Kilkerran Heavily Peated Peat in Progress Batch N°3

 

 

 

59,7°

Distillery : Glengyle - Campbeltown

80% Bourbon Casks and 20% Sherry Casks 

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2020

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 84 ppm

 

 

 

Since 2019, the distillery has been gracing us with a heavily peated edition at the rate of two Batches per year. We are currently on Batch 6. The 3rd Batch, which we have here, was bottled a year after the first, and the proportion of Sherry and Bourbon casks has been altered slightly. We don't know how many bottles are on sale, but rumour has it that the age is around 5 years.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Tensed, well-balanced nose of peat and icing sugar. It's sweet, with fine farmhouse peat and a beautiful river of vanilla. Genoise, powdered chocolate, thick fatty earth, iodine, crème brûlée, stuffed fig. A fresh mint leaf. Creamy, oily, mellow, spicy, slightly woody palate. Greek yoghurt, melted cheese, whipped cream, milk chocolate mousse, cod brandade. As if melting. Very long, intense, explosive finish that takes you on a tour. Cola, dry earth, heather, apple crumble. A touch of white gooseberry.

 

In Short, 

What a dazzling experience! I had tasted Batch 1 and found it rather average, immature and lacking in complexity. A year later, it's perfect. A monster of balance between sweetness and the violence of peat. In a completely different style, it's on a par with Corryvreckan. They've clearly invented a new classic in peated whisky. Run out and buy one. 

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

                                           Killing Joke - The Great Cull

Tamnavulin 2008 Cadenhead Original Collection 14 yo

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : Tamnavulin - Speyside

Bourbon Casks 

Independent Bottling 

By William Cadenhead Limited 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2022

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

Tamnavulin was founded in 1966 and mothballed in 1995. It was only when an Indian group took over the consortium to which it belonged that it was able to be reborn in 2007, and since then it has featured more and more prominently in both Blends and Single Malts. This bottling from Cadenhead is an opportunity to discover it. The Original Collection range brings together whiskies that are reduced but often of good composition, in this case a 14-year-old aged exclusively in Bourbon casks.

 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The nose is dominated by lemon, a shower of citrus fruits, mellow, with a lovely breadth, light acidity, sweet, on tart tatin, genoise, crème caramel, acidulated candies, white gooseberries, grapefruit. Grape pulp. On the palate, it's well made, but slightly monochrome, very enjoyable nonetheless, with hints of banana and pastry cream. A dash of vanilla, and spices, nutmeg, cumin, white pepper. Nice finish, solid, rough, relatively long, a bit sparkling, coconut slices, lemonade, green apple.

 

In Short, 

It's a success, although a little too lemony for my taste, but that's personal. It's light, well-crafted, smooth and very Speyside. My main criticism is that it lacks complexity on the palate. But it's all good, I don't see how anyone can dislike it. The price, on the other hand, I can see very clearly. It's a bit steep for this little thing.

Score : 87

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To e Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Helado Negro - Pais Nublado

Auchentoshan 11 yo Cadenhead Original Collection

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : Auchentoshan - Lowlands

Bourbon Casks 

Independent Bottling 

By William Cadenhead Limited

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2021

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

The Original Collection range was launched in the 1980s and brings together reduced bottlings, which are blends and not Single Casks. It is therefore the low end of the Cadenhead portfolio, since all the others are at least cask strength. That said, it is not chill-filtered, contains no colouring and is bottled in Scotland, that is good enough. This is an 11-year-old Auchentoshan aged in bourbon casks. We do not know the number of bottles produced.

Let's Taste It : 

Very woody nose, with wax and lemon, pomade, it's dynamic, ethereal, evanescent, a cloud of iodine, white fruits, liquid honey. Apple compote, with a pinch of cinnamon. The palate is a bit light, but very smooth, mellow, gentle, more vanilla and pastry cream, but without being really sweet, it's all nuanced, subtle, fluid. No spices, so to speak. The finish is well made, like biting into a slice of genoise, long, with tinder, nutmeg and heather. A grape. Sandy beach.

 

In Short, 

Typical of the Lowlands, light, airy, unctuous, some like it, and I have to admit that it's very well done. It's not really my thing, I prefer whiskies with character, but I'm glad I tasted this one, it represents the region, and it's still pleasant. The price is reasonable if you're careful, and I think you can be tempted if you're an enthusiast.

Score : 87

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Lestened While Sipping :

  

                                           Fin del Mondo - El Incendio

Linkwood 1987 Cadenhead Small Batch 28 yo

 

 

 

58,4°

Distillery : Linkwood - Speyside 

2 Butts

Independent Bottling 

By William Cadenhead Limited

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2015

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

The Small Batch range is one of many from Cadenhead, Scotland's oldest independent bottler. These are whiskies aged in small casks of less than 500 litres, so that the liquid interacts better with the wood. 28 years in a Small Batch can be equivalent to much longer maturation. This Linkwood is a blend of two casks, and it is not specified whether it is Bourbon or Sherry. A total of 1062 bottles were produced for release in early 2016.

Let's Taste It : 

The fruit is intense right from the first nose, as is often the case with this distillery. Greengages, mirabelle plums, bananas, italia and muscat grapes, exotic fruits, maracuja, papaya, prickly pear, all very ripe. But it is also austere, ennobled by the wood, a little fatty, pulpy, ethereal. Slivers of honey. Very complex on the palate, with a variety of spices, cumin, grey pepper, paprika, cinnamon, nutmeg, and the intensity of the fruit still present, it's quite tea-like at times, but it's also syrupy. An ounce of sweetness, with genoise and pastry cream. The finish is huge, destructive, very long, fizzy, sandy and of course fruity. Pear compote.

In Short, 

It's a whirlwind of fruit, which is what you'd expect from Linkwood, and this is what you get. What's more, the finish is truly exceptional, all in all a great success that will delight enthusiasts. The price is a bit high, but well worth it. You can still find it on certain websites in Italy and Belgium.

Score : 90

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

  

                                           Frank Sinatra - My Way

Kilkerran 16 yo 2021

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : Glengyle - Campbeltown

75% Bourbon and 25% Sherry Casks 

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2021

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured 

Peated from 12 to 15 ppm 

In 2020 the Glengyle distillery celebrated its 16th anniversary. On this occasion, they released a 16 year old. Success was there, and so the idea came to release one every year. This Batch is the second one, and it is different from the very first, which had a little touch of Marsala, while this one is mainly under Bourbon influence. The number of bottles produced is not known.

Let's Taste It : 

It's creamy. On the pastry cream, vanilla, Greek yoghurt, with a sea breeze, a shovelful of hay and a whiff of peat. After a while, I catch a glimpse of white fruits, plums, Chasselas grapes and green apples. Very sweet. Mountain honey, slight lemon acidity, grapefruit and lychee. In the background, far behind, a hint of fuel oil. On the palate, it's light, more lemony, with a hint of honeyed gooseberry, fiery spices , cumin, cloves, nutmeg, and a young, vigorous, barely bitter woodiness, sprinkled with earth and a few plants. The finish is very long, charcoaled, still bitter, with sparkling citrus fruit and a fresh finish.

 

In Short, 

To be honest, it's a bit of a disappointment for me. The nose lacks character for my taste, the rest is on the level of a good 16 year old. The whole is dominated by lemon, one of the things I'm not a fan of in whisky. Then there's a little bitterness on the palate. It's still a fine product, very elaborate, and that's reflected in my score. However, I don't know if I'm going to experiment any further with this expression.

Score : 88

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Lindsay Ell - Shut me Up

Springbank 12 yo Cask Strength Batch 23

 

 

 

55,9°

Distillery : Springbank - Campbeltown

Bourbon Casks 

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2021

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 12 ppm

 

 

 

All lovers of good whiskies are familiar with Springbank 12 Year Old Cask Strength, which has been released twice a year since 2010. Here's the latest, Batch 23, which went on sale almost a year ago. It caused a stir because it was aged exclusively in bourbon casks, and some saw it as a sign that the distillery was returning to its roots. Except that the first batches of the 12-year-old Cask Strength were matured exclusively in Sherry casks. Anyway, it is an interesting experiment. The number of bottles produced is not known.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Straight away, I can smell the white fruits, punctuated by citrus, it's very well done, there's a lovely breadth. It's smooth and ethereal, the Bourbon influence comes through, with candied vanilla and delicate lemon. It's complex, the peat brings a certain solidity, a touch of iodine, hay and a slight freshness. The palate is full-bodied, with plenty of Bourbon of course, but also pastry, satin, genoise, nougat, sweet spices, fine acidity. Vanilla soft biscuit. Very long finish, just the right amount of aggressiveness, with a constant torrent of fruit. Kumquat, grapes, gooseberries. Sandy beach.

 

In Short, 

I'm not a big fan of bourbon casks, yet I think this is one of the best batches of 12-year-olds in the last few years. It really is a fine piece of work. Smooth, pleasant and fruity, but that doesn't detract from the typical Springbank character. It's a great success. The bad news is that it's sold out everywhere, and unless you remit an exaggerated amount of money, you won't find it anywhere. All we can do now is wait for the next batch, but there's a problem too. We've been waiting almost a year, and it's going to be different anyway, because every batch has to be different.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Manic Street Preachers - Motorcycle Emptiness

Longrow 21 yo Single Cask 2022 Bottled for Dugas

 

 

 

40,1°

Distillery : Springbank - Campbeltown

Rum Cask

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2022

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 55 ppm

 

 

 

After a first edition in 2016 for Open Day at Springbank, two 21-year-old Longrow bottlings were released in 2019 and 2020, with the success that is known. Then, in 2021, nothing. It is only in 2022 that the 21 year old comes back, and this time it is new, in Single Casks. There are currently 6 different Single Casks of this 21 year old released in 2022, and each is sold in a specific area, one for Sweden, one for Germany, one for the United Kingdom, one for the United States, one for the rest of the world, and one for France of course, intended for the sales site which has exclusivity for Springbank and Kilkerran, Dugas Club Expert. Only 216 bottles are on sale. While all other Single Casks are aged in Sherry casks, those for France and the United States are aged in Rum casks, and produced at the same alcohol level. Are they from the same cask? Is it cask strength? Nothing is mentioned about it.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It :  

Floral and quite fruity on the nose, plums and white gooseberries, pear crumble, hints of iodine, shards of honey, damp, fairly deep earth, bewitching peat, hay, stable, cereal undertones, ripe wheat. This is the distillery's very farmhouse profile, with floral notes and the sweetness of rum. The palate is warm and friendly, still fruity, with more vanilla and citrus than on the nose, pineapple, grapefruit and some exotic fruits. The spices are intense, cumin, nutmeg. The finish is very long, forestry, quite robust given the alcohol content. Heather, plants, forest fruits.

In Short, 

A great success, the barn and hay profile goes well with the rum barrel, it was a good idea. It's pleasant to drink, very smooth, the peat is only slightly present. However, the low alcohol content is a lack of punch and gives little complexity. I'm still not thrilled with this 21 year old version, although I'm a fan of Longrow, the 18 year old version appeals to me much more. Anyway, it's already sold out and the price is stratospheric.

Score : 89

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

                                           M83 - Wait

Bruichladdich 2002 Archives The Fishes of Samoa 16 yo

 

 

 

60,9°

Distillery : Bruichladdich - Islay 

1st Fill Sherry Hogshead

Independent Bottling 

By Archives 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2019

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

Founded by Whiskybase.com in 2011, when they opened their shop, Archives has produced half a dozen bottlings displaying the Bruichladdich brand. This one is the second oldest, yet it appears to have undergone exactly the same maturation as its elder, in a first-fill Sherry cask. I suspect a Pedro Ximénez cask. It is part of The Fishes of Samoa range, which features a different fish from this archipelago on each label. 230 bottles were produced and sold out very quickly.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Very dense, deep sherry, dark, black earth, rich and wet. Pungent red fruits, gooseberry and blackcurrant, wine lees, hot chestnuts, charcoal, thorny wood. Water gives it a lovely breadth, bringing out the cereals and a touch of iodine. A forest in autumn, on a humid day. Mushrooms, moss and soggy leaves. On the palate, it's much fruitier, syrupy, liquorous. Crushed fruits, blueberries, blackberries, morello cherries. Intense, vinous spices, paprika, cardamom, cumin. Very long, intense finish, burnt caramel, heather earth, black tea. The fruits are now cooked. Tart. A hint of fuel oil. Very slight bitterness from the wood at the end.

 

In Short, 

Like its big sister distilled in 2001, this is an outstanding bottling. The Sherry is very deep and expressive. The distillery hallmarks are very discreet, but add depth to the whole. It's magnificent. Of course, I'd love to say that this little thing can be found very easily in any liquor store at a low price, but that's not the case. In fact, it's best to forget about it.

Score : 91

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                       To Be Listened While Sipping :

                                       Villagers of Ioaninna City - Father Sun

Springbank 18 yo 2021

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : Springbank - Campbeltown

50% Sherry Casks and 50% Bourbon Casks

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2021

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 12 ppm

 

 

 

Launched in 2009, this is one of Springbank's most famous limited releases. Each batch sells out within a few days, or rather a few hours now, and makes a splash on the auction sites in the months that follow. Each batch matures in a different way, and this one - the 13th, I believe - has found the right balance between Bourbon and Sherry casks.

 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The nose is very nuanced, with a fine balance between the Sherry on the one hand, with its fine breadth, red fruits, blood oranges, caramel, a hint of earth and leather, and the Bourbon on the other, with a dash of white fruits and stewed vanilla. The whole is solid thanks to light peat and perfectly mastered oak. Intense on the palate, white plums, red grapes, spices, paprika, nutmeg, cinnamon, and a beautiful, complex, fruity finish that sinks into a damp, spongy earth, rich and black, full of humus. Charcoal. A zest of lemon.

 

In Short, 

Very well made, as usual, well balanced, this is a good Batch, which I found better than the previous one. The Sherry is more present, which gives it more fullness and character. Unfortunately, you can't really feel the distillery's markers, the barn and the hay, probably hidden by the intensity of the wood. It's still excellent. But this kind of product is now out of reach for the vast majority of true whisky lovers, as unscrupulous speculators, who don't care what's in the bottle, reserve it for themselves. This is a problem, because this distillery, which is one of the best on the market, has been partly confiscated by long-toothed vultures. So what can be done? There is no solution.

Note : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

  

                                           Gregory Alan Isakov - The Stable Song

Hazelburn 21 yo 2022

 

 

 

46° 

Distillery : Springbank - Campbeltown 

70% Sherry and 30% Bourbon Casks

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2022

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated

The very first Hazelburn 21 yo went on sale at the Springbank Open Day 2019, which takes place in June. I guess it was a hit. Because suddenly, this year, the distillery decided to release the Hazelburn 21 yo as an annual limited edition of 3,600 bottles. So we have here the 1st batch, and the second will follow in 2023. Curiously, this bottle is sold in a box, even though they had promised not to do so again, for ecological reasons.

Let's Taste It : 

Superb nose, characterised by intense varnished wood, so much so that I think I can identify a hint of peat, it's nuanced, mirabelles, plum compote, sweet vanilla, pastry cream, but also red fruits, leather, genoise, bread cake, candied fruits, orange marmalade. The palate is perfect, full, smooth and very well balanced, with the Bourbon a little more pronounced, slightly lemony, with just the right amount of spice, paprika, parsley, thyme, rosemary and cinnamon. The finish is very well done, long and complex, the wood returns, heather, charcoal, grassy moss, green tea.

 

In Short, 

A work of goldsmith. It's very well done, I really like it, although I'm not crazy about it either. It's pleasant to drink, you admire the fine workmanship, you appreciate the perfect balance between the Sherry and the Bourbon, but that's all. It lacks a little madness, a little daring. But after all, that's also what's needed, because it's monstrously well-balanced, chiselled to perfection. As for the price, though, I'd rather not talk about it, for fear of traumatising some people.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Dave Brubeck - Take Five

Lochindaal 2007 Loch Na Dàla Private Cask Bottling 10 yo

 

 

 

63,3°

Distillery : Bruichladdich - Islay 

Bourbon Barrel 

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2018

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 50 ppm

 

 

 

In the wide range of Private Cask Bottlings, you can find everything at Bruichladdich. We must not forget that they have four brands at their disposal. Lochindaal is certainly the least used, but it is very old, much older than Port Charlotte or Octomore. In fact, it seems that when the distillery started producing unpeated juice, the Lochindaal brand appeared to distinguish peated from unpeated. Here we have a Single Cask aged in a Bourbon barrel for ten years, before being released into the world in the form of 247 bottles. It should be noted that the peat is more important at Lochindaal than at Port Charlotte, the first normally displays 50 ppm, while the second is content with 40.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Sea breeze, stormy peat, vanilla sweetness. Very fine balance, helped by a bit of cumin and eucalyptus. The iodine adds thickness, but it's beginning to be quite greedy, cane sugar, genoise, whiffs of smoke. Pastry cream, sugar balls. Zest of lemon. The addition of water takes the wind out of it and awakens the alcohol, it's not a good swimmer. On the palate, it's strong, peppery, spicy, it hurts the taste buds, but I can smell a few citrus fruits nonetheless. It scratches the tip of the tongue, and is fruity at the same time. A few extra shovelfuls of peat. The finish is a real blast, a nice explosion at first, but it soon mellows and suddenly you're on a sunny, sandy beach, with some seafood at hand. Orchard fruits, comice pears, Golden apples. A very long finish. Drizzle of coal at the end. Shortbread biscuit.

 

In Short, 

Very friendly and very robust, this Lochindaal. To me, it's closer to Bruichladdich. It feels like peated Bruichladdich, whereas Port Charlotte and Octomore have quite a different profile. With this one, I also had a taste of sweetness, so much so that I had to check that it was not aged in rum barrels. But it's very well done. It's not too sweet like many other similar expressions. I can't imagine what the price of this little thing would be today, anyway it's sold out everywhere, so it's not even worth thinking about.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Evanescence - Bring Me To Life

Hazelburn 2006 Oloroso Cask Matured 15 yo

 

 

 

54,2°

Distillery : Springbank - Campbeltown

1dt Fill Oloroso Sherry Casks

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2022

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

Released at the end of June this year, this new limited edition of Hazelburn echoes the previous ones. In 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020, limited editions aged in Oloroso barrels were released, with the success that we know. On the other hand, in 2021, a new formula had been tried, with a double maturation, mainly in Bourbon barrels. This edition is older than the previous ones, 15 years, instead of 13 or 14, and is stronger in alcohol. Consequently, it was sold out very quickly, despite the 9000 copies produced.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Very fine Sherry influence, fruity, mellow, leathery, elastic, blueberries and raspberries, blackcurrants, loose, damp earth, rich, which goes very well with the brand's profile, forest undergrowth, damp bark, moss and lichen. Gooseberries. Pomegranate. Strawberry candy. Orange blossom. On the palate too, mellow and very round, almost sticky, oily, blackberry liqueur, wood varnish, eucalyptus, intense but not destructive spices. Forest berries, passion fruit. Very long finish, pleasant, not explosive, on heather, humus, benzoin, shrubs. Bushes. Charcoal hints.

 

In Short, 

Excellent expression, really. Sherry is very intense, you might not like it at this level. And I myself don't usually like it when the Sherry is so strong. But here, it goes very well with the brand's profile, it's both intense and complex, fruity and earthy, forestry but almost mineral. I loved it, and I'm very sorry I missed the release of this beauty. It's too late now. You can still find it in some online shops, at a price that defies logic.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

                                           The Cranberries - Zombie

Isle of Raasay 2018 Distillery Special Release Rye and Sherry Double Cask 2021

 

 

 

52°

Distillery : Isle of Raasay - Islands

Ex-Rye Whiskey Cask and Oloroso, Pedro Ximénez Sherry Quarter Casks Finish

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2021

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 48 ppm

 

 

 

Apparently, they plan to produce a special release each year from the distillery in Raasay. It says so on their website: "Our annual distillery special release..." And they're off to a great start with this one, which has been finished in Sherry Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez casks. Unfortunately, the length of the finishing process is not detailed. However, we do know that it is peated at 48 ppm and that around 9,000 copies are on sale.

 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The Sherry shows through from the very first fragrances, with a lovely richness, a balance between the solidity of the Oloroso and the sweetness of the Pedro Ximénez, light fruits, but also peanuts, cashew nuts, heather and leather. It's quite rough and at the same time seductive. Mineral notes, lichen, iodine and salt. The peat is discreet, but gives the whole a deep and earthy thickness. Quite round on the palate, with blood orange, some exotic fruits, papaya. The spices are intense, paprika, cumin, nutmeg. A fine, fairly long finish, with hints of limestone and charcoal.

In Short, 

This is probably what was missing from the previous expressions, a touch of Sherry. This one goes very well with the distillery's profile, as long as it's not intrusive. The result is something very original and pleasant. This is a good limited edition, which I would classify more as a 6-8 year old than a 3 year old. It's sold almost exclusively on their website, and I have to say that it's too expensive for my taste. But enthusiasts may be tempted.

Score : 86

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

                                           Brutus - Sugar Dragon

SMWS 2006 53.406 Exotic, Dark and Medicinal 15 yo

 

 

 

57,5°

Distillery : Caol Ila - Islay

Ex-Bourbon Hogshead and 1st Fill Pedro Ximénez Finish

Independent Bottling 

By Scotch Malt Whisky Society  

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2022

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 35 ppm

At the Scotch Malt Whisky Society, a Scottish trading company created in 1983 by Pip Hills, they do not hesitate to make the most daring experiments. Like this Caol Ila first aged in a Bourbon barrel, then finished in a Pedro Ximénez Sherry cask. 227 copies were put on sale, and sold out very quickly.

Let's Taste It : 

Straight away, the full-bodied Sherry PX. I can smell the sugar, it's sticky, with crushed strawberries and pomegranate. The distillery profile remains in the background, with iodine and oysters, sea breeze and a bit of salt. Then the peat comes in, quite abrasive and thick. A fine marriage with the Sherry, it becomes marshy, charcoaled, with hints of papaya and morello cherry. Big puffs of smoke, interspersed with hints of fermented fruits. Genoise and embers, bacon and lingonberry jam. Very sweet on the palate, with raspberry syrup, followed by intense spices, nutmeg, cumin, black pepper. It's unctuous, like fruit purée. Gooseberries, candy. Uppercut finish, spices shoot and vanilla beans, caramel and fresh fig, intense charcoal, liquorice. Coarse salt. Pineapple juice.

 

In Short,

There's a lot of Sherry. This obscures the distillery's profile a bit. It's still very good, but what can I say? It's overpowering. It makes me wonder if they're really only putting whisky in there. This bottling caused quite a stir when it first came out, with some people fighting to get it because it was rumoured to be monumental. I would say that it has the advantage of being original, and that a Caol Ila lover can have the pleasure of discovering something, if not totally new, at least rare. Of course, it's all sold out now, and I don't even want to know how much it cost.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           The The - Beyond Love

Isle of Raasay Lightly Peated R-02.1 3 yo

 

 

 

46,4°

Distillery : Isle of Raasay - Islands 

Ex-Rye Whiskey, Virgin Chinkapin and Bordeaux Red Wine Casks

Original Bottling 

Limited Edtion 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2022

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 25 ppm

 

 

 

After the R-02 released in Autumn 2021, here is its little sister, which has undergone exactly the same maturation. Six different cask types, three peated, three unpeated, and each made from either Rye Whisky, Bordeaux red wine, or virgin. The difference with the R-01 which comes out in Spring is that it is slightly more peaty. The number of bottles produced is not mentioned.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The peat is fuller, vaguely earthy and cereal-like, with dried hay, rice cake and rough smoke. But it remains very balanced, mineral, with white fruits, plums, banana and forest berries. Light, fresh iodine, sea salt. The palate is still a bit too light, but fruity, velvety and spicy. A pinch of cumin, paprika. Clouds of citrus fruit. Grape oil and liquid honey. Pleasant finish, a hint of vanilla, pastry cream, and the peat that slowly returns. Chestnut and walnut.

In Short, 

Last year, it seemed to me that I preferred 01 to 02, and now I feel like 02.1 is better. That said, the difference is slim. But here the juice is more raw, more radical. The other one was softer, rounder. Anyway, it remains a success in both cases, a very well made whisky despite its very young age, unfortunately a bit expensive. Hopefully they'll have some older stuff out soon.

Score : 85

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Sarah Olivier - Rose Garden

Port Askaig 8 yo

 

 

 

45,8°

Distillery : Caol Ila - Islay 

Refill American Oak Casks 

Independent Bottling 

By Elixir Distillers 

Core Range 

Single Malt 

Launched in 2016

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 35 ppm

 

 

 

The Port Askaig range was founded in 2009 by Specialty Drinks, a bottler whose name changed to become Elixir Distillers. After a few limited editions, the 100% Proof was launched, and the following year came this 8-year-old, simply aged in refill American oak barrels, in order to give all the room to the distillate. The distillery used is Caol Ila, initially it was supposed to be a secret, but now even online sales sites confirm it. On sale since 6 years, this expression is now a mainstay of the brand.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The nose is violently iodised, with oysters and whelks, mud and kelp. Immediately afterwards, a heady, muddy peat, fishy, chalky, black olives, cockles, clams, boutargues. Coarse salt, damp sand. I feel like I'm drinking seawater, wading through sea foam. After a while, some white fruits, plums and chasselas grapes, and a nice fine ash. The palate is fairly smooth, with vanilla, light spices, cumin and nutmeg, it's oily, the peat is present but not overpowering. The finish is also very accommodating, relatively long but not at all aggressive, smooth, almost sweet, with a hint of pastry cream. Candied peppers in olive oil.

 

In Short, 

Great quality. It is very unctuous, and at the same time there is a radical maritime character. The sweetness of the fruit does not soften the brutality of the peat. It is a very representative Islay whisky, quite successful, and which can be found at very low prices. I strongly recommend the purchase.

Score : 86

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Ren - Violet's Tale

Glenglassaugh 2012 Rare Cask Release 9 yo c. 3417

 

 

 

60,1°

Distillery : Glenglassaugh - Highlands 

Bourbon Barrel 

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2022

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 20 ppm

 

 

 

In the vast collection of Rare Cask Releases, this Single Cask was aged in Bourbon casks for 9 years before being released in only 201 bottles exclusively for the French market. A slight peatiness is noticeable, up to around twenty ppm. The whisky was distilled in December 2012 and bottled in April 2022.

Let's Taste It : 

Slightly heavy, boggy peat, quite intense, but also creamy and lemony. Sand, mud, reeds and small fish gliding over your toes. It's nevertheless quite ethereal, almost honeyed. The fruits and vanilla are barely present. The palate is full-bodied, spicy and citrusy, with a hint of acidity that blends well with the peat and some iodine freshness. Plantains, sweet potatoes. Lovely, very long finish. Coal and earth. Damp character, seaside. Foam. Guérande salt.

 

In Short, 

It is very successful. The peat and Bourbon influence bring out the Glenglassaugh identity in a rather radical and unadorned way. It's maritime, muddy, reminiscent of a good Lagavulin, but with a more rural peat. The fruitiness is vague but present. All in all, it's a very pleasant product to drink, far too expensive for what it is.

Score : 87 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           INXS  Devil Inside

Isle of Raasay Lightly Peated R-01.1 3 yo

 

 

 

46,4° 

Distillery : Isle of Raasay - Islands

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

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2022

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 25 ppm

 

 

 

Isle of Raasay mainly produces two batches a year, one in the spring, 01, and one in the autumn, 02. Each new batch is given a new tail number, after R-01 there is R-01.1, and next year there will be R-01.2, and so on. Spring batch is slightly less peaty than Autumn batch, and fruitier. However, it is no more than three years old. It is always a blend of six different types of cask, three peated and three unpeated, either virgin or previously filled with Bordeaux red wine or Rye Whisky. The number of bottles produced is not known.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Softly coastal profile, fine and sandy iodine, more peaty than last year, but creamier too, I find there a little more character. Forest berries, wild strawberries, a vegetal touch with pine needles and holly, a hint of earth. On the palate, relatively mature for its age, the fruits come through, with lemon and spices, pepper and paprika. The finish is long and sunny, with citrus peel, a drizzle of vanilla and rye. Cola. A pinch of salt. Dry earth and chestnut cream.

 

In Short,    

It's exactly the same maturity as last year, so it's very close. However, I find it a little more solid and harmonious. It's not getting any better, but it's more spring-like, softer. It's still a costal and pleasant whisky, at an affordable price, and we're looking forward to older vintages.

Score : 85

                                          To Be Listened While Sipping :

  

                                          Black Pistol Fire - Oh Well/Where you Been Before

Glenglassaugh 2012 Rare Cask Release 9 yo c. 2922

 

 

 

58,3°

Distillery : Glenglassaugh - Highlands

Pedro Ximénez Puncheon

Original Bottling 

Limited Edtion 

Single Cask

Bottled in 2021

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

Within the extremely abundant Rare Cask Releases range, this one was hand-selected by Rachel Barrie herself (because she doesn't do it for others?) and reserved for the French market .Released in 680 copies, it is currently sold exclusively at the Comptoir Irlandais. Fully aged in a Pedro Ximénez Sherry cask, it isn't peated but the flavours still promise to be intense.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

A very wide, round, creamy nose. The fruits are obviously predominant, blueberries, blackberries, muscat grapes, rhubarb, apple, cinnamon, but in the background I still feel the Highlands character, slightly earthy and maritime. A pinch of salt. On the palate, the spices give a certain robustness, but the whole is ethereal and well-balanced, with a few hints of iodine. Otherwise, it's still very fruity, of course, and sweet, raspberry with custard cream, red fruit tart, shortcrust pastry, a hint of citrus fruits and brown sugar. Very strong, delicious, dry and earthy finish. Tannins.

 

In Short, 

A fine and successful ageing in Pedro Ximénez casks for connoisseurs. It gives this distillery a nice sweetness and a certain breadth, but it has to be said that the salty flavour that is its hallmark is somewhat kept away. It remains a fine product, a little expensive, even for a Single Cask, but a pleasure to drink.

Score : 87 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                          To Be Listened While Sipping :

  

                                          FKJ & Maségo - Tadow