Bowmore 2001 The Character of Islay Whisky Company 18 yo c. 11714

 

 

 

55,4°

Distillery : Bowmore - Islay

Refill Bourbon Barrel

Independent Bottling 

By The Character of Islay Whisky Company 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2020

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 25 ppm

 

 

 

This independent bottler’s existence was short-lived, four years at most, but each of its releases is legendary. This is particularly true of the Bowmore whiskies, which alone account for a third of the company’s production. This 18-year-old whisky was matured in a single refill bourbon cask, with a total of 184 bottles produced.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Iridescent iodine, sculpted limestone, with a lovely sea breeze, seaweed and exotic fruits. Dried hay, very fine and light peat, marine character, accompanied by oysters and razor clams. A very subtle trace of vanilla. Damp rock, sea foam, surf. Grapefruit and pineapple. On the palate, the fruit is more pronounced, citrus, banana, yellow plums, white peaches, but the maritime character remains strong, scallops, mussels, a few spices, varnished wood. The finish is long and gradually builds in intensity, lime zest, bamboo, nutmeg, dried tobacco, lumps of charcoal, beach sand, a pinch of bitterness.

 

In Short, 

It’s obviously excellent, and I’m actually convinced that it’s thanks to bottlings like this that Bowmore has once again become a leading distillery. It used to rely too heavily on original casks, sherry, wines of all kinds, and people had forgotten the quality of its spirit. In my view, it was this company that released these Bowmores in simple refill bourbon casks and restored the distillery to its former glory. That said, the price is still high for what it is, making it suitable only for die-hard fans and the very wealthy. 

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                     To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                                     Milton Andersen - Lilac Flowers

Blair Athol 2014 100 Proof Edition #64 11 yo

 

 

 

57,1° (100° Proof)

Distillery : Blair Athol - Highlands

2d Fill Oloroso Sherry Butts 

Independent Bottling 

By Signatory Vintage 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

The 64th bottling in the 100 Proof range, launched in January 2024 by Signatory Vintage, is an 11-year-old Blair Athol matured in second-fill Oloroso sherry butts. Blair Athol is, in my humble opinion, an underrated distillery, and it is always interesting to taste one of its expressions.

   

 

 

Let's Taste It :  

Mellow Sherry and robust oakiness, cherry wood beams, quince jelly, varnish, and light smoke that must stem from the intensity of the wood. A touch of citrus, nuts, dried fruit. Soft caramel, chocolate. Springtime freshness, morning dew, a stream winding its way between the rocks. On the palate, it is creamy, honeyed, treacle, apricot stones, then the spices come to life, black pepper, cloves. The finish is sufficiently long and powerful, brimming with sap, oozing with charcoal, mocha, buttered toasts, dates.

 

In Short, 

Critics generally aren’t too kind to this one, yet it does have its merits, the finish is really pleasant, the nose is nice, and it’s good on the palate. It’s certainly not a masterpiece, that’s for sure, but it’s a pleasant enough drink. Honestly, if you fancy trying something from the 100 Proof range, this isn’t the one I’d recommend you go for first, but if you do give it a go, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. 

Score : 87

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                 To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                               A Place To Bury Strangers - Losing Time

Springbank 2015 Fino Cask Matured 10 yo

 

 

 

55°

Distillery : Springbank - Campbeltown

Refill Bourbon Casks and Fresh Fino Sherry Finish

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 12 ppm

 

 

 

The latest addition to the Sherry Wood series, launched in 2022 and due to conclude this year, is this one, which was aged for 4 years in refill bourbon casks before undergoing a 6-year finish in fresh Fino sherry casks. 11,400 bottles are being released, which is 1,200 more than the Palo Cortado released in 2023 and 1,500 more than the Amontillado released in 2024. Is this an effort to meet demand? The final instalment in this series is due to be released this year, and it will be a Manzanilla Cask Finish. Which makes me think that several types of sherry will be missing from the series, notably Oloroso and Amoroso, or even Moscatel. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

A generous sherry, featuring redcurrants, marzipan, raspberry jelly. Brown sugar, maple syrup, melting dark chocolate. Lingering citrus notes, blood oranges, grapefruit, warm wax, heather honey, and a few herbaceous notes of reeds and bushes. A hint of iodine that lends lovely depth. A touch of smoky peat. On the palate, it is very oily, spicy, egg yolk, Reine-Claude plums, vanilla, varnished wood, lacquer, clove and cumin. A long, deep finish, waxy, macerated grapes, Aosta ham, hawthorn, dark tobacco, charcoal, black earth, caramel.

 

In Short, 

I have to say, this one is noticeably weaker on the palate than its two predecessors. I’ve compared them. That doesn’t make it a bad product, far from it, it’s just a tiny bit less good than the others, overall it’s still a very interesting and enjoyable drink. However, given the price on the secondary market, I wouldn’t recommend buying this one, go for one of the other two if you can, and if possible, the Palo Cortado. 

Score : 89 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                     

                                               To Be Listened While Sipping : 

                                                 Liminal - The Crop

Bowmore 22 yo Living Souls

 

 

 

52°

Distillery : Bowmore - Islay

1st Fill Bourbon Barrels

Independent Bottling 

By Living Souls 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2026

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured 

Peated around 25 ppm 

 

 

 

Living Souls is an independent bottler based in Glasgow, it has apparently been in existence since the 2010s, but it is only since 2024 that it has been flooding the market with a variety of bottlings. This one is one of its most renowned, as a 22-year-old Bowmore is not something you come across everywhere. All the more so as the maturation process has preserved the character of the distillate. However, what is unusual is that it is neither vintage nor a single cask, though this does not necessarily affect the quality of the product. Although one website states that it is cask strength, others do not specify this, so I assume it is not. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It :   

The nose is very clean, with a light sea breeze, subtle notes of iodine and sleet, pebbles on the beach, then exotic fruits emerge. Pineapple, banana, papaya, and of course a generous zest of lemon. Chalky peat in the background, layers of gypsum and salt crystals. On the palate, scallops, small oysters, razor clams, whelks and other shellfish, with a delicate touch of Bourbon, vanilla and lychees. Spices are clearly present, but not strong. A very controlled and very long finish, where honey dances with limestone, mirabelle plums with basalt, dried herbs, sap-filled wood, resin and a very slight bitterness. Nutmeg. More seafood.

 

In Short, 

Personally, I really liked it, it’s a perfect Bowmore, as good as it can be at this age, with everything you’d expect from it. It has a distinct maritime character, with barely perceptible peat, great delicacy overall, and generous fruit notes. The price is, of course, a little high, but lower than it was a while ago for this distillery. I’d recommend buying it if you can afford it. 

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                             To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Aisha Vaughan - The Water

Benriach 2013 100 Proof Edition #69 12 yo

 

 

 

57,1° (100° Proof)

Distillery : The BenRiach - Speyside

1st Fill Oloroso Sherry Butts and Bourbon Barrels

Independent Bottling 

By Signatory Vintage

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

This is the third time that this famous Speyside distillery has been featured in the 100 Proof range launched by Signatory Vintage in January 2024, and it’s the first time I’ve tasted a sample from it. It’s actually a distillery I’m quite fond of, but I’ve never had the chance to try it before. Here, we have a blend of first-fill Oloroso sherry butts and bourbon barrels, so I’m hoping there’ll be a lovely balance.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Pleasant woodiness, prunes, shiitake mushrooms, cigar box. Cream of chestnut soup, walnut cake, dates and figs. Cooked vegetables, a hint of red berries, molasses and soft caramel, varnish. A slight meaty smokiness. It's very spicy on the palate, cumin, horseradish, fresh fruit, olive oil, chocolate and coffee, lychees, a drizzle of vanilla. A very violent finish, quite long, charred and oaky, green apples, cut hay, succulent leaves, solvent, macerated bark, vines, brown sugar. Very slight bitterness.

 

In Short, 

The nose and finish are good, but once again, the influence of the cask is too strong and detracts from the quality of the palate, which is too spicy. Once again, this is no doubt a flaw that will mellow with time, but I still find it a shame. I’m still giving it a fairly good mark, however, as it has other qualities and a lovely power that make up for some of the flaws, but on the palate, it isn’t quite good enough to make it worth buying, in my view. 

Score : 86

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                    To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                                  Nueve Tuercas - Caleidoscopio

Springbank 2014 Amontillado Cask Matured 10 yo

 

 

 

55°

Distillery : Springbank - Campbeltown

Refill Bourbon Casks and Amontillado Sherry Finish

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 12 ppm

 

 

 

Before the release of the fifth (and final) issue in the Sherry Wood series, a series launched in 2022 with the Pedro Ximénez Cask Matured, I decided to devote some time to it and explore this one first. Released nearly two years ago now, this whiskey spent five years in refill bourbon casks, followed by five years in Amontillado sherry casks. A very long finish, then, before being split evenly among 9,900 bottles, which flooded the market very quickly, only to disappear even faster.

   

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

A warm, rich and oaky sherry, liquorice and Reine-Claude plum jam, dried figs, treacle, melting caramel, a coastal freshness that lends lovely fullness, dates, a campfire with a slight sticky, charred smokiness, black grapes, bacon. On the palate, it is silky, lychees, Turkish delight, powerful spices, nutmeg, black pepper, vanilla and red fruit jelly, two drops of honey. A powerful yet long finish, toasted wood, chocolate toffee, coffee grounds, a few redcurrants, herbaceous notes, parsley, thistle, mint leaves, roots. 

 

In Short, 

What I really liked about this one is that it retains a bit of the Springbank DNA, with welcome hints of iodine and a robust body. It’s a bit ‘dirty’, a bit coastal, and the sherry pairs very well with that. Well, to be honest, I preferred the Palo Cortado, which is a cut above, but this one has its own merits that are certainly worth noting. The price is very high, however; whilst the initial release price was reasonable, it sold out very quickly, and now you can only find it for exorbitant sums. It’s a real shame. 

Score : 90 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                              To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                              Stupid Lucky - At My Big Age

Springbank 2017 100° Proof 5 yo Selected for Springbank Society Members by Findlay Ross

 

 

 

57,1° (100° Proof)

Distillery : Springbank - Campbeltown

Fresh Bourbon Barrels

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 12 ppm

 

 

 

The Springbank Society is a very exclusive club, as I’ve been told that membership is limited. At the same time, they’re quite generous, since most of their exclusive bottlings end up on reputable retail sites, though the price is a bit higher, and you have to act fast to get your hands on a bottle. Take this one, for example, distilled in July 2017 and bottled in March 2023, it spent its early years in Fresh Bourbon Barrels (can someone explain to me what a Fresh Barrel is? And how it differs from a 1st Fill?), before being divided into exactly 2,166 bottles. Findlay Ross is the Production Director of J&A Mitchell & Co. Ltd., the company that owns Springbank and Glengyle, he is therefore one of the pillars of this exceptional distillery, and sometimes he enjoys selecting casks, as he has done here, for our greatest pleasure. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Butter and banana, hints of minerals, biscuit and limestone, subtle whiffs of peat. Caramel, peanut butter, liquid honey, maple syrup on toasted bread. Paraffin, crushed grains, brown sugar. Grapefruit, a light dash of vanilla. Oil-like mouthfeel, yellow plums, mirabelles, Reine-Claudes, generous spices, light woodiness, wax here and there, luscious citrus notes. Long and powerful finish, salt crystals, royal jelly, green apple, vanilla, honey, lime, dried herbs, pastry cream. 

 

In Short, 

It’s a Springbank concentrate with a ton of character, maybe even a little too much, but I didn’t detect any notes of farm or barn, so something’s still missing. It’s very subtle and well-crafted, yet intense, not to mention that you wouldn’t believe it’s so young. It’s worth taking a sip, but buying a bottle is a different story, given the price at which the last remaining bottles are being sold. 

Score : 88 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                               To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                               Yolk - Amber

Orkney (HP) 2011 100 Proof Edition #71 14 yo

 

 

 

57,1° (100° Proof)

Distillery : Highland Park - Islands 

Bourbon Casks and 1st Fill Oloroso Sherry Finish

Independent Bottling 

By Signatory Vintage

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2026

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 20 ppm

 

 

 

This is the 7th Orkney in the 100 Proof range launched in 2024 by Signatory Vintage, and it’s the 4th one I’ve tasted. Generally speaking, these are quite good, and they’re all aged 14 years, which is respectable. The sherry influence is always present, sometimes it’s blended with bourbon casks (100 Proof #15 and #38), and sometimes it’s exclusively sherry (100 Proof #23 and #30), but most of the time, it involves a finish in sherry casks, Amontillado (100 Proof #58), Palo Cortado (100 Proof #59), or Oloroso, as is the case here. As a result, although they all come from the same distillery, almost all of these bottlings are different, yet at the same time quite similar. This one is the most recent release, and neither the length of the finish nor the number of bottles released is known. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Warm woody notes, Swiss chocolate and brown sugar. There is some brown sugar and marzipan, a few Muscat grapes and macerated cherries, all bound together by heather honey and freshly tanned leather. A slight briny freshness, a zest of lime and grapefruit, dates, dried apricots. Warm wax. It's oily on the palate, olive oil, vituperative spices, splinters of wood under the tongue, varnish, liquid caramel, raisins, very slight bitterness. A fairly long and powerful finish, slightly charcoal-like, dark tobacco, white plums, crème brûlée, sage leaf, chlorophyll.

 

In Short, 

The sherry is still very prominent, and, although quite complex, I find it too woody. That said, I think this is a flaw that will fade with time, there are many beautiful things in this whiskey, but they’re still underlying, shy, perhaps a little aeration will give them more room to shine. You can sense the subtle influence of bourbon, especially on the finish, along with some elements of the distillery’s profile, coastal notes, though they’re very subtle. Obviously, the price is quite appealing, with this collection, it’s almost too easy to make a purchase. 

Score : 87

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                  To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Tapper - This is The Day