Glengoyne 12 yo

 

 

 

43°

Distillery : Glengoyne - Highlands

1st Fill, 2nd Fill American Bourbon and 1st Fill European Sherry Casks

Original Bottling 

Core Range 

Single Malt 

Launched in 2009

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated

The difference is tight between Glengoyne's 10 year old and 12 year old. Three degrees more alcohol, and for my part I find a greater influence of Bourbon. However, the Sherry casks are first fill and should stand out. With this 12yo, the idea is to satisfy the Western European market with a product of better quality, but still very competitive in terms of price.

Let's Taste It : 

The nose is full-bodied and more vanilla-like, with hints of white plum and coconut. Round and sweet, with hints of genoise biscuit and waffle with whipped cream. The first taste is suave, with a hint of lemon. Then the spices kick in, pepper, mustard and ginger. Warm. The finish is very balanced, not very aggressive, but quite long, with muscat grapes and a sprinkling of milk chocolate. The finish is evanescent, with green apples and a few floral hints.

 

In Short, 

For a few euros more, I think it would be better to buy this one, which is more solid and tasty. However, I'm not totally convinced, it lacks sherry for my taste, even though it's quite good overall.

Score : 85

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

  

                                           Al Green - How Can You Mend a Broken Heart

Glengoyne 10 yo

 

 

 

40°

Distillery : Glengoyne - Highlands 

American ex-Bourbon and European Sherry Casks

Original Bottling 

Core Range 

Single Malt 

Launched in 2006

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

As Glengoyne is a distillery that prides itself on producing a malt that is absolutely free of peat, I was a little prejudiced towards them, as the absence of peat is in no way proof of the purity of the malt in my opinion. But they are also the only distillery, along with Macallan, to use Golden Promise barley, which is of excellent quality, and they are famous for their slow malting, using only hot air. So it's well worth trying the whole range. In the 1980s, the distillery sold a 10-year-old Pure Malt with a very different recipe. This recipe dates from 2006, shortly after Ian MacLeod Distillers bought the distillery.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Honey, hazelnut and wood: a soft, pleasant start on the nose, a little shy but well-crafted. The fruits are welcoming, yellow plums, pineapple, apple, grapefruit. An astonishing blend, which does not detract from the balance. Spicy on the palate, with paprika, curry and saffron. Raw leather. Italia grapes. A dash of vanilla. The finish is light but quite long, mellow, with hints of banana and dried coconut. It's very smooth, uncluttered and surprisingly so.

 

In Short, 

In my opinion, it's not bad at all. More of an aperitif whisky, very pleasant, sweet, but fairly harmless.

Score : 84

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                          To Be Listened While Sipping :

   

                                          Smokey Robinson - Cruisin'

Bårelegs Islay Single Malt

 

 

 

46°

Distillery Officially Unknown - Islay

Refill Bourbon Casks

Independent Bottling 

By The Islay Boys Ltd.

Core Range 

Single Malt 

Launched in 2018

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 35 ppm

 

 

 

The Islay Boys are two Islay natives who have created several brands, including this one, in tribute to a certain Magnus Bårelegs, a Norwegian Viking from the 11th century. The source of their juice remains a secret, but it is, of course, peaty as it should be.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

A strong iodised nose, with just the right amount of peat. Citrus fruits, dry earth, fresh wood. I can tell that this is a Lagavulin in all its adolescent tenderness (seven years old, I'm told). Candy sugar, almond. Limestone. Yes, that's it. On the palate, it's unfortunately a bit young and light, but it's salty, maritime, lemony, rocky, foamy, kelpy, more peat, everything you need. Brown sugar. Good finish, very slightly acidic, with grapefruit. Salt stars, damp sand, marshes.

 

In Short, 

It's really very nice, and at a more than charitable price. I recommend it for lovers of good peat. It was one of the two Islay Boys who told me it was Lagavulin, but I'm not so sure, it could just as well be Caol Ila.

Score : 85

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

  

                                           The Church - Under The Milky Way

Isle of Raasay Lightly Peated R-02 3 yo

 

 

 

46,4°

Distillery : Isle of Raasay - Islands 

1st Fill Rye Whiskey, Chinkapin Virgin Oak and 1st Fill Bordeaux Red Wine Casks

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2021

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 25 ppm

 

 

 

After a first Batch released earlier in the year, the distillery is releasing this second test in September 2021 with the same recipe, called Na Sia, based on 3 different types of cask, each prepared with peated and unpeated Concerto barley, making a sextuple maturation in total. Ageing and bottling are done on the distillery's own premises, which operates almost entirely independently, rather like Kilchoman.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Crimson fruits, red berries, smoked blueberries. Then iodine, but light. Fairly fine smoke. Greasy peat. Indian spices. Candied ginger. Light but suave on the palate, with sea salt, diluted lemon and a touch of grapefruit. Quite rocky, with gypsum and pearly sea foam. The tide is there, kelp, salt, with fairly light sand. A sunny day in winter. Sea breeze, slate, quartz. The finish is long and stringy, fresh and cottony. Lychee juice. Dry earth and chestnuts. 

In Short, 

It's very good, and you don't feel the youth of the juice at all, it's amazing how much progress has been made in whisky making. This distillery is definitely one to watch for me, having said that I preferred the Batch R-01, although this one is slightly more peaty. I warmly recommend buying it.

Score : 85

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

  

                                          Status Quo - Whatever You Want

Penderyn Rhiannon

 

 

 

46° 

Distillery : Penderyn - Wales

Buffalo Trace Bourbon Barrels and Oloroso Hogsheads, Grand Cru French Red Wine Finish

Original Bottling

Limited Edition

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2019

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

In 2012, Penderyn came up with the idea of launching a range of 50 different bottlings, called Icons of Wales, at the rate of one a year. This should take us up to 2061, except that we're already behind schedule, as we're still waiting for the 8th edition, which should have been released last year. So this Rhiannon is the latest icon to pay tribute to all the key figures and events in this amazing region of Wales. Rhiannon means "great queen" in Middle Welsh, and is a female character from the mythical story The Mabinogi, written between the 14th and 15th centuries, but whose oral tradition dates back to antiquity. She is a strong, free woman who refuses to marry the man she has been promised.

Let's Taste It : 

A bitter note, like ginger ale. Wood glue. It's quite mineral, rocky, with some rare herbs. A slight sweetness in the background, on soft caramel, quince paste. Candied chestnut. A few hints of iodine and citrus, which eventually dominate. Dried fig, salt shards. On the palate, lemon, limestone, ginger, a hint of lychee and wood. But it's light overall. The finish is quite long and syrupy, but not so powerful. A touch of acid and vanilla. Wood peel and charcoal. Fine sand.

In Short, 

It's not bad, I like this slightly austere minerality. On the other hand, I think it lacks a bit of personality. The finish in Sherry casks and French wine casks is barely noticeable, which is a shame.

Score : 83

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

                                           Fleetwood Mac - Rhiannon

Laphroaig Càirdeas 2021 Pedro Ximénez Casks

 

 

 

58,9°

Distillery : Laphroaig - Islay

American Ex-Bourbon Barrels and Quarter Casks, Pedro Ximénez Sherry Finish 

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2021

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 43 ppm

Every year since 2008, the distillery has released a new edition of Càirdeas (which means 'friendship' in Gaelic) to celebrate Feis Ile. And every year, the number of bottles seems to increase. While the very first Batch was produced in 3600 bottles, this one has 32000. Over the years, John Campbell has stepped up his imagination to offer us different maturations, but here it's simply the PX Cask in cask strength.

Let's Taste It: 

The nose is full-bodied, fruity, deep, almost floral. Coal and limestone. Blackcurrant, fig, chestnut, blueberry. The peat rises slowly. Fruit paste. It's luscious, with earth and red plums. Wood, liquorice. Pleasant, fine, grainy smoke. The Laphroaig profile comes next, nails, medicine, asphalt, burnt tyre. Gooseberry on the palate, quite suave, thick peat, spices, cumin, ginger, chilli. Liquorous. Honey, raspberry sponge cake. Powerful but not devastating finish, long, lignite, rock, Madeira, slush, amarena, crumpled bodywork. Iron filings. Wine lees.

In Short, 

This is the 4th Càirdeas I've tasted and it's the best in my humble opinion. The previous ones were a little young and less well-balanced. This one is deep, very fruity, but the Laphroaig profile is not absent, on the contrary. It has to be said that I already really like the PX Cask, which is certainly my favourite Laphroaig NAS. So I'd recommend buying it, despite the rather high price.

Score : 89

                                          To Be Listened While Sipping :

  

                                          Mano Negra - Sidi H'Bibi

Bunnahabhain Cruach-Mhòna

 

 

 

50°

Distillery ; Bunnahabhain - Islay

Bourbon and Sherry Casks

Oriiginal Bottling

Travel Retail Edition 

Single Malt

Launched in 2010

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, 

Peated around 40 ppm

 

 

 

The first Batch of Cruach-Mhòna landed in 2010. Although launched as a travel edition, it can still be found just about everywhere. It's supposed to combine a few young whiskies with some old ones aged in sherry casks, the whole more peated than usual. Bunnahabhain peats its juices at around 35 ppm according to custom, but here it's more like 40. Batch 2 soon followed the first, until Batch 11 in 2017. Then the people in charge decided that it would be ridiculous to go up to seventy-two, so the only mention would be Limited Edition Release. Cruach-Mhòna means 'pile of peat' in Gaelic.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Quite sweet on the nose, with fine granitic peat. Appetizing bourbon influence. Barley sugar, white plum, banana. Bewitching smoke. Thick tar. Biscuit, genoise. It becomes medicinal at the end. Slightly vanilla-flavoured on the palate, gently full-bodied, then spices, ginger, cloves and cumin. Ounce of bitterness. Relatively powerful finish, quite long, on cola and charcoal. Some remnants of vanilla in retro-olfaction. Liquorice stick. Light coffee.

 

In Short,

I liked it, the peat isn't overpowering, with a nice fruity, greedy balance. Without being really complex, it's pleasant and round. It's better than the Moine, but not as good as the Toiteach a Dhà in my humble opinion. It can be found at a very reasonable price, so why not give it a try? Provided you're an enthusiast, of course.

Score : 86

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                          To Be Listened While Sipping :

   

                                          Muddy Waters - Long Distance Calls

Secret Islay Distillery 2007 The Nectar 15 Years 14 yo

 

 

 

52,7°

Distillery Officially Unknown - Islay 

Monbazillac Cask 

Independent Bottling 

By Daily Dram 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2021

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

In 2006, Jan Broekmans founded The Nectar, an import and distribution company for top-of-the-range spirits in Belgium. The business went from strength to strength. In 2007, the Spirits in the Sky spirits exhibition was launched, followed in 2008 by the independent Daily Dram bottling range, which is now highly reputed. To celebrate the company's 15th anniversary, Daily Dram is launching a series of very attractive bottlings, including this Secret Islay Distillery, aged in a single cask of Monbazillac, a sweet white wine produced in the Dordogne. It is not mentioned how many bottles were produced.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Mild smoke that gradually becomes overpowering. Whipped cream and vanilla. Lemon candy. It's earthy, rocky. Pebbles, ashtray. Then the fruits show the tip of their nose. With the addition of water, they come into their own. White plums, mirabelles, bananas, lychees, liquid honey. Grapefruit pulp and orange zest. A hint of iodine and clay. Liquorish, spicy palate, a bit dry in the background. Very ripe pears, white grapes, prickly pears. A fistful of nails. Paprika, ginger, cola. Powerful, grainy, juicy, woody, sandy finish. Charcoal, chalk, asphalt at the end, with a few greengages.

 

In Short, 

Rumour has it that it's Laphroaig, and I think it is. The profile is quite recognisable. It's very good, you can feel the tension between peat, asphalt and nails on the one hand, and sweet white fruits on the other. After a few months of opening, this whisky, which was a little austere, has opened up completely, and it's wonderfully bewitching. I pity you if you don't have it at home. 

Score : 91

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                          To Be Listened While Sipping :

   

                                          Alexander Hacke & Danielle de Picciotto - Awake

Octomore 2016 10.4 Virgin Oak 3 yo

 

 

 

63,5°

Distillery : Bruichladdich - Islay

Heavily Toasted French Limousin Virgin Oak Casks

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt

Bottled in 2019

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 88 ppm

 

 

 

Series .4 of Octomore has the particularity of having been aged in virgin casks. There are only three batches in this series, 7, 8 and 10. Aging a whisky in virgin casks is quite rare, especially because it's expensive, since the casks have never been used before. And you get less aromas. But in this particular case, it may be different, as the casks have been heavily toasted beforehand, in other words burnt, which releases a variety of flavours. 12,000 bottles were sold.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The nose seems fairly rich, even captivating. Surprising, for virgin casks. You think you're touching the wood, feeling the splinters under the skin. Dried fruits, apricots, ashy peat, an overturned ashtray. Beautiful balance. Hazelnut, maple syrup, holly. You can feel the intensity of the wood. But it's also a bit alcoholic. Spicy but also suave on the palate. Ginger, paprika, pepper. Quite syrupy, like Banyuls. The finish isn't very long, but it's good, earthy, fat, chestnut, pumpkin, butternut. Cranberries.

 

In Short, 

Admittedly, it's good and original, but not very complex, and even a bit young. On the one hand, I'm surprised by the intensity of the aromas that the bare wood has to offer, but on the other I'm a little disappointed. All in all, I wouldn't recommend buying it. There are much better Octomores out there.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                          To Be Listened While Sipping :

   

                                          Toto - Hold The Line