The BenRiach 12 yo Sherry Wood

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : The Benriach - Speyside

Sherry Casks, Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez Sherry Finish

Original Bottling 

Core Range 

Single Malt 

Launched in 2018

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured 

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

First there was, between 2009 and 2016, the Benriach 12 yo Matured in Sherry Wood, which was legendary because, at one point, it contained juice over 12 years old, the distillery having ceased production in the early 2000s. Then, since 2018, this Sherry Wood, whose recipe is, it seems, a bit different. The Matured in Sherry Wood was double matured in Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez casks, while the Sherry Wood is triple matured.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Guess what? It's very sherried. Red fruits, cherries, raspberries, blackberries, but also citrus, pineapple, grapefruit, wood, leather, rubber. On the palate, chocolate, liquorice, dried fruits, figs, apricots, spices. Cardamom, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg. Quite dark and deep, not clear, fruity and easy-drinking, like some of the other bottlings aged in sherry casks. Finish is decent, if a little short. Coal, damp earth and biscuit dough, with a touch of salt.

 

In Short, 

Yes, it's interesting and quite original, so it's worth trying. On the other hand, it's now sold out, so the price has risen disproportionately.. 

Score : 83

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                            To Be Listened While Sipping :

                                            Stevie Wonder - Superstition

Balblair 12 yo

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : Balblair - Highlands

Ex-Bourbon and Double-Fired American Oak Casks 

Original Bottling 

Core Range 

Single Malt 

Launched in 2019

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

In 2019, the distillery, which until then has only produced vintage editions, is launching a regular range. This 12-year-old has undergone an original maturation process, partly in American Bourbon casks toasted twice.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Quite a fruity bourbon profile. Vanilla, pear, plums, but also some exotic fruits, pineapple, papaya, passion fruit. Light but constant lemon. On the palate, it's the same scenario, fruits jostling each other with a citrus zest in the background. Some cereals, malted barley, wheat, puffed rice. Dried fruits, raisins, apricots. Barely noticeable spices, nutmeg and turmeric. Melting caramel on the finish, charcoal, earthy, chocolatey. Relatively long. This makes a decent whole.

In Short, 

It's good, but it's still a bit light, and lacks complexity for my taste. There's nothing really original about it. It's not a remarkable whisky.

Score : 83

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping:

  

                                                     Elton John - Your Song

The Balvenie 17 yo DoubleWood

 

 

 

43°

Distillery : The Balvenie - Speyside

2d and 3rd Fill Ex-Bourbon Barrels, Sherry European Butts Finish

Original Bottling 

Core Range 

Single Malt 

Launched in 2012

Peated around 6 ppm

 

 

 

To celebrate fifty years of work at The Balvenie, David Stewart, the distillery's cellar master, is returning to the bottling that made him such a success, the 12-year-old DoubleWood. This time, however, he is proposing to extend the maturation period to 17 years, giving it greater depth and a higher alcohol content.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Attractive and light red fruits, grapes, elastic, leather, prune, this nose is fuller than the 12-year-old and more marked by the sherry. In the background, vanilla, mirabelle and lemon. A tiny touch of peat to cement it all together. Fruity palate with plum, more on damson, sunburnt blackberry, dried fig and aniseed biscuit. Various spices, not too strong, nutmeg, paprika. Quite a long finish, earthy but also fruity, heather earth, rich and heady aromas, almost vinous.

 

In Short, 

It's much richer than the 12-year-old, and from that point of view it's a success. However, the price seems rather extravagant.

Score : 85

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                          To Be Listened While Sipping :

   

                                                    Amy Winehouse - You Know I'm no Good

The Arran The Amarone Cask Finish

 

 

 

50°

Distillery : Isle of Arran - Islands

Ex-Bourbon Barrels and Italian Red Wine Amarone Finish

Original Bottling 

Core Range 

Single Malt 

Launched in 2010

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured 

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

The Cask Finish series includes three bottlings in the regular range: Sauternes Cask Finish, Port Cask Finish and Amarone Cask Finish. Three finishes in wine casks, each one a different wine, which have been complemented since 2016 by annual limited editions, also finished in wine casks.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The influence of Italian red wine casks makes this something warm, spicy, fruity, pear and plum. Floral and forest hints, tulip, undergrowth. Nutmeg and cloves. On the palate it's mainly woody, heather earth, oak bark, cinnamon. Prune, muscat grapes, caramel, wine lees. Slight lemon in the background. Very good finish, quite long, and fruity as well as pastry-like. Milk chocolate, cherries in kirsch, orange marmalade. A touch of charcoal at the end. Tannins.

 

In Short, 

No wonder it has been the distillery's success for ten years now, it's a fine blend. Personally, I think it could be better, if it were aged a little longer, and if the influence of the bourbon in the background were not so noticeable. But I'm probably being too picky, it's worth buying one without thinking.

Score : 85

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

  

                                           Aretha Franklin - I Dreamed a Dream

Bowmore 10 yo Inspired by The Devil's Casks Series

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : Bowmore - Islay

Oloroso Sherry Casks and Red Wine Barriques

Original Bottling 

Travel Retail Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2016

Peated around 25 ppm

 

 

 

Between 2013 and 2015, the distillery released three limited editions entitled The Devil's Casks Series. Produced in cask strength and aged in sherry, they were a great success. So much so that the following year, a new edition was launched for the travel trade, inspired by this series. The difference is that this time it's reduced, and it's no longer aged exclusively in sherry casks, so I imagine it's very loosely inspired.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Very rich, very intense sherry. Smoked raspberry. Humus, damp undergrowth. Midsummer bonfire in the forest. We warm ourselves by a large fire in the middle of the night, in the countryside. A ripe pomegranate is opened. The seeds crush in your hand. The juice between the fingers. Beautiful balance between smoke and red fruits. Mouth almost maderised. Cherry, morello cherry, blackberry, a few gooseberries, wood and charcoal. Smoked ham. Increasingly strong spices, cloves, ginger, nutmeg, grey pepper. Then blueberry, quince and apricot jam. The finish is sparkling, intense, greedy, wine-lees, cola, cocoa, coffee beans, very long, superb. Strawberry juice mixed with sugar at the end.

 

In Short, 

I can't believe it. A very intense, well-balanced sherry, successfully blended with wine casks. It's superb value for money, which this distillery hasn't accustomed us to at all. A bottling like this in the regular range, and Bowmore would regain its reputation. Unfortunately, as a limited edition, it has become almost impossible to find and the price has almost doubled.   

Score : 88 

                                            To Be Listened While Sipping :

                                            Emerson, Lake and Palmer - Fanfare For The Common Man

Jura 12 yo

 

 

 

40° 

Distillery : Isle of Jura - Islands 

Bourbon Barrels and Oloroso Sherry Finish 

Original Bottling 

Core Range 

Single Malt 

Launched in 2017

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

In the past, the distillery's range included the 12-year-old Elixir and the 10-year-old Origin. Then, a few years ago, the mystical terms were removed from these two expressions, giving way to a welcome sobriety. It seems that the recipe has changed too. The Elixir is reported to be a blend aged in sherry and bourbon casks, while this 12yo was simply finished in sherry casks.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The sherry influence brings a real plus. Once again, it's warm, woody, slightly fruity, marmalade of oranges and rhubarb, with an ounce of smoke, it seems to me. Or is it charcoal? Slight hint of vanilla in the background. Crushed lemon pulp. On the palate, apricots, prunes, peaches and damsons, discreet and colourful spices. Very pleasant. But the finish is a little acidic, which is really this distillery's weak point. Fortunately, it's fairly short.

 

In Short, 

It's another blend that doesn't really work for me. It's a shame, it wasn't far off. The nose and palate are quite decent and appealing. But the finish is really unpleasant in my opinion.

Score : 81

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                          To Be Listened While Sipping :

  

                                                     Panayotis Stathopoulos - Aman Doktor

Caol Ila 13 yo Discovery

 

 

 

43°

Distillery : Caol Ila - Islay

Bourbon Casks

Independent Bottling 

By Gordon & MacPhail

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Edited in 2018

Peated around 35 ppm

 

 

 

Launched in 2018, the Discovery range is one of the 5 classifications from bottler Gordon & MacPhail. It is undoubtedly the most accessible to the general public, with non-vintage bottlings at a reasonable price.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The influence of bourbon casks is quite strong, barely mitigated by a stringy peatiness. Icing sugar, vanilla, caramel, leather. The distillery's maritime profile is discreetly asserted: salt, tide, iodine,kelp, seaweed. A sunny beach in summer. Quite fresh. On the palate, white fruits, citrus, it's very sweet. Candied lemon, grapefruit, exotic fruits, banana, papaya. Custard. Good, fairly long finish, with earth and genoise. Butter biscuits. Galettes from Pont-Aven.

 

In Short, 

It's pleasant, both typical enough for the distillery to be recognisable, and original enough for even seasoned Caol Ila enthusiasts to find something to their liking. The introductory price is right, so why not give it a try?

Score : 85

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :  

                                           The Specials - Rat Race

Port Charlotte 2003 16 yo

 

 

 

55,8°

Distillery : Bruichladdich - Islay

1st Fill, Refill Bourbon Hogsheads, Sauternes, Sherry, Ex-Bourbon and Virgin Oak Casks

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2020

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 40 ppm

 

 

 

On the occasion of Feis Ile 2020, which took place virtually only because of the pandemic, the distillery launched an online lottery, with lucky winners being awarded the right to buy this 16-year-old for the modest sum of £150. Limited to just 3,000 copies, this edition was a big hit on the auction sites. The maturing process is highly complex, divided into 3 parcels. The first was transferred to Bourbon Hogsheads, then first-fill Bourbon casks, the second is aged in first-fill Bourbon Barrels, then Sauternes casks, and finally the third is a blend of Sherry, Bourbon and virgin oak casks.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Ocean air, tide, coarse salt, with a hint of hazelnut. Intense iodine. Armenian paper, then the peat rises, bewitching. Milk chocolate, toffee, soft caramel. Candied fig. Light smoke. Behind, a shade of vanilla. Honey. Very suave on the palate, delicate, vinous, woody blackberry, blueberry, but the spices come through, warm, nutmeg, ginger, curry, paprika. Heather earth, sandalwood, wine lees. Very strong and extremely long finish, varnished, very well-balanced, grilled bacon with oozing fat, smoked salmon, and finally some fruits, quinces, cooked apples, caramelised. Coffee aftertaste.

 

In Short, 

It's safe to say that it's very good. The extremely complex maturation process produces a result that is as destabilising as it is original. Unfortunately, the price is violent. When you release a very limited edition of 3000 copies, it encourages speculation.  

Score : 90

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Siouxsie & The Banshees - Israel

Octomore 2008 Masterclass 08.2 8 yo

 

 

 

58,4°

Distillery : Bruichladdich - Islay 

French Mourvedre, French Sauternes and Austrian Sweet Wine Casks, Amarone Finish

Original Bottling 

Travel Retail Edition

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2017 

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 167 ppm

The 2nd version of the 8th batch in the Octomore series, intended for the travel trade, was aged for six years in Sauternes, Mourvedre and Austrian sweet wine casks, then finished for two years in Amarone casks, an Italian red wine. It was made entirely on Islay, from harvesting to bottling. The edition is limited to 36,000 bottles.

Let's Taste It : 

Heavy and pungent wine, this must be the influence of Amarone or Mourvedre. The wood and wine influences mingle, then it evolves towards red fruits, raspberry and blackcurrant, tempered by a bit of iodine, and the peat finally rises. Slightly smoky and charcoal-like, earthy, it marries very well with the heady hints of sweet wine. Red plum skin, damson, muscat grape. Metallic hints, iron filings. This red wine is almost sickening. Fermented fruits. On the palate, tannins, heather earth, blackberries crushed by the sun, blueberries, then some spices, but light, coarse salt, nutmeg. Finally, the Sauternes comes through, but only slightly, white fruits marinated in sugar, gooseberries and mirabelles. Very long finish, but not very strong, on varnished wood and chocolate, fig jam, some orchard fruits.

 

In Short, 

Once again, a prodigious feat has been achieved, with multiple maturation that is nonetheless perfectly balanced. The peat is not at all intrusive, although the red wine casks are a little. For me, a lover of Bordeaux and Sauternes, this is fine, but it may be too much for others. The price is obviously a deterrent.

Score : 91

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

                                           Einstürzende Neubauten - Die Befindlichkeit Des Landes

Balblair 15 yo

 

 

 

46° 

Distillery : Balblair - Highlands

Ex-Bourbon Casks and 1st Fill Spanish Oak Butts

Original Bottling 

Core Range 

Single Malt 

Launched in 2019

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured 

Totally Unpeated

In 2019, the distillery, which until now had only produced vintage bottlings, is launching a regular range. This 15-year-old has undergone exactly the same maturation as the 18-year-old.

Let's Taste It : 

It's immediately rich in fruits, quite greasy and sweet. Vanilla and white fruits, perhaps finished in bourbon barrels? Pear, apple, but also banana, guava and mango. A pinch of various citrus fruits, mandarin and orange. On the palate, the same music, a festival of very ripe fruits. Coated with honey. Spices go unnoticed. Good finish, quite long, woody and caramelised. A touch of dark chocolate and orange, almost earthy. Cocoa beans, mocha, chicory.  

In Short, 

Really nice and pleasant. I really liked it. It's a little less subtle than the 18-year-old, but more straightforward, and more chocolaty at the end. It's a pity, I think the price is really exaggerated.

Score : 85

                                          To Be Listened While Sipping :

  

                                           Tom Jones - Delilah

Elements of Islay 2007 Lg10 12 yo

 

 

 

57,4°

Distillery : Lagavulin - Islay

Ex-Bourbon Barrels

Independent Bottling

By Elixir Distillers 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2019

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 38 ppm

 

 

 

The tenth Lagavulin bottling from Elixir Distillers, this is a blend of 3 Bourbon casks. Only 986 bottles were produced.

 

 

 

  

Let's Taste It : 

A nice, fairly fresh nose, with iodine and salt, but you can't really smell the sea, it must be low tide. Rather menthol, coriander, icing sugar, more candy than pastry. Lemon, vanilla, white fruits, everything that befits ageing in bourbon casks. Well-balanced. Very suave on the palate, flower honey, the fruits are heavy, perhaps a little too ripe. Tropical flavours, banana, pineapple, papaya. Heavy finish that moves without tearing, quite long. Damp earth, chestnut cream.

 

In Short, 

An interesting bottling with enough intensity to make you want to come back for more. The price is sweet, but it lacks the complexity of the distillery's annual 12-year-olds.

Score : 87

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

   

                                                     Hole - Violet

Glengoyne 2008 Provenance Special Selection for The Whisky Trail 10 yo

 

 

 

46° 

Distillery : Glengoyne - Highlands 

Refill Bourbon Hogshead 

Independent Bottling 

By Douglas Laing & Co. 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask

Bottled in 2018

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

At Douglas Laing's, the Provenance range brings together Scottish single casks of a relatively young age, around ten years. This one is a Glengoyne aged in Bourbon casks, selected for The Whisky Trail, Scotland's most famous whisky distributor, based in Edinburgh. 342 bottles were produced.

 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

White fruits, lemon zest, grapefruit, coarse salt, damp grass. The Scottish countryside, with green hills as far as the eye can see. A vague impression of iodine, but I must be imagining things. On the palate, pear and white plums, a dash of vanilla. Sandalwood, floral fragrances, daffodils and jasmine. Quite a long finish, with varnished wood and soft caramel. A hint of latte macchiato. Gingerbread. Damp earth. Fig and banana. Liquorice stick.

 

In Short, 

It's really nice and pleasant to drink. I could do with a second glass. Having said that, it's not my thing, not an ounce of peat and aged in bourbon casks, I'm already surprised that I enjoyed it a little.

Score : 84

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                          To Be Listened While Sipping : 

   

                                          Willie Nelson - Always On My Mind

Kilchoman 2010 Vintage 9 yo

 

 

 

48°

Distillery : Kilchoman - Islay

Ex-Bourbon Barrels and Oloroso Sherry Butts 

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2019

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 50 ppm 

 

 

 

Since 2011, the distillery has been offering every two years this limited edition called Vintage. This is the 5th batch, and each time the whisky is a year older. The first batch was only 5 years old, and the current batch is 4 years older, making it the oldest of all. 15,000 bottles are for sale. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

A nose of mineral peat, limestone, gravel, plastic and rubber, damp sand, but also shells, guano, rocky iodine and kelp. A cliff-fringed beach, hit by a strong winter wind. On the palate, light vanilla, white plum, juicy apple, it's low tide, the sea is calmer. Peat is behind, with evanescent spices. Nice finish, not overly long, but just the right amount of aggression, with fruit, earth and a peaty substrate. Damp earth, swamp. Light citrus and nutmeg.

In Short, 

I really enjoyed it. The profile is quite similar to that of the Machir Bay, but more refined and subtle. Anyone who appreciates Machir Bay should be interested. Personally, I think it's a bit expensive for what it is.

Score : 85

                                          To Be Listened While Sipping :

  

                                          Placebo - Begin The End

Ardbeg Drum

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : Ardbeg - Islay

Ex-Bourbon Casks and Ex-Rum Finish

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2019

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 54 ppm

 

 

 

The Feis Ile 2019 limited edition was finished in rum barrels. Launched in June to coincide with Ardbeg Day as usual, it sold out in less time than it takes to drink a bottle.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Gritty and vegetal peat. Pungent grasses on muddy gravel. Thick, choking smoke. Black, oily earth. A hint of citrus fruit stuck in a charcoal trap. As the minutes go by, the sweetness of the rum emerges, but remains discreet. Then a certain balance is achieved, between lemon and peat. On the palate, the sweetness is quickly overtaken by fairly strong spices, ginger, coriander and white pepper. Citrus zest. The finish is full of charcoal, but rather short. Mandarin.

 

In Short, 

To my knowledge, this is the distillery's weakest limited edition. The profile is quite similar to An Oa, only a little better, but at the same time it costs two or three times as much. People will tell me that it's not their fault that people are snapping it up, but in my opinion, if you're successful, you make sure you live up to it. That's not the case with this edition in any case.

Score : 87

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

  

                                           Eels - Novocaine For The Soul

Kilchoman 100 % Islay The 9th Edition

 

 

 

50°

Distillery : Kilchoman - Islay 

1st Fill and Refill Bourbon Casks 

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2019

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured 

Peated around 20 ppm

Since 2011, Kilchoman has been offering this annual limited edition made entirely on Islay, from harvesting to bottling. Each time, it is aged in bourbon casks and less peated than the distillery's other products. This batch contains 12,000 bottles.

Let's Taste It : 

On the nose, cereals and peat, wheat, barley, millet. Add to that light vanilla, meringue and chantilly, genoise and just a hint of lemon. Wheat, sunshine, orchard fruits, ripe apple, crispy pear, peach. Pleasant palate with white fruits, plums, grapes, mirabelles. Very discreet peat, friendly spices, paprika, cardamom and ginger. The finish is a little aggressive, earthy, coaly and stony. Quite long, though. Quince and orange jam in retro-olfaction. 

In Short, 

It's amazing how similar it is to Bruichladdich Islay Barley, with the added peat. And more prominent bourbon casks. However, I think I prefer Islay Barley, which has more cereals, and is also cheaper, I think.

Score : 85

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

  

                                                     Blondie - Heart of Glass

Machrie Moor Cask Strength The Peated Arran Malt

 

 

 

56,2°

Distillery : Isle of Arran - Islands

Ex-Bourbon Casks 

Original Bottling 

Core Range 

Single Malt 

Launched in 2018

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 20 ppm

After 4 limited annual editions of this Machrie Moor Cask Strength, Isle of Arran has decided to release it as part of its permanent range. As a result, I'm not sure it is still cask strength.

Let's Taste It : 

Granular peat, gravel, tar, coal. A bit sticky, vegetal. Marshes, mud, reeds. Something tropical. Humus. Forest humidity. Fruits behind, rather discreet. Apples, pears and honey. Nice palate, with vanilla and custard. A hint of lemon, counterbalanced by the thick peat. Fairly rich spices. But the finish is average, kind of short and lacking explosiveness, which is a bit of a shame for a cask strength, which is what we came for. Cola, earth, chocolate and coffee.

In Short, 

Not bad at all, for a distillery that doesn't specialise in peat. That said, it's still a long way from Islay, and the finish lacks punch.

Score : 85

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

  

                                                     Talking Heads - Psycho Killer

Arran Sherry Cask 7 yo

 

 

 

55,8°

Distillery : Isle of Arran - Islands

1st Fill Sherry Hogsheads 

Original Bottling 

Core Range 

Single Malt 

Launched in 2019

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated 

Seeking to revive the sherry cask-aged bottlings for which the Isle of Arran was famous when dozens of distilleries flourished there, Isle of Arran is offering this new entry in their usual range, dubbed The Bodega, although it doesn't say so on the bottle, nor does it say how old it is.

Let's Taste It : 

They went all out with the sherry. It's certainly fruity, with apple compote and raisins, meringue pie and cinnamon, quince marmalade, but I find it lacking in depth. It's pleasant on the palate though, very woody, with some spices, paprika, cloves, nutmeg. You can feel that it's quite young, but the damsons and blackcurrants have a field day, as do the tart tatin and lemon cream. The finish is not very long, sandy, paprika and saffron, cranberries, gooseberries.

In Short, 

It's pretty good value for money for a cask strength, and will suit any self-respecting sherry bomb enthusiast. Personally, I didn't like it very much, there was something about the balance between the wood and the sherry that I didn't like.

Score : 85

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

  

                                           The B-52's - Love Shack

Edradour 2008 Natural Cask Strength 10 yo

 

 

 

58,7°

Distillery : Edradour - Highlands

1st Fill Ex-Bourbon Casks 

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2018

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

As part of the Ibisco Decanter Series, the distillery regularly releases cask strength bottlings, matured in either sherry or bourbon. This edition, launched in early 2019, is produced in a limited edition of 680 bottles.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Very good balance between vanilla, red fruits and wood. Robust wood covered in splinters, light red fruits, wild strawberries, damsons, but above all intense vanilla, candied, glazed in sugar, accompanied by lemon and other citrus fruits. The palate is similar, leaving the spotlight on the vanilla. Very good finish, pleasant and long enough, once again fruity and woody, more pastry-like, with genoise and caramel. A touch of dry earth and nuts at the end.

 

In Short, 

It is, of course, very friendly and appetising. That said, I find the bourbon casks a little too intrusive and make the whole a bit monochrome, although very pleasant. 

Score : 86

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                          To Be Listened While Sipping :

  

                                                     Scarlet Pleasure - What a Life

Scallywag The Red-Nosed Reinder Edition 3 12 yo

 

 

 

48°

Distillery : Mortlach, Macallan, Glenrothes - Speyside

Sherry Casks

Independent Bottling 

By Douglas Laing & Co. 

Limited Edition 

Blended Malt 

Bottled in 2018

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

As part of the Remarkable Regional Malts range, Scallywag is the bottling that pays tribute to Speyside whiskies, with a blend of Mortlach, Macallan, Glenrothes and surely other distilleries. The very limited edition The Red-Nosed Reinder was released in three batches, in 2016, 2017 and 2018. This one is the 3rd and final batch, of which only 450 bottles were sold. This is the Scallywag, but aged for 12 years and aged only in sherry casks. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The very tasty, very fine sherry is the first thing that stands out. Bright red fruits, raspberry, gooseberry, strawberry, a woody, slightly spicy flavour, freshly cut leather, quince jam and mirabelles in the background. I thought I smelled a hint of smoke but I may have been wrong. Still sherried on the palate, but softer, with a few yellow plums and cereals. Very long finish, dry earth and lignite, with something reminiscent of iodine and the sea.

 

In Short, 

The sherry is superb, great for connoisseurs, but it seemed to me that it was so intense that it hid the Speyside hallmarks. As a result, I'm not sure that this bottling fulfils its mission of paying tribute to this region. It is still very pleasant to drink though.

Score : 86

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

  

                                                    Pulp - Common People

Ardmore 1997 Old Particular 21 yo

 

 

 

51,5°

Distillery : Ardmore -Speyside

Refill Hogshead

Independent Bottling 

By Douglas Laing & Co.

Limited Edition 

Single Cask

Bottled in 2018

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 12 ppm

 

 

 

The Old Particular range offers only vintage Single Casks, reduced to either 48.4° or 51.5°, or cask strength. Only 295 bottles of this limited edition have been released.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

A fresh, invigorating, iodised, maritime nose. The beach at low tide. A few pebbles. Citrus fruits, lemon, grapefruit. Moss, a hint of peat. A foresty character settles in. Holly, undergrowth, heather. On the palate, coarse salt, white fruits, juicy apple, grapes, vanilla and orange peel. Mirabelle plum. Not very disturbing spices. Unfortunately, the finish is not up to scratch, too short I think. There's still a touch of charcoal and a pinch of earth. It is reasonably woody.

 

In Short, 

I would have really liked it if the finish had been as remarkable as the nose and the palate. It's a shame, but there are some very satisfying elements in this bottling.

Score : 86

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

  

                                                     Baxter Dury - Cocaine Man

Balblair 18 yo

 

 

 

46° 

Distillery : Balblair - Highlands

Ex-Bourbon Casks and 1st Fill Spanish Oak Butts

Original Bottling 

Core Range 

Single Malt 

Launched in 2019

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

In 2019, the distillery, which until then had only produced vintage editions, is launching a regular range, of which this 18-year-old is the pinnacle.

Let's Taste It : 

Intense vanilla, toffee, white fruits, plums, Italian grapes, with a dash of banana, cereals and liquid honey. Very rich. On the palate, exotic fruits, mango, citrus, mirabelles, grapefruit, papaya, passion fruit. A lemon zest. Ginger and turmeric. An ounce of charcoal and wood to flesh it all out. Varnish. Very long finish, on cola, nuts, peanuts and a few discreet spices. Nutmeg, cloves. Macadamia nuts, cocoa powder. Rich and deep earth. Heather.

Bref, 

It's really nice, with a great variety of fruits. However, it fails to reach the level of excellence usually expected from an 18-year-old.

Note : 86

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

  

                                                    The Divine Comedy - A Lady of a Certain Age

Peated Cask Matured Blended Malt Scotch Whisky The Classic Range

 

 

 

44,2°

Distillery :  The Ardmore, Laphroaig - Speyside, Islay

Small Batch Bourbon Casks

Independent Bottling 

By Berry Bros. & Rudd

Core Range 

Blended Malt 

Launched in 2018

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

 

 

 

The Classic Range, which includes whiskies from Speyside, Islay and Ireland, also includes a whisky aged in peated casks, which are believed to be Laphroaig casks. The whisky aged in these casks, impregnated with a low phenol content, is thought to be partly Ardmore.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Good damp peat with a medicinal touch, the juice is strongly impregnated by the casks, which is astonishing. Limestone rock, granite, light fruits and sea breeze. Vanilla and honey on the palate, with a light fruitiness and creaminess. Unripe melon, cherry tomatoes, cereals, millet, barley, quinoa. Some floral fragrances. Fairly long finish on charcoal and honey. Puffed rice. Gravel, sand, wheat. A sunny day on a deserted Scottish beach.

 

In Short, 

I liked the contrast between the strength of the peated casks and the lightness of the aromas. That said, I wonder if I've exaggerated the score, given what I've read here and there about this bottling. In any case, it seemed to work for me.

Score : 86

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

                                                     Joe Cocker - With a Little Help From My Friends