Clynelish 1995 The Single Malts of Scotland 21 yo

 

 

 

55,9°

Distillery : Clynelish - Highlands

Bourbon Hogshead

Independent Bottling 

By Elixir Distillers

Limited Edition

Single Cask

Bottled in 2017

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 8 ppm

 

 

 

In 2002, the Singh brothers founded Specialty Drinks and one of their many good ideas was to acquire a number of Clynelish casks dating back to 1995. Since 2014, they've been bottling one every year or so, the first being 18 years old, the second 19, and so on. The bottle we have here is the third cask to be bottled that I know of. It's 2017, and the company has changed its name to Elixir Distillers. This is a 21-year-old whisky, 246 bottles have been produced, which will be destined exclusively for the French market.

 

Let's Taste It : 

Waxy honey, varnished parquet, smooth cream. A wisp of smoke, a zest of lemon and some candied fruits, pineapple, apricot, papaya, kumquat. Some spices with the addition of water, but it remains light. A hint of iodine, then the fruits become more intense and sweet. Wood resin. It becomes herbaceous at the end, with chlorophyll and rhubarb. On the palate, the lemon is initially very present, punctuated by spices, ginger, curry, nutmeg. Green pear, with a slightly astringent edge. The finish is long and very powerful, with citrus pulp, grapefruit, sesame seeds and green wood. A touch of bitterness.

 

In Short, 

An excellent Clynelish, 1995 is really a good vintage. A little clean cut but very complex and deep, bursting with fruits, especially exotic. Peat is virtually unnoticeable. The price today is of course way too high for what it is, as the stock is sold out, but at the time of its release it was more or less worth it.

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           Tp Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                          Simon & Garfunkel - The Boxer

Port Charlotte 2003 Hidden Spirits 14 yo

 

 

 

55,5°

Distillery : Bruichladdich - Islay

2nd Fill Ex-Oloroso Sherry Hogshead

Independent Bottling 

By Hidden Spirits 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2017

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 40 ppm

 

 

 

Hidden Spirits is an independent Italian bottler founded in 2013 by Andrea Ferrari. Already following in the footsteps of its illustrious elders, Samaroli and Sestante, its reputation has already been made thanks to a few standout bottlings. This edition has also been the talk of the town. It is a Port Charlotte aged in a single second-fill Oloroso cask, and bottled at the age of 14 years and 13 days. 316 bottles went on sale.

 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Ripe quinces, apricot loukoum, icing sugar, and immediately behind it thick peat, greasy fertile earth, oozing coal, fuel oil, motor oil. But it's as if it's candied, as if the anthracite was topped with a dab of chestnut cream. Chocolate ganache. Diffused smoke. With the addition of water, it becomes fruitier, but also more ashen. Rich, still oily, slightly alcoholic. Loamy earth, fleshy mud. The Oloroso finally starts to become more precise, caramel and leather, orange jam, cashew nuts. But the rustic peat is still there, make no mistake about it. On the palate, it's oily, the fruits become riper, like applesauce, with chunks inside. And lumps of sugar. Then light spices, cinnamon, paprika, curry, before a big bubble of peat is formed, and finally explodes on the palate, spurting gas oil, scaly water. You sink into the earth, the coal, the petrol. Long, sparkling finish, cola at first, then sinking into sand, pine needles, an ounce of eucalyptus, beautiful breadth, hazelnuts, toast, meat sauce. Maple syrup, pancakes.

 

In Short, 

It was a superb moment, and I wonder if I'm not going to raise my score again. I've never experienced such a perfect marriage between the violent, politically incorrect flavours of peat and the fruity, sweet plenitude of Oloroso. As it is a second fill cask, the Sherry is not at all striking, giving way to the distillate, which is at its best here. I won't say any more, just that the bottle is still available in certain specialist shops in Italy, or on auction sites from time to time. The price is a bit borderline, but as far as I'm concerned, it's the best I've tasted from Port Charlotte, and it easily rivals the best Octomore, so don't hesitate.

Score : 91

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                          To Be Listened Whils Sipping  :

  

                                          The Murder Capital - Green and Blue

Port Charlotte 2001 Appeldoorn 13 yo

 

 

 

61,6°

Distillery : Bruichladdich - Ilsay

Fresh Oloroso Sherry Cask 

Original Bottling

Limited Edition

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2015

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 40 ppm

 

 

 

In the Prvate Cask Bottling range, which is definitely full of surprises, this little 13-year-old gem aged in a single Oloroso sherry cask will leave no one indifferent. The first year of distillation for Port Charlotte, the bottling was done in honour of Appeldoorn, a wine and spirits shop in Velp, Holland. 272 bottles were made.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

On the nose, meaty fuel oil, liquorous gas oil, evanescent peat, red fruits galore, blueberries, blackberries, blackcurrants, quite dark, morello cherries, chimney soot, gooseberries, amarena, very light iodine, cork, raspberries, clouds of smoke. On the palate, it's vinous, viscous, plum pulp, caramel, red grapes, slowly macerated, deep spices, paprika, saffron, cinnamon, cloves, lovely woody background. Peach pits. Greengages. Quite crazy finish, crimson fruits, charcoal and cola, long and explosive, pomegranate seeds, forest berries, a few drops of tomato concentrate. Gravel.

In Short, 

It's very intense, this Sherry. It's madness. It's all accompanied by the usual hallmarks, but here the peat isn't so intense, it's mainly the charcoal that stands out. It's a great success, an exceptional bottling that brings together everything I love about whisky: intensity, variety, subtlety and violent contrasts. A must-have, whenever possible. The Appeldoorn shop still has a few examples, which it sells at a prohibitive price, but it can be found under better conditions at auction.

Score : 91

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Mdou Moctar - Tarhatazed

Port Charlotte 2001 Octomore Farm 16 yo

 

 

 

61,6°

Distillery : Bruichladdich - Islay 

Bourbon Barrel 

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2018

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 40 ppm

 

 

 

Within the Private Cask Bottlings range, there are all kinds of curiosities at Bruichladdich. And in particular this one, from Port Charlotte, but distilled with barley from Octomore Farm, which gives an interesting blend of the two brands from the same distillery. The maturation was made entirely in Bourbon barrels, it is among the first Port Charlotte distilled, and only 216 bottles were filled.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Big thick peat, country, grainy, earthy. We're in the hay, the barn, the cattle mooing beside us. Hints of vanilla, cigar smoke. Full ashtray. Beautiful breadth, a touch of iodine, the tide is coming in. Kelp. Pleasant palate, slightly fruity, with yellow apple, spices, cumin, white pepper, curry, very woody. Semi-salted butter. Pistachios and cashew nuts. Quite a long finish, a nice explosion on the palate, without being too violent, it's airy, oatmeal, undergrowth, eucalyptus. Heather.

 

In Short,

There are good qualities in this bottling, that said, I found that it was very farmy, and a little monochromatic. It's more Octomore than Port Charlotte, and like the Octomore .1s, often simple and rustic. The 2nd Port Charlotte Octomore, only 10 years old, seemed to me more successful, more nuanced, more divided between Port Charlotte and Octomore, this one seems more rudimentary to me. It remains a very good dram, but too expensive for what it is, and without particular originality.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

                                           Velvet Revolver - Sex Type Thing

SMWS 2007 33.138 A Thigh-slapping Dram 12 yo

 

 

 

60,9°

Distillery : Ardbeg- Islay

2nd Fill Oloroso Sherry Butt

Independent Bottling 

By Scotch Malt Whisky Society 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2019

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 54 ppm

 

 

 

In 1983, when Pip Hills created the Scotch Malt Whisky Society, the Ardbeg distillery was closed for two years. This is probably why it was given the number 33, which was a little late for a distillery of this level, as the illustrious Society's first bottling of Ardbeg didn't take place until 1986. But then they made up for it, and as the code indicates, this bottling is the 138th, made in 2019 after spending 12 years in a second-fill Sherry Oloroso cask, 615 bottles have been released for sale.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The nose is powerful, full-bodied, I'd say more of a flick on the cheek, but without fuss, it's still pleasant. The Sherry is intense, with cranberries, gooseberries, blueberries, combined with an oily peatiness, plastic, gravel, nails. Thick smoke. You can't get enough of it. The palate is straightaway very spicy, with cumin, paprika, nutmeg, prunes, dried grapes and varnished wood. Red fruits galore, raspberries, pomegranate, blackberries. A little sooty around the edges, this is close to a good fire. Atomic finish, woody, encaustic, charcoal, telluric tremors, apricot shade.

 

In Short,

An excellent one, pretty close to the Uigeadail, but better, more woody and complex, more intense, more fruity. In terms of price, we are on dizzying heights, it’s better to forget. 

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                          To Be Listened While Sipping :

  

                                          Amyl & The Sniffers - Some Mutts (Can't Be Muzzled)

Ardbeg 1998 Malts of Scotland c. 15009

 

 

 

58,4°

Distillery : Ardbeg - Islay

Bourbon Barrel 

Independent Bottling 

By Malts of Scotland 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2015

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 54 ppm 

It was in 2005 that the German trading company Malts of Scotland was founded by Thomas Ewers. Since then, success has only increased. Here we have an Ardbeg distilled in 1998 and bottled about 16 years later,185 bottles became reality, in honour of Whisky & Co. and Whisky Antique, the first being a French site dedicated to our favorite beverage, the second a very famous Italian point of sale. 

 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Thick, rocky peat. Like a punch in the face. Sticky, gooey liquorice, a few white fruits, mirabelles, greengages. Nails, fuel oil and gravel. Metallic, chalky earth, fairly strong iodine, and at the same time airy, the tide is windy. The fruits return after a while, very ripe, almost candied. The palate is light, lemony, with a few spices, pepper, cumin, nutmeg, burnt plastic. The finish is pleasantly long, with charcoal, earth, sun-browned grass and cola.

 

In Short,

It's very Ardbeg, very peaty with liquorice and some white fruits. But despite the uncompromising violence of the product, I’m not very impressed, it lacks a little depth, variety. Nothing particularly original. And when I see the price, I think it’s inappropriate. 

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                          To Be Listened While Sipping :

  

                                          Social Distortion - Story of my Life

Ledaig 2001 A.D. Rattray Cask Collection 18 yo

 

 

 

57,1°

Distillery : Tobermory - Islands

Bourbon Hogshead

Independent Bottling 

By A.D. Rattray 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2019

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 37 ppm

 

 

 

This trading company was founded by Andrew Dewar Rattray in 1868. It subsequently acquired the Bowmore distillery, then Glen Garioch and Auchentoshan, before being bought by Beam Suntory. Which is to say that they know a little about whisky. Their Cask Collection range was launched in 2004, and is the best known of the portfolio if not the most prestigious. It includes a collection of Single Casks of good quality, but aged less than 23 years. For older whiskies, there is the Vintage Cask Collection. Here we have an 18 years old Ledaig, aged in a single bourbon cask. 262 copies went on sale at the end of 2019. Note that it is written on the label 'Distilled at Ledaig Distillery', a place which does not exist.  

 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Heavy peat, burnt plastic, iodised breadth, white fruits, plum, vanilla, sour apple, between gravel, gas oil and industrial glue, leather, ointment, tiger balm, neoprene, medicinal touch, bandages, epinephrine, disinfectant, a few dubious products, TCP, modelling clay, fresh cement, elastic. On the palate, very plasticky, with a hint of vanilla and rather strong spices, pepper, cumin, nutmeg. Hints of honey and lemon tea. The peat hits. Thick and hard, with omnipresent smoke. Very long finish, dirty and charred, dusty, pebbly, sticky. Resin, not yet completely dry. Chalky. Rocky. Mirabelle and banana. Some sunny cereals. Wheat, hop.

In Short, 

Everything I love about Ledaig. They don’t go into detail. It’s very impressive, but also dividing. A small reservation, it seemed to me that the mouth lacked a little complexity. But the rest is pure wonder, for lovers of the genre. It is not completely sold out everywhere, you can still find some, certainly at an excessive price, but when you love you do not count. Well, not before bankruptcy in any case 

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

                                           Viagra Boys - Shrimp Shack

Longrow 18 yo 2008

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : Springbank - Campbeltown

Bourbon Casks 

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2008

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured 

Peated around 55 ppm

 

 

 

A little history: In 2008, these gentlemen at Springbank decided to renew the Longrow range. The CV Longrow was created, and the first batch of the 18 YO was released in 2100 bottles. I haven't found any information about the casks, but I assume they were Bourbon, although it's quite possible that Sherry was also used, albeit in small quantities. Of course, it's part of the legend now.

 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Right away, iodine freshness, creamy cereals, damp leather. Then it becomes floral, with lavender, aniseed and strawberry gum. The peat is nevertheless present, dry earth, vigorous smoke. Candied ginger, and fruits, just as candied, cherries, angelica, marrons glacés. The palate is pleasant, with slightly sour apple, liquorice, spices, nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon, a pinch of cumin, and a return to origins in the finish, with hints of cattle, cowshed, hay, but still slightly fruity. Apricot, gooseberry.

 

In Short, 

Very Longrow, and yet very candy, a rather surprising mix of flavours. But I liked it, I wouldn't say it's beautifully balanced, it's not, but only Springbank is capable of making such alliances, it's daring, and it works very well in my opinion. All things considered, I much preferred the 2018 edition, which has a better finish and a slightly more coherent nose. The price of this bottle has skyrocketed over the years, now it's not really worth it unless you're a fanatical and wealthy collector.

Score : 90  

                                           à déguster en écoutant :

 

                                           Aurora - All is Soft Inside

Lagavulin 20 yo Feis Ile 2020

 

 

 

54°

Distillery : Lagavulin - Islay 

Refill Bourbon, Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso Seasoned Casks 

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2020

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 35 ppm

 

 

 

It's become mandatory to bring out a nice bottling for Feis Ile, otherwise collectors and fans don't break a sweat and nobody wants it. Lagavulin has been releasing bottlings for Feis Ile since 2007, giving everyone the opportunity to rush to the island and queue all day, sometimes all night, for the privilege of paying an obscene price to buy the new nectar. What can break the monotony is to release a bottle that is the same age as the year of its release, in 2018 they released an 18 year old, in 2019 it was a 19 year old, and in 2020, here is a small 20 year old, aged in Bourbon, Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez Sherry casks, out of 6,000 copies, obviously everyone is eager to taste it, including myself.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Pleasant, enticing peat, smooth and woody, deep. Fuel oil and varnish, slight astringency. Coarse salt and iodine, a dash of Bourbon, vanilla and honey. Very nice balance after a while. Wet sand on a northern beach, with sea spray and seaweed. White fruits, mirabelle plum, banana, almond powder. Peat returns, slightly ashy. Very appealing palate, lemony, followed by fairly intense spices, cumin, paprika, nutmeg. The caress of wood, rough and velvety at the same time. Some red fruits in the background, blueberries and raspberries, but this remains very discreet. Very long and pleasant finish, the wood becomes smoky, cereal sack, greasy coal. Encaustic, shoe polish. Clumps of earth.

In Short, 

As always with this distillery, it is very good, perfectly balanced, elegant, racy, noble. However, a small regret, because I barely felt the Sherry, it is rather very Bourbon. It’s not overwhelming, it’s just extremely well done. Only the final really impressed me. And when you see the price, you think maybe it’s better to settle for the classic 16 yo. 

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Haevn - We Are

Bowmore 2003 Cadenhead's Whisky Shop 15 yo

 

 

 

57,1°

Distillery : Bowmore - Islay 

Bourbon Hogshead and Burgundy Finish

Independent Bottling 

By William Cadenhead Limited

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2018

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 25 ppm

 

 

 

In 2017, on the occasion of the 175th anniversary of the oldest Scottish trading company, a new range is launched, Cadenhead’s Whisky Shop, whose label will be adorned with an engraving of one of the Cadenhead stores across Europe, London, Edimburgh, but also Milan, Berlin, Köln, Odense. Since then, the range is doing well, there have been 10 different bottlings in 2020. It reminds me that there is no Cadenhead store in Paris, this is an indignity. This Bowmore has on its label an engraving of the Campbeltown store in Scotland, the Whisky was aged for 8 years in a unique Bourbon cask before following a finish in a Burgundy wine cask for 7 years. 264 bottles popped up.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Solid wood, beautiful framework wood with light peat, granite and iodine, pinch of fine salt, scorched earth, the peat becomes a little excessive, almost sickening, tempestuous smoke, gusts, facing a stormy sea. Sweet, honeyed, candied white fruits. Mirabelles, greengages. Tinplate. Very pleasant on the palate, with plums, bananas, pineapple and papaya, followed by fairly strong spices, cumin, pepper, paprika and nutmeg. Long, swirling finish, charcoal, earth, liquorice, dark chocolate chips.

 

In Short, 

A very fruity Bowmore, despite a rather intense smoke. The nose is not perfectly balanced, but I liked it. Same for the mouth, because the spices are really strong. All In all, it gives a very good juice, which should be tamed with a little water I think. It can still be found at acceptable prices at auction, you can be tempted if you are an aficionado. 

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                          To Be Listened While Sipping :

  

                                          The Alan Parsons Symphonic Project - Eye in the Sky

Glen Elgin The Manager's Dram 15 yo

 

 

 

60,2°

Distillery : Glen Elgin - Speyside

Sherry Butt

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 1988

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

On January 28, 1988, the Distillery Manager R.J. Grant blindly selected among a hundred others this Sherry cask distilled around 1972, and bottled it for his close collaborators at United Distillers, which later became Diageo. We do not know how many bottles were released, but there were few. Every year or so, The Manager’s Dram celebrates a distillery from Diageo, one of which was selected by the Distillery Manager for the group’s employees. It seems that 1988 was the year when this range was inaugurated.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Very woody Sherry, with hints of tinder, mahogany, Armenian paper, and a slight mineral note. The fruit moves towards ripe banana and white plum, and the wood seems to have been toasted, giving it charcoal overtones, a tiny amount of smoke, black tea, Russian-style, burnt rubber, leather, iron filings, biscuits. Gingerbread, with dried raisins and candied fruits. Farther back, it's more exotic, more tropical, pomegranate, papaya, passion fruit. The wood is heavy, rough, creamy, almost sweet but very intense. The palate is rich and spicy, with cumin, pepper, ginger, very fertile earth, mangroves, laurel, coconut and almonds. The finish is very long, pleasant, more luscious, almost syrupy, cola, gravel, black cherry and muscat grape, blueberry, heather.

 

In Short,

An absolutely outstanding nose, so much so that the mouth seemed disappointing in comparison, although it was very good. The result is a masterpiece of originality and intensity that can rarely be encountered. This dram will remain among my best memories of whiskies. However, the purchase is impossible, unless you have an extra car.  

Score : 92

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Louis Armstrong - Hello Dolly

Glenfarclas 1970 Cadenhead's Chairman's Stock 30 yo

 

 

 

53°

Distillery : Glenfarclas - Speyside

Bourbon Hogshead 

Independent Bottling 

By William Cadenhead Limited

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2001 

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength 

Totally Unpeated 

 

 

 

Apparently, Cadenhead acquired 4 Glenfarclas casks distilled in 1970. That was two years before the company was bought by the Mitchell family, owner of Springbank. These 4 casks were bottled successively, in 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002. This one is the third, and the only one to have aged in a Bourbon cask. 132 bottles were filled and quickly sold. The Chairman's Stock range was around from 1994 to 2012, bringing together some outstanding bottlings, all single casks and over 25 years old.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Old library, plaster, soggy wood, it's liquorous, thick, very deep, almost swampy. Candied vanilla, crushed grapes, apricots, quinces, medlars, fermented a long time ago, crimson fruits, it's almost vinous, soup, banana, green tea, some vegetables, turnips, potatoes, paprika. Very sweet on the palate, like rose loukoum, liquid flower honey, then it becomes syrupy, dragee, almond, crushed hazelnut, heavy, spices that explode on the palate, nutmeg, cumin, curry, a whirlwind of flavours that lead to an incredible, sandy finish, mirabelle plum, exotic fruit nectar, mango, melon, maracuja. Slightly abrasive charcoal at the end. A creamy drop, meat juice. Melted butter.

 

In Short, 

Very intense, beautiful, explosive, fruity and deep like an old sherry, and complex, honeyed like a bourbon. I didn"t feel much the wood, it's as if the whisky had aged independently of it to give the total measure of the distillate. This gives quite incredible flavours. The prices are incredible too, so don’t be sensitive about your wallet.

Score : 92

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Ella Fitzgerald - How High is the Moon

Clynelish 1995 Kingsbury and Co. 21 yo

 

 

 

56,8°

Distillery : Clynelish - Highlands 

Bourbon Hogshead 

Independent Bottling 

By Kingsbury and Co. Ltd

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2017

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 8 ppm

 

 

 

Kingsbury and Co. is a trading company founded in Aberdeen in 1989. They also have offices in London, and their Single Casks are all hand-selected. Here, we have a 21-year-old Clynelish, released in 245 bottles, from the Celtic Series range.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Candied fruits, slightly mineral peat, fine gravel, yellow plum, mirabelle, prickly pear. Very mellow, even spongy, sticking to the fingers. Not very sweet, though. Cereals, grasses, muesli, terracotta. Gooey wax, sticky ointment, camphor, with a very nice fullness. Dried banana, fig, wood glue. Warm on the palate, initially balanced, still with yellow fruit, Chasselas grapes, forest berries, then lots of spices, cumin, nutmeg, black pepper. A beautiful whirlwind. Finally, a very long and violent finish, sparkling wood, a bit green, bay leaves, chocolate fondant, heather, damp earth. A few drops of motor oil at the end.

In Short, 

That’s exactly what I dream of when I dream of a great Clynelish. Very fruity, very waxy, which drifts over rather atypical fragrances, but it remains very balanced, solid, with a lot of breadth and an incomparable length in the mouth. As always, you can’t find it, you have to search the auction sites, and Feel free to put your savings account on the line.

Score : 91

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Elvis Costello and The Attractions - Watching the Detectives