Tomatin 2008 French Collection Monbazillac Casks 12 yo

 

 

 

46° 

Distillery : Tomatin - Highlands

Bourbon Casks and Monbazillac Barriques Finish 

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2021

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

In the French Collection series released in 2021, this one was finished for three years in Monbazillac barriques, a French sweet wine grown on the left bank of the Dordogne. 6000 copies are on sale.

 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The nose is rather floral, evanescent, with slightly acid apple and lemon pulp. It's light, however, well-balanced and sunny, with sunflowers, wheat and daisies. At the end, it smells of dry earth, sand and chestnuts. The palate also lacks strength, but is pleasant, suave and mellow. Spices, zucchini flower, cumin. The finish stands in contrast, quite strong and relatively long, with hints of genoise and meringue. A pinch of icing sugar. Beach sand. 

 

In Short, 

I found this edition a little inferior to the previous two. Less character, less power. On the plus side, there's more subtlety. Fans may find it useful to buy the whole series. But if that's not your case, you know which one to avoid.

Score : 86

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Zac Brown Band - Free/Into the Mystic

Tomatin 2008 French Collection Sauternes Casks 12 yo

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : Tomatin - Highlands 

Bourbon Casks and Sauternes Barriques Finish

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2021

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

In Spring 2021, Tomatin launched a series called The French Collection. It is a range of 4 bottlings finished in French wine or spirits casks. The second one I tasted was finished for three years in Sauternes barriques, a sweet wine produced in the Bordeaux vineyard. 6000 bottles are on sale.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The nose is a little dry, woody and mellow, with lemon and floral essences, evanescent yet full-bodied. The Sauternes brings its character, grapefruit and mirabelle plums, a hint of exotic fruits. A slightly syrupy saltiness. The palate is consistent, round, balanced, spicy, vanilla pastry cream, genoise, a layer of chantilly. A few scattered plums. The finish is long and fairly robust, ferns, heather, cumin and pepper. Dirt track in damp weather, in a small wood.

 

In Short, 

Not much difference from the previous one, perhaps more solid on the palate, with more concentrated aromas. I've always had a weakness for Sauternes, so this is probably my favourite of the series. Only, once again, the slightly disproportionate price spoils the appeal a bit.

Score : 86

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Shakey Graves - Roll the Bones

Tomatin 2008 French Collection Rivesaltes Casks 12 yo

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : Tomatin - Highlands 

Bourbon Casks and Rivesaltes Wine Finish

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2020

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated 

 

 

 

In Spring 2021, Tomatin launched a series called The French Collection. It is a range of 4 bottlings finished in French wine or spirits casks. This one was finished for three years in Rivesaltes, a natural sweet wine that comes from the Pyrénées Orientales. It is limited to 6000 copies.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The nose is rather dynamic, spicy, with tangy lemon and fluffy grapefruit. Slight delicacy, with pastry cream and chantilly. There's a winey constancy in the background, a residue of damp cellar, of underground stone. This gives a certain solidity to the whole. The palate is light, with vanilla spices, paprika, sweet fruits, mango juice and soft plum. Maracudja and mirabelles. The finish is medium but pleasant, long and slightly cereal-like. Cola and nutmeg.

 

In Short, 

I have good memories of this little experience. As someone who likes finishes with wine casks, I find that the Rivesaltes gives this distillery a bit of character. It's a beautiful marriage. Of course, this is a vintage edition and the price goes up a bit quickly, but there's no doubt that die-hard fans will get their money's worth.

Score : 86

                                          To Be Listened While Sipping :                            

  

                                          LP - Lost on You

Glengoyne The Legacy Series Chapter Three

 

 

 

48°

Distillery : Glengoyne - Highlands 

Refill Sherry and Bourbon Casks

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2022

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated

To mark a break with chapter two of the Legacy Series, dominated by bourbon casks, chapter three will be infused into Sherry casks. The bottle is is intended as a tribute to Arthur John Tedder, the Exciseman of Glengoyne in the early 20th century, who took part in the 37 debates that decided what Scotch Whisky should be. After 37 debates, these experts came to the conclusion that Scotch Whisky should be made in Scotland - what geniuses!

Let's Taste It : 

At first, creamy and very well-balanced, with sweet barley and stewed red fruits, cherries and gooseberries, well-managed spices, cinnamon, nutmeg, then it becomes increasingly delightful, brown sugar, meringue, genoise, biscuit. Remarkably unctuous on the palate, with just the right amount of spice to give it a little character, slightly bitter wood, cloves, brown sugar, a few hints of chocolate, before a rather fine, long finish of pepper, heather, leafy, with a certain amplitude.

 

In Short, 

It's quite successful, the Sherry is relatively intense and round without being overpowering, giving a nice balance. I prefer this chapter three to chapter two, because it's less experimental, more basic and fruity, and I'd like to compare it with the first chapter, to get an idea of the range. It's a very interesting series, but let's be honest, it's too expensive.

Score : 87

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Natalie Cole - I'm Catching Hell (Living Here Alone)

Scapa The Orcadian Skiren Batch SK09

 

 

 

40°

Distillery : Scapa - Islands 

1st Fill American Oak Casks

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2017

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

We'll never know what happened to the Scapa distillery. Owned by Pernod Ricard, it used to sell a highly acclaimed 16-year-old, but in 2015 the range was completely overhauled. The barley fermentation time was drastically reduced, production was increased, and they discontinued the 16-year-old in favour of two NAS, Skiren and Glansa. Here we have Skiren's 9th Batch, aged in first-fill Bourbon barrels, reduced to 40° and certainly chill-filtered with colouring.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Gravel and bitumen. It's quite greasy, chalky. Wind-beaten rock overlooking an austere beach. Fine sea salt. Green apple, not very ripe. Fresh iodine. Old plum. Smooth, fruity, a little pear juice dripping off. Oily on the palate, lemon peel, a few spices. Watery. Slatey. Mineral salts. Parmesan. Quite long and solid finish, but not entirely pleasant, the sea salt returning, foam, seaweed, with a hint of vanilla, seltzer, a vegetal touch, slight bitterness. Asparagus. The feeling of licking a pebble.

On Short, 

I have to say that it's not very successful. The nose and palate lack character, and the finish is flawed. That said, it's almost not too bad. You can feel the potential, but it's unbalanced, a little too rough at times. It feels like it's been rushed through. A big waste in my opinion, because this distillery has a personality, that's for sure. But it is very poorly exploited. What's more, the bottle is expensive, fortunately I got it with a discount. Today, I'm not even sure I'd accept it if someone offered it to me. 

Score : 81

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Everything But The Girl - Before Today

Compass Box Peat Monster Arcana

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : Talisker, Miltonduff, Ardbeg - Islands, Islay and Speyside

1st Fill, Refill and Recharred Bourbon Casks, Refill French Oak Barrels

Independent Bottling 

By Compass Box 

Limited Edition 

Blended Malt 

Bottled in 2020

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

 

 

 

Peat Monster is a formula that has worked well at Compass Box since the first edition in 2003. This time, it's James Saxon's turn to produce a new version. First, he lets a first blend rest for two years in three toasted French oak casks. Then he made things more complex by adding first fill and refill Bourbon casks, toasted to perfection. The result appears in 8328 copies. First of all, the profile is very round, which makes it different from other Peat Monsters. That's why the name will be different. Secondly, a small mistake on the part of Compass Box: the Highland Malt Blend (based on Clynelish) that they add to all their whiskies has been omitted here. As a result, the formula on the label is wrong. A surprising error, but one that in no way detracts from the quality of the product. The peat content is not mentioned, but should be around 25-30 ppm.

 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Peppery ash, heavy peat, fresh iodine. Intense fruit, apple compote, cherry marmalade, cinnamon, muscat grapes. Then the ash returns. And the fruit. And more ash. A nice dash of vanilla, mirabelles, lemon pulp. After a while it becomes really creamy. Very fine balance. Oily and spicy on the palate, paprika and pepper on the tip of the tongue. Ice cream, vanilla, melon, candied cherry. The finish is a bit light, but quite long, chocolate with hazelnuts, the bitterness of cocoa, some earth, coffee grounds. Envelops the palate. Crumbs of truffle.

 

In Short, 

Until now, I'd never been particularly impressed by Compass Box. Here, I really liked the very oily character on the palate and the chocolate on the finish, the nose oscillating between strongly ashy peat and very sweet fruits. It's a masterly balance. Congratulations on a job well done! If I'd known, I'd have bought myself a bottle while I still had time, even though it's a bit expensive.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

                                           Widowspeak - Money

Bruichladdich 1993 Cadenhead Single Cask 25 yo

 

 

 

49,3°

Distillery : Bruichladdich - Islay 

Bourbon Hogshead 

Independent Bottling 

By William Cadenhead Limited 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2018

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

At Cadenhead, Scotland's oldest trading company, the Single Cask range is the most widespread, but it is by no means a low-end product. There are several hundreds of expressions from all over Scotland. Here's a 25-year-old Bruichladdich, aged in a single Bourbon cask, limited to 240 copies.

 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Beautiful cereal woodland. A dry, thick beam in an old barn filled with good hay. Vanilla lemon zest. Grains of gooseberry. Behind, maritime iodine, beach at low tide, heavy, damp sand, some seafood, whelks, razor clams. Sweet, creamy, with vergeoise and speculoos. Cinnamon, benzoin, ginger. Extremely successful on the palate. Vanilla éclair, delicate spices, candied citrus fruits. A hint of salt. Slightly earthy in the background. Juicy white fruits, plum, mirabelle. Saffron, cumin, cloves. Nutmeg. Some seaweed. Very long finish, not explosive but taking you a long way. On the tide, brown sugar, Indian spices. Goat's milk, macadamia. Coconut.

 

In Short, 

It is simply a great product. When it is woody without being bitter, when it is delicious without being too rich, it is perfect with Bruichladdich. The nose is quite successful, the mouth very attractive, and the finish long and pleasant. We wouldn't get tired of it. Also, the price is more or less reasonable, although a bit too high for me. But on discount, I would buy it.

Score : 90 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Ben Howard - Oats in the Water

Bruichladdich 2003 Malts of Scotland 14 yo

 

 

 

56,8°

Distillery : Bruichladdich - Islay 

Bourbon Barrel 

Independent Bottling 

By Malts of Scotland 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2017

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated 

 

 

 

The German trading company Malts of Scotland was created in 2005 by Thomas Ewers. This Bruichladdich comes from a batch distilled in 2003. It matured in a Bourbon Barrel for 14 years and was bottled in 248 copies.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It: 

At first, a few earthy hints. Dry earth. Then sweet almonds, olive oil, a dash of astringency, an ounce of vanilla. Shortbread biscuits with butter. Walnuts, ointment. Arnica. The vanilla gains breadth, with a certain minerality, some honey. Clouds of iodine. Candied lemon. Some cereals. On the palate, coconut milk, light spices, paprika and nutmeg, chocolate chip muffin, varnished wood. The cereals become more intense, puffed rice, muesli. Genoise, brown sugar, chilli. The finish is rather long, robust, sparkling, green tea, back on earth, a pinch of sea salt, yam. Black radish.

 

In Short, 

You really have to give it time and opportunity to blossom, it's not a monster of power or originality. What's more, the distillery's hallmarks are a little lacking. But the nose is quite complex, the palate beautiful and the finish long. It's a very pleasant product to drink. It's been sold out for a long time, so watch the price if you come across it. It's good, but it's not worth big sacrifices either.

Score : 89

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Amiina - Asinn