Caol Ila 2013 The Single Malts of Scotland Small Batch 12 yo

 

 

 

48°

Distillery : Caol Ila - Islay

Refill Rum Barrels 

Independent Bottling 

By Elixir Distillers 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 35 ppm 

 

 

 

Among the first batch of the Small Batch sub-range is this Caol Ila, which has spent 12 years in four refill rum barrels. To be honest, I'm not a fan of rum barrel ageing, but these are refill ones, and I trust the team at Elixir Distillers. What's more, it has been selected by La Maison du Whisky for an exclusive sale in France. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Thick smoke, but as if frozen in icing sugar, roasted pineapple, lime slices, almond paste, juicy white grapes, persimmons, mirabelle plums. Honey and varnished wood, traces of tar, iodine and limestone, coarse sea salt and oysters. Beautiful fullness. On the palate, candied vanilla, treacle, brown sugar, rose Turkish delight, slightly subdued spices, grey pepper, fragments of dried peat, a touch of exotic fruit. A suitably long finish, full of salt and soot, green seaweed, salted butter caramel, blond tobacco, crushed hazelnuts, the warmth of a grog.

 

In Short, 

I must say that the tropical notes of rum blend very well with the distillery's maritime profile. It is full of exotic fruits, cane sugar, barley sugar, and peat emerges at times from behind. The smoke is like a veil that must be overcome to experience all the flavours. Unfortunately, the price is a little high, but it is still very enjoyable.   

Score : 88 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Ebon Veil - The House on Gallows Hill

Macduff 2011 The Single Malts of Scotland Small Batch 12 yo

 

 

 

48°

Distillery : Macduff - Highlands

Refill Sherry Butts

Independent Bottling 

By Elixir Distillers 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

For a launch worthy of the new Small Batch sub-range, which replaces Reserve Casks, the gentlemen at Elixir Distillers had a few surprises up their sleeves. This Macduff, for example, was bottled in 2024, but only went on sale in October 2025. It is a blend of four refill sherry butts, which gives it a slightly fruity flavour. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Attractive woody character on the nose, with hints of hazelnuts and chestnut cream. But it is also airy, with fruity and farmyard notes. Cut hay, raisins, apricots, chocolate fondant, caramelised orange peel. On the palate, creamy honey, peach purée, light caramel, a few blueberries. Mild spices, almond paste, cinnamon and nutmeg. Fairly long, robust finish, fig biscuits, Muscat grapes, freshly ground black pepper, oak bark. A coffee bean in retro-olfaction. Dried grass.

 

In Short, 

This is a distillery that always has its own character and personality. Here, I appreciated how the distillate is enhanced by the Refill Butts, whose influence is subtle. It makes for a very nice daily dram, albeit at a fairly high price. I suggest waiting for a promotion. 

Score : 87

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Princess Chelsea - Time

Octomore 2019 Edition 16.3 The Impossible Equation 5 yo

 

 

 

61,6°

Distillery : Bruichladdich - Islay

Bourbon, Sauternes and Pedro Ximénez Sherry Casks 

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 189,5 ppm

 

 

 

The third version of the 16th Octomore release was matured in three different types of casks: Bourbon, Sauternes, and Pedro Ximénez. Only Concerto barley was used, sourced from the Octomore farm on Islay, specifically from Church Field.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Slightly woody almond paste, studded with hazelnuts, pine needles, crunchy cereals, then smoke fills the nose. Beautiful and intense, full of icing sugar, laden with charcoal, and very mineral, chalky, salt stalactites. Stains of soot, gravel, lime, but also lychees, juicy pears, rose petals, ointment. On the palate, pure silk, rose water, barley sugar, white grapes, a zest of citrus, mandarins, then spices come in, cloves, cumin, black pepper. Splashes of peat. Powerful, lingering finish, shortbread biscuits, oranges and grapefruit, dried apricots, salted butter fudge, gypsum rock, salt crystals. Peaches.

 

In Short, 

It's surprising, but I didn't really taste the cereal, or very little of it, even though that's the hallmark of this edition. It's more mineral and creamy, coastal and fruity. The peat isn't at all overpowering, but it's not light either. The finish is superb, the rest is excellent without being overwhelming. It's a little less good than usual, in my opinion, but it's still very high quality. The price obviously gives pause for thought. 

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                            To Be Listened While Sipping : 

                                           Cairiss - Disgraced      

Torabhaig Sound of Sleat Legacy Series Chapter 4

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : Torabhaig - Islands

1st Fill and Refill Quercus Alba American Oak Toasted and Bourbon Casks

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 78 ppm

 

 

 

In a couple of years, Torabhaig will be able to release its ten-year-old whisky, but in the meantime, we can enjoy this Legacy Series, now in its fourth chapter, a succession of fairly young limited editions that showcase the various qualities of the distillate. According to some websites, this one is aged between five and six years and is a blend of Quercus Alba American Oak Casks, some heavily toasted, others 1st Fill from Kentucky, and others reconditioned in the distillery's cellars. The ppm level is very high, but this is not apparent in the glass. The barley varieties used are Concerto and Laureate, and the yeast is Pinnacle MG.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It :   

The limestone marries well with sweet vanilla, the peat is not too strong, quite mineral and full-bodied, slate, caramelised wood, salt crystals, wildflower honey. Beautiful power, mirabelle plums, hazelnut cream, coconut pearls. Very light lemon. Rocky, chalky, creamy on the palate, then some fruit, Conference pears, controlled spices. Almond paste. Relatively long finish, touch of woody bitterness, lychees, macerated almonds, lemon peel. A pinch of salt, tall grasses. Pepper and cloves. 

 

In Short, 

I must say that after the first two expressions in the series, which didn't really thrill me, this one is starting to look promising. It's still a little young, but there's a nice salinity and mineral notes combined with light fruit, everything is well controlled, it's nice. That said, I really liked the nose, but the palate is disappointing, still too light. And the finish is a little bitter. So it's not perfect, even if it's really interesting. At this stage, it can only get better. The price is about right. 

Score : 86

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Rosa Damask - The Sun

Linkwood 2014 The Single Malts of Scotland Small Batch 11 yo

 

 

 

48°

Distillery : Linkwood - Speyside

Refill Hogsheads 

Independent Bottling 

By Elixir Distillers 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured 

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

To launch this new sub-range called Small Batch, which is simply a new name for the defunct Reserve Casks, you need some interesting products. Such as this nonetheless 11-year-old Linkwood, a blend of four refill hogsheads, which could only allow the distillate to flourish. No indication of the number of bottles produced.  

 

 

 

Let's Taste It :  

It is fresh and herbaceous, reeds and dandelion, but very quickly becomes mellow and thick fudge, ripe fruit, slices of white peaches overflowing with juice, nectarines, various citrus fruits, kumquats, slightly wilted petals, wood splinters. On the palate, it is creamy, even honeyed, grapes, pears, apricots, some cereals, muesli, restrained spices. The finish is reasonably long, full of crunchy biscuits, dried fruit, young beams, candied vanilla, cake batter, milk chocolate, well-opened figs. 

 

In Short, 

It's very fruity, but not quite as overwhelmingly so as is sometimes the case with this distillery. As a solace, there are woody notes, cereals, some vegetal notes, it's very varied and balanced. A very fine bottling, and what's more, the price is really low, making it hard to resist buying. 

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :  

 

                                           Jockstrap - Concrete Over Water

Oban 12 yo Special Release 2025 Heart of the Harbour

 

 

 

54,7°

Distillery : Oban - Highlands

Ex-Bourbon American Oak Casks

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Almost Unpeated

 

 

 

Last year, the Oban Diageo Special Release underwent a complex maturation process. This year, nothing of the sort, simple American Bourbon Oak Casks will allow the distillate to shine. Otherwise, the principles remain the same, a limited edition in Cask Strength, without chill filtration or colouring.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

It is airy, with a slight hint of peat to give depth, juicy fruit, yellow peaches, squeezed lemon, white grapes, creamy fudge, candied vanilla, elegant woodiness with a waxy note, roasted hazelnuts. Perhaps a pinch of salt. On the palate, it is smooth, citrusy, with more pronounced wood and less ripe fruit. Green apples, sandy beaches, restrained spices. Drops of honey. The finish is slightly oily, salted butter caramel, shortbread biscuits, liquorice and toasted peanuts. Lime zest. 

 

In Short, 

It's really not bad at all. The character of the distillery comes through here, whereas it's often too discreet for my taste in other bottlings I've tasted. That said, it still lacks a little complexity to be truly impressive. All in all, it's just a pleasant experience. What's more, the price is really exaggerated, which is a shame. 

Score : 87

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Chris Stapleton - Joy of My Life

The Singleton Glen Ord 17 yo Special Release 2025 Into the Blue

 

 

 

55,5°

Distillery : Glen Ord - Highlands

Refill Bourbon Casks, 2d Fill Sherry and Mezcal Barrels Finish

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

Also part of the Diageo Special Releases 2025, this 17-year-old Glen Ord is the result of blending two types of maturation. One was aged for 12 years in refill bourbon casks, then for 5 years in second-fill sherry casks, while the other was aged for 14 years in the same refill bourbon casks, then for 3 years in mezcal barrels. I'm not a big fan of mezcal and I'm very wary of this kind of atypical maturation. But curiosity gets the better of me and I try a quarter dram.  

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Airy freshness, light tropical humidity, evanescent fruits, persimmon, melon, ripe pears. Raisins, cinnamon, baked apples. Candied lemon, toasted agave, then vegetal notes, reeds, bamboo, a few lychees. On the palate, it is smoother, with honey and crushed apricots, white peaches and prickly pears, a pinch of salt and ginger. Discreet spices and earthy notes. Fairly long finish, dry earth, white pepper, tanned leather, dried fruit, macerated almonds. Crushed hazelnuts, orange zest, mint leaf.

 

 

In Short, 

Yes, it's quite interesting, and it has the merit of being original. It's not bad, but it doesn't have the classic characteristics of a whisky, the mezcal has a lot of influence here. I'm not very enthusiastic, to be honest, but I did like the finish, which makes up for the rest. The price is very high, however, so it's not worth buying. 

Score : 87

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Silvius Leopold Weiss - Ciacona in G Minor

Roseisle 14 yo Special Release 2025 Harmonic Grace

 

 

 

55,9° 

Distillery : Roseisle - Speyside

Refill and Rejuvenated Bourbon Casks

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition

Single Malt

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated 

 

 

 

This is the third Roseisle included in Diageo Special Releases in as many years. The previous two were well received, so there is every reason to continue. But this time, Diageo plans to produce something older, so it will have spent 14 wonderful years in a refill bourbon cask that has been rejuvenated, meaning that the inside of the cask has been scraped to replace the old wood with new wood.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

It is light and evanescent, but with beautiful complexity, rose petals, candied fruit, Turkish delight, cat's tongue biscuits, ethereal vanilla, apple tart, pastry cream, churned butter. Delicate herbaceous notes. On the palate, it is just as subtle, apricots and white peaches, lychees, butter cookies, hazelnuts, lemon candies, subtle spices. The finish is a little shy at first, then more intense, crunchy nuts, dried almonds, sunflower seeds, sweet peppery notes. Reeds, bamboo. Red apples.

 

In Short, 

I found it more remarkable than the previous Diageo Special Release from this distillery, and more nuanced too, with lovely notes of candied fruit and flowers. A little gem. The price, however, remains high. It's true that Roseisle original bottlings are very rare, but the quality isn't exceptional either. 

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           In Inertia - Of All Things I Yearn For