Caol Ila 2007 Hidden Spirits Highproof Version 14 yo

 

 

 

53,7°

Distillery : Caol Ila - Islay

2d Fill Bourbon Barrel

Independent Bottling 

By Hidden Spirits 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2022

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 35 ppm 

 

 

 

Among the releases from Hidden Spirits, there are two Caol Ila whiskies distilled in 2007 and of the same age, but the other has been bottled exclusively for The Whisky Roundabout, an Italian retail website. This one has simply been matured in a second-fill bourbon cask, which promises a pure distillate, and only 115 bottles were produced. A rarity, then, to be savoured with care. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

A greyish but fairly fine peat, with a vibrant iodine note, blending with liquid honey, carved limestone and dried seaweed. The peat becomes spongy, accompanied by waffles with maple syrup, a buttered baguette and a generous pinch of salt. A hint of mango, a touch of lemon zest. And, of course, a rather rich smokiness. Lard. Pleasant, full-bodied palate, creamy vanilla, soya milk, soft fruits, pears and mirabelle plums. Then the spices, grey pepper, cumin, grow increasingly pronounced. A powerful, long, full-bodied finish, charcoal ground to a powder, bread soaked in milk, an ounce of earth. Very slight bitterness. Cola nuts.

 

In Short, 

It’s a very pleasant Caol Ila, but it lacks a bit of fullness. It has everything you’d expect from this distillery, but without any particular originality or complexity. Let’s not complain, though, it’s really enjoyable to drink, and it’s not overly expensive given its age. But I’m used to better from Hidden Spirits. 

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                             To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                             Death in Vegas - Scorpio Rising

Ben Nevis 2014 100 Proof Edition #63 10 yo

 

 

 

57,1° (100° Proof)

Distillery : Ben Nevis - Highlands

1st Fill Pedro Ximénez Sherry Butts and 2d Fill Oloroso Sherry Butts

Independent Bottling 

By Signatory Vintage

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Almost Unpeated

 

 

 

So, as I was saying, of the eight Ben Nevis whiskies in the 100 Proof lineup, only two are neither heavily peated nor aged in first-fill sherry casks. This one is one of those two, while it’s matured exclusively in sherry casks, not all of them are first-fill. Aged 10 years, with no added colorings or chill filtration, we can expect a bit of character from one of the best distilleries in the Highlands. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Definitely more sherry, along with apricot, yellow peach, mirabelle and Reine-Claude plums, a drop of honey, a wisp of smoky charcoal, dark tobacco, varnished wood. Liquid egg yolk. Crushed red berries. A whiff of iodine. On the palate, it’s not bad, oaky, slightly lemony, almonds, vanilla milk, but the spices come through quite quickly, cumin and black pepper. Macerated grapes, Chinese soya-banana cake. A fairly long finish, though not particularly powerful, chocolate brownie, hazelnuts, liquorice, a slight bitterness, earth and ferns. Fig biscuits.

 

In Short, 

I’m not sure what to say, but I found this one rather flat. The nose lacks depth and complexity, the palate is decent but nothing special, even the finish is less powerful than usual. Perhaps it’s just me, but I’ve tasted it alongside other products from the same range that didn’t make the same impression. It’s not bad, of course, but it doesn’t have the same character as previous releases. It’s an impression I’ll have the chance to confirm, as I’ve still got some left. In the meantime, I’d advise sticking to the other releases instead. 

Score : 86

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                             To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                             New Constellations - Hot Blooded

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