Auchentoshan 2000 20 Rue d'Anjou 20 yo

 

 

 

59°

Bourbon Barrel 

Distillery : Auchentoshan - Lowlands

Independent Bottling 

By Signatory Vintage 

Limited Edition

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2020

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated 

 

 

 

This distillery tends to be underrated, but it’s actually quite impressive. It has a distinctive profile, a history, and a tradition. Here, it is presented as a special bottling, selected by Signatory Vintage for distribution primarily in France as part of the “20 Rue d’Anjou” range, the address of La Maison du Whisky’s flagship store. The aging process is straightforward, and 179 bottles have been made available to the public. 

 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Wild strawberry, or rather the center of the strawberry, where the flesh is almost white. Almond paste, icing sugar, lime, a wedge of grapefruit, Reine-Claude plum jam with a hint of acidity. A floral note, not-quite-ripe grapes. On the palate, vanilla ice cream, raisins, it’s oily, citrusy, fermented apples, mandarin peel, and white pepper. Lychee pits. A fairly long finish, not too violent, oily coconut, barley sugar, Guérande salt biscuits, lemon zest, white currant. White cabbage. 

 

In Short, 

It’s very interesting, full of citrus notes and with a hint of acidity. The distillery’s profile is subtle, hard to pinpoint, but still present. It wouldn’t be far-fetched to think it was aged in a rum cask, as there are a few characteristics that suggest it. It’s worth trying for the originality of its profile, especially since the price wasn’t at all exorbitant. You can still find it at La Maison du Whisky, by the way. 

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                             To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                             Teho Teardo & Blixa Bargeld - Still Smiling

Springbank 1996 casqueteers 21 yo

 

 

 

53,2°

Fresh Rum Barrel 

Distillery : Springbank - Campbeltown

Independent Bottling 

By casQueteers

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2017

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 12 ppm 

 

 

 

Springbank is one of the few distilleries whose whiskies age well in rum casks. In this case, the maturation lasted 21 years, which is even rarer for this type of aging. Only 154 bottles were released for sale. casQueteers is a collaborative independent whisky-bottling initiative founded in 2011 in the Netherlands, which now has nearly 1,000 members, each of whom can purchase a share of a cask, and everyone decides together when the cask is ready to be bottled. The discussions there must be lively. 

 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

We're talking almond paste, crème brûlée, thick vanilla, but also coconut and white chocolate, dried pineapple, melon, guava. Even the citrus notes are exotic, yuzu lemon and grapefruit, blended with fresh, even briny, mineral notes, a hint of herbaceousness, cut hay and dandelion. On the palate, vanilla and brown sugar, lychees, crème fraîche, white grapes, sprinkled with hazelnuts and pepper. Apricot jam. A very long finish, Bounty bar, palm bark, a generous dose of ginger and white currants, more vanilla, a pinch of salt and grapefruit juice. 

 

In Short, 

It’s very exotic, very original, I tasted it blind and didn’t recognize Springbank’s farmhouse profile at all. And I don’t recall detecting a hint of peat. But it’s rich and complex, with a freshness and great intensity. For me, it’s an absolute must-try, I’ve rarely encountered a profile like this. Even though I’m not a fan at all of rum cask aging, I really enjoyed this one. Obviously, the price is prohibitive, and it’s sold out everywhere, but it’s truly a one-of-a-kind experience. 

Score : 90+ 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                      To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                             Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark - Enola Gay (Axelsoft's Remix)

Penderyn 2013 Ex-Bourbon Single Cask 9 yo

 

 

 

50°

American Oak Ex-Bourbon Barrel

Distillery : Penderyn - Wales

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2022

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated 

 

 

 

Every year, this distillery bottles several Single Cask releases, reserved for true connoisseurs of this style, as they highlight its remarkable character, thanks to its famous Faraday still. This release is one of the highest-rated on Whiskybase, it spent 9 years in a single American oak ex-Bourbon barrel, without a trace of peat, resulting in a run of just 212 bottles.  

 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Bourbon with a very slight chemical note, Williams pear, ethereal vanilla, it’s delicately floral and tinged with baking soda. Cut hay, effervescent cereals, crushed thumbtacks, industrial paint, aspirin tablets. Subtle mineral undertones, limestone, chalk powder, crushed almonds. Banana-flavored soy delight, custard cream. On the palate, the attack is lively, with pastry-like flavors, sweet malt, orchard fruits, pears and peaches, vanilla and lemon roundness from the American oak. Gentle spices that lead to a long finish, orange shortbread cookies, a touch of anise, citrus zest, whipped cream, mild woody and waxy aftertaste. 

 

In Short, 

I loved the nose, which is extremely mineral and very light, yet fruity, with that chemical nuance, which is the very essence of the distillery, clearly highlighted here. The rest is excellent, the finish is long and truly flavorful. This is one of the best Penderyns I’ve ever tasted, and at a reasonable price, fans of this style shouldn’t hesitate to try it. 

Score : 90+       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                     To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                             Ana Avramov - Voda

Glenturret 1986 Cadenhead Single Cask 31 yo

 

 

 

44,5°

Sherry Hogshead 

Distillery : The Glenturret - Highlands

Independent Bottling 

By William Cadenhead Limited 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2018

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated 

 

 

 

Cadenhead is Scotland's oldest independent bottler, they are able to source exceptional products from every distillery. Here is a Glenturret of venerable age, aged in a single sherry hogshead, with a limited production run of just 210 bottles.   

 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It :  

Right from the start, the nose is absolutely perfect, raspberry blends with nuts, nougat, macerated grapes, cooked plums, candied apricots, Agen prunes, lacquered wood, a hint of blackberries and blueberries, Malabar gum, dried mango, a drop of cane sugar, and gingerbread. And it all works very well together, the balance is superb. On the palate, it’s honeyed, quite smooth, almond paste, thick vanilla that tends to become waxy, dates and fresh figs, ginger and nutmeg, the spices are subtle. The finish is quite long despite the low alcohol content, dark tobacco, dried bananas, chocolate fondant, mirabelle plum and grape fruit paste, bouquet of herbs. 

 

In Short, 

We’re having a wonderful time tasting this little gem, the nose is magnificent, and despite the low alcohol content, it’s truly excellent on the palate and in the finish. It evokes the flavor of a sunset in a tropical country, or an afternoon spent in a candied fruit shop. The sherry is perfectly balanced, intense, yet it doesn’t overpower the distillate. This is the kind of bottle you’d want to hunt down at auctions. 

Score : 90+ 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                             To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                             Lindesy Stirling - Serenity Found

Ben Nevis 1996 Les Fûts oubliés 26 yo

 

 

 

46,5°

Distillery : Ben Nevis - Highlands 

Hogshead

Independent Bottling 

By Celtic Whisky Distilleries

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength 

Almost Unpeated 

 

 

 

This is the second release of independent bottlings from Celtic Whisky Distillery, these come from a batch of casks that were supposedly forgotten in the back of the distillery’s warehouses. Among others, this Ben Nevis was distilled in 1996 and released 26 years later in a limited run of 209 bottles. Since the casks were aged at the distillery itself in Brittany, it is not officially a Scotch whisky, which is why it is less expensive. The label was designed by the artist Averi. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

A lovely and fresh cereal-like aroma, fields of freshly harvested wheat, honey and molasses, slightly fermented white fruits, citrus, it’s vaguely effervescent, mellow, pear tart, peach melba, nougat, very light hint of minerality and limestone. On the palate, it’s smoother, lighter, very supple, subtle oak, egg custard, a dash of vanilla, dried pineapple, subtle spices, sun-kissed herbs. Very long finish, full of almonds, cooked pears, a touch of exoticism, and even tropical notes, banana split, papaya, cheesecake, chives. 

 

In Short, 

I’ll be very clear, this is a far cry from the usual 1996 Ben Nevis whiskies, the fruit is less pronounced, the exotic notes are almost exclusively present in the finish, and the alcohol content feels a bit low on the palate. It’s still a very good whiskey, though, with a highly complex nose and a superb finish. It used to be available at a really attractive price exclusively at Le Comptoir Irlandais, a French retail chain, but now it’s completely sold out, which is hardly surprising. 

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                      To Be Listened While Sipping : 

                                                      Steven Wilson - On Chapel Slope

Linkwood 1991 Signatory Vintage 19 yo c. 10359 + 10360

 

 

 

43°

Distillery : Linkwood - Speyside

Ex-Bourbon Hogsheads

Independent Bottling 

By Signatory Vintage

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2010

Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

In the 2010s, it wasn’t uncommon to come across this kind of bottling: a fine distillery, 19 years old, but diluted to 43 ABV and cold-filtered. Today, no one would ever do that. Yet it did make it possible to get some great bottles at a low price. This one is a blend of two Bourbon Hogsheads that yielded a total of 747 bottles. 

 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It :  

Gum, slivered almonds, a blend of delicate floral and mineral notes, a pinch of powdered sugar. Creamy vanilla, fresh lemon, lychee, pears and peaches. Sweet zucchini flower fritters, bread dough dusted with flour, freshly sanded wood. On the palate, it’s caramelized, egg custard, mountain honey and orange blossom, spices are almost nonexistent, marzipan, white grapes. A very pleasant finish, fairly long, hazelnut shortbread, crème fraîche, ginger, slightly tart candies. Grainy, malty, toasted cereals. Cooked egg yolk. 

 

In Short, 

I'm surprised, because it's not very fruity, unlike the typical Linkwood profile. On the other hand, there are lovely floral and mineral notes, along with citrus and white fruits. A lovely, somewhat unconventional Linkwood that suffers a bit from its low alcohol content and cold filtration. It’s sold out everywhere, but the friend who let us try it found it at a ridiculous price at a corner grocery store, so who knows, you might get lucky. 

Score : 88  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                      To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                             Chloé Antoniotti - Sakura

Ardnamurchan 2019 AD/Sherry Cask Release 2025

 

 

 

50°

Distillery : Ardnamurchan - Highlands 

Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez Sherry Casks

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Almost Unpeated

 

 

 

I had never had the chance to taste Ardnamurchan’s Sherry Cask Releases. It is an annual limited edition that has been available since 2023, so this is the third batch. There are also several Sherry Cask Releases available at cask strength, but they are reserved for certain countries and are hard to find outside those target markets. This batch is a blend of 24 casks, 14 hogsheads and 10 butts, most of which are Oloroso sherry casks, though not all. Only a few casks are peated. These are not finished whiskies, the maturation is complete. Overall, 13,056 bottles were produced. 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The sherry appears to me to work very well here, with intense fruit notes, pear cake, red berries dominated by redcurrants and raspberries, leather, jam, cooked fruit. But the distillate still comes through, roasted grains, macerated wood, cut hay, and a hint of iodine. The palate is satisfying, creamy, molasses, still-warm caramel, raisin pudding in custard, pumpkin, some ash mingling with spices. The finish is long, charred, flavored tobacco, coffee grounds, dark chocolate, varnished wood, a few smoky notes. A pinch of pepper. 

 

In Short, 

It’s a relatively classic sherry, but the distillery’s character still comes through on the nose. On the palate and in the finish, a little less so. It’s really well-made and very pleasant to drink. You don’t really notice how young it is, the peat is very subtle. It’s a little treat you won’t want to pass up. The price is fair, if you’re interested, go for it. 

Score : 87+

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                             To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                             Hiqby - Nothing

Ardnamurchan 2017 AD/Paul Lanois 5th Release 8 yo

 

 

 

57,4°

Distillery : Ardnamurchan - Highlands

1st Fill American Oak Bourbon Barrels and Champagne Wine Finish

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2026

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

It took nearly two years for this expression to reach its 5th Batch. Launched in 2021, it had previously been an annual release. This one was matured in 1st Fill American Oak Bourbon Barrels before undergoing a finishing period of approximately 14 months in Champagne wine Barriques sourced from Domain Paul Lanois in Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, France. It's a blending of around 10 casks, yielding exactly 5726 bottles, 2500 more than the previous batch. The age has also increased, approaching nine years, distilled in March 2017 and bottled in February 2026, whereas earlier batches were around 6 or 7 years old. Less frequent releases, but with greater volume and age, it's a good deal.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

It is floral and fruity, very citrusy with barley sugar, blood oranges, crushed almonds, rum-soaked raisins, candied lemon, a few farmyard notes of cut hay and peach pits. Salted butter caramel. On the palate, it is oily and intensely fruity, fresh apricots, totasted nuts, vanilla cream and liquid honey, ginger and rhubarb in the background. Dulce de leche and cracked black pepper. A powerful finish, blond tobacco, liquorice, sanded wood, a pinch of sea salt, mirabelle plum and banana fruit jellies. 

 

In Short, 

To be honest, I usually struggle with this edition since I'm not a fan of Champagne, but I have to admit that this batch is much better than the others. More maturity, more structure and fruitiness, an oilier spirit and a very fine finish, it's a genuinely solid whisky. What's more, it seems that the price has come down. It's an improvement all around.   

Score : 87+

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                             To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                             Starmother - Hesitation