth toffee, walnut oil, dark chocolate, cinnamon, acacia honey. Rare earthy and damp notes. Dried herbs, thyme, rosemary. On the palate, it is thick, marinated, oaky, ground coffee, macadamia nuts, a purée of assorted fruits, pears, raspberries, damsons, pineapple, rich citrus, heavy spices, nutmeg, cloves. Cod liver oil. An endless finish, far more powerful than I would have thought, splinters of wood dipped in chocolate, chestnut cream, liquorice, raisins, chopped dark tobacco leaves, and lastly some candied fruit, sugar pearls, peppermint. 

 

In Short, 

An incredible sherry, so intense it’s hard to believe, with unrivalled depth. You’re immersed in dark chocolate and coffee, with powerful woody notes and a wide variety of fruits. I’d love to be a millionaire just so I could afford this one – yes, because the price is actually completely prohibitive. 

Score : 92

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           The Irrepressibles - In This Shirt

Talisker The Wild Blue 2025 Edition

 

 

 

48,2°

Distillery : Talisker - Islands

South African Atlantic Coast Red Wine Finish

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured 

Peated around 22 ppm

 

 

 

Two years earlier, the distillery had launched Wilder Seas, a bottling in aid of the NGO Parley. I’m talking about it here. Apparently, it went down a treat, because these good people did it again and launched this one last year, in aid of another charity, the Blue Marine Foundation, whose mission is to clean up the oceans. For every bottle sold, £3 will be donated to the charity. And as there are 37,536 bottles, that makes £112,608 that they have pledged to donate – a tidy sum. What’s more, the glass used is 100% recycled, and there is no box to limit the carbon footprint. As Wilder Seas was finished in Cognac, a special finish had to be found for this one too, and that turned out to be South African red wine from the Atlantic coast. The finish lasted exactly 16 months. I haven’t been able to find any information at all about the initial maturation, but I assume it was simply in Bourbon casks.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Sticky fruit, juicy quinces and apricots, grenadine, balanced by the influence of a few bourbon casks, wood steeped in citrus, kumquat, green tomatoes, tannins. Dusty peat, grains of charcoal, basalt, discreet coastal notes. Intense iodine, unrefined salt. On the palate, golden honey, banana, mirabelle plums, buttery vanilla, pronounced spices, cumin, nutmeg. A subtle layer of peat, dates, raisins. A slight bitterness on the finish, green asparagus, olives, cola, hints of charcoal, varnished bark, hazelnuts, cauliflower, a touch of cereal.

 

In Short, 

It’s a high-quality bottling, though the influence of the red wine isn’t entirely positive. I found that it masked the Talisker profile somewhat, particularly its coastal character. In my opinion, a white wine finish might have been a better idea. But perhaps that’s what they’ll do with the next edition. As for the price, I think it’s perfectly reasonable. 

In Short : 87

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Flea featuring Nick Cave - Wichita Lineman

Balvy 1989 The Whisky Jury 35 yo

 

 

 

52°

Distillery : The Balvenie - Speyside

Refill Hogshead

Independent Bottling 

By The Whisky Jury

Limited Edition 

Blended Malt 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

Among the recent releases from The Whisky Jury is this teaspooned Balvenie, which means that a tiny amount of another whisky has been added to a Balvenie cask. This makes it a Blended Malt, and it’s cheaper. I’m all for this sort of thing to ease the strain on my wallet. 278 bottles have been put on sale.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

A variety of cereals, coated in butter, drizzled with honey. Ground almonds, candied vanilla, floral hints, subtle mineral notes. Freshly ploughed earth, cigar box, Armenian paper. Juicy citrus fruits, mirabelle plums, mashed bananas, pear crumble, lavender. On the palate, it is pulpy and honeyed. Ripe plums, greengage jam, egg yolk, brioche. Lemon fondant. Lively spices, cumin, clove. A very long, woody finish, full of wax, ganache biscuit, olive oil. White grapes. 

 

In Short, 

It’s very interesting, the nose and finish in particular are fantastic. It’s less rounded and honeyed than the Balvenie’s official bottlings, and has more of a malty, fruity and oaky character. In a word, it’s more varied and subtle. It’s an excellent bottling, and the price is very reasonable for a 35-year-old. If you’re a fan of this style and can afford it, don’t hesitate. 

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Poppy Ackroyd - For Those Who Wait

House of Hazelwood Legacy Collection Queen of the Hebrides 36 yo

 

 

 

43,4°

Distillery Officially Unknown - Islay

American Oak Cask

Independent Bottling 

By House of Hazelwood 

Limited Edition 

Blended Malt 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Heavily Peated

 

 

 

This time, the prestigious House of Hazelwood, founded in 2022, ventures to Islay and presents us with a wonderful 36-year-old blended malt. There is no clue as to its exact origin, all we know is that it was matured in a single American oak cask, yielding 274 bottles. As it was distilled around 1988, we can deduce that it is not Ardbeg, which was inactive at the time, nor Ardnahoe or Kilchoman, which were not yet open, nor Bruichladdich or Bunnahabhain, which did not produce peated whiskies. That leaves Bowmore, Caol Ila, Lagavulin and Laphroaig.  

 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

An elegant wisp of smoke with a hint of minerality, gravel and quartz, but above all beautifully integrated coastal notes, sea spray and salt crystals, dried seaweed, and the iodine-rich air of the open sea. Behind this, discreet dried fruit, mellow honey, grainy cereals, and a slight touch of soot. The peat is just a bit more pronounced on the palate, with a rustic character, topped by very subtle vanilla and citrus. Grapefruit, agave, lime, herbaceous undertones, sun-bleached grass, reeds. Dates and quinces, delicate spices. A very long finish, not particularly strong but characterful, crushed hazelnuts and peanuts, fragments of rock, gypsum, a dash of mud, herbs, leaves of blond tobacco. Birch bark, autumnal scents, cigar ash on the retro-olfaction. 

 

In Short, 

It could be any one of the four distilleries mentioned above. The peat is very light, but that’s to be expected given its age. What really struck me were the coastal notes, blended with citrus and dried fruit, a lovely blend. One small reservation: for me, it lacks a bit of intensity, to the extent that I don’t recognise it as an Islay, I would have thought it was Highland Park or BenRiach instead. The price, on the other hand, is very steep, although, given how expensive old Islay whiskies are these days, it might be a bargain after all. 

Score : 89 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Tamino - Babylon