Octomore Edition 04.2 Comus 5 yo

 

 

 

61°

Distillery : Bruichladdich - Islay 

Bourbon Barrels and Sauternes Château d'Yquem French Wine Finish

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2012

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 167 ppm

 

 

 

The 2nd version of Octomore's 4th Batch is also the 2nd Octomore to be finished in wine casks. This time, it's Sauternes, one of my favorite wines, and more precisely Château d'Yquem wine, one of the most famous in the world, and the most expensive. Unfortunately it is not specified how long this finish lasted, I would have liked to know. The result was put on sale in the spring of 2012, in the number of 18,000 bottles, and since then this edition has been a cult hit, very expensive and adored by connoisseurs. Comus is the son of Bacchus and Circe in Greek mythology, he is also the eponymous hero of a play by John Milton, in which he uses magic potions to seduce a young woman.

 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It :

Exceptionally fruity nose, with red plum and blood orange, peach and apricot, kumquat and mango, passion fruit, persimmon, prickly pear. Red grape, very pulpy, banana and vanilla. Comice pear. And at the same time, mineral, salt and gemstones, jasper, quartz, tourmaline. And then, underneath it all, something deeply dirty, motor oil, gas oil, which has been fermenting for hours, animal sweat, that of a thoroughbred horse, at once repulsive and full of nobility. Something muddy, marshy, a wading ground, with herbaceous elements, fragments of brown coal. Crushed gooseberries, left out in the sun. Fragments of limestone, talcum powder. Nutmeg, bread rubbed with truffles.
On the palate, the feeling is of tasting diamonds, then it's syrupy, with exotic fruits, but it's indefinable, waltzing between several different fruits. The spices are both strong and very well-managed, warm, clove, cumin, star anise, pepper crumbs, curry. Guérande salt, but just the right amount. It's vinous, of course, a very fruity, very strong white wine. Then more truffle, wet dog, dry earth. Very long finish, where the minerality comes through again, quite calm in the end. The fruit is almost spongy, juicy, pear liqueur, drops of honey, cinnamon, speculoos soaked in black tea. Towards the end, it's a little cereal-like, with hints of wheat and puffed rice. Egg yolk, pineapple. A hint of gooseberry. Soft, varnished wood.

 

In Short, 

To combine such minerality with this deluge of fruit is crazy. Not only is it sublime, it's also highly original. It really stands out from the other Octomores, firstly because the peat is very light, I barely felt it. On the other hand, what a madness! Power and harmony come together perfectly in this definitive opus. This is undoubtedly the best Octomore I've ever tasted, and one of the best whiskies. Sell your car, sell your house, sell the kids, this nectar may be overpriced, but you need it.

Score : 93 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Tindersticks - Jism

Octomore 2010 Ten Aged Years 5th Limited Release

 

 

 

56,3°

Distillery : Bruichladdich - Islay 

1st Fill ex-American Oak Casks and Ribera del Duero Wine Barriques Finish 

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2021

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 90,3 ppm

It's already the 5th edition of the 10 year old at Octomore, an oxymoronic expression if ever there was one, because the very principle of Octomore is to be very young in order to preserve its power and its ardor. Each edition follows a different maturation, this one spent 5 years in American oak barrels before being transferred for the next 5 years in casks of Spanish wine Ribera del Duero, a wine from the North of the country which has the particularity of being cultivated in height, on hills of 900 m. approximately. The set was produced at 3,500 bottles before going on sale at the beginning of 2022.

Let's Taste It : 

Thick smoke, to cut with a knife. The weather is heavy with humidity, it smells like a storm. With the addition of water, the wine reveals itself, beautiful fruity sweetness, kiwi, persimmon, white currants, mango, peach, pineapple, rum baba. Iridescent iodine. A little rocky. Then the peat rises, powerful, oily, muddy. Some forest fragrances, ferns, fir trees, bark. Quince coated in icing sugar, dried apricots. Duck in orange, cinnamon. Initially fairly smooth on the palate, rosewater, light wine, then the spices come to the fore and it's quite violent, cumin, nutmeg, grey pepper. Cloves. A hint of lemon and red plum. In the background, black ash, charred wood. Long, powerful finish, loaded with heavy fruits, watermelon, tomato, melon, with greasy charcoal, asphalt still warm, gravel scraping the throat. Tannins, heathery earth.

 

In Short, 

It's a solid Octomore, not the best, but one of the good ones. It has matured in a similar way to the 07.3, and I place it just below. The 13.3 is also very close. The small criticism I could make of this one is its gentleness. It's very wise for an Octomore. Sure, there's smoke, there's peat, but where's the coal, the earth, the plastic? It's all so cute. It's still a very enjoyable bottling. The price is high, but for an Octomore, you have to accept a few sacrifices.

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Soen - Tabula Rasa

An Orkney Distillery 2006 The Single Malts of Scotland Reserve Casks 12 yo

 

 

 

48°

Distillery Officially Unknown - Islands

5 Bourbon Hogsheads

Independent Bottling 

By Elixir Distillers 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2019

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 20 ppm

 

 

 

In The Single Malts of Scotland range, Reserve Casks serves more or less as an introduction. It is produced in a reduced version at 48°, and it is never a Single Cask, but it is supposed to represent the rest of the range in cask strength and Single Cask. Parcel No. 1 Reserve Casks was launched in 2019, it's like a first batch of just 3 bottlings, of which this is one. Amusingly, even the angels' share is specified on the label, in this case 6.80%. We don't know the number of bottles produced, but with 5 Hogsheads, it must be around 1,700.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Very well-balanced nose of mountain honey, pungent bush, lemon pulp and vanilla milk. A very sweet and enticing smoke rises after a while. Iodised freshness. The Highland Park distillery is immediately and totally recognisable. It's mellow, subtle, delicate and at the same time very costal. Sea breeze, a few wisps of foam, but the sea is calm today. Sea salt. The palate echoes the fragrances perceived. Sea water, waves, sea spray, on a fine layer of lemon and vanilla, with a hint of malted barley, quite cereal-like. Warm and woody, it's like sitting by the fire under a blanket. Very little spices, just the right amount. Ginger, cumin, nutmeg, cloves. Nice, long finish, heather, chicory, chocolate mousse, rich, damp earth, quite violent but without overdoing it, cosy towards the end. Genoise, cola. Candied citrus fruit.

 

In Short, 

I have to admit that it's a marvel. I found it very iodised, as I like it, but at the same time subtle, not aggressive like Talisker or Caol Ila, two distilleries I adore by the way. Here, it's perfectly chiselled and very nuanced. For a whisky less than 15 years old, in a reduced version, the quality is incredible. Frankly, I can't remember ever having drunk such a good whisky in the same conditions. There are still some available on certain online sites, go and get them.

Score : 89 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Joep Beving - Paris s'enflamme

Laphroaig Lore

 

 

 

48°

Distillery : Laphroaig - Islay 

Ex-Laphroaig Barrels, Sherry and Bourbon Quarter Casks

Original Bottling 

Core Range 

Single Malt 

Launched in 2016

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 43 ppm

 

 

 

Launched in 2016 as the exclusive work of John Campbell, Laphroaig's Master Blender at the time, Lore is a blend of rather young juices for potency, and aged stuff (over 20 years it seems) for subtlety. They used Sherry casks, but also Bourbon Quarter Casks, which allow faster maturation. And the original thing is that Laphroaig Whisky barrels have been reused too, certainly in order to intensify the distillery' profile. In any case, this expression seems to have a certain success and it is now firmly established in the constellation of the distillery.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Straight away, I recognise the distillery's typical profile, with a beautiful fullness and impressive power, iron peat, slightly rusty metal, nails, tyres, fuel oil, camphor, bandages, betadine, not forgetting iodine and sea spray, tide, kelp and not-so-young seaweed, it's all there. And it's beautifully balanced. There's also a lovely fruity richness, not easy to distinguish in the midst of this jumble, but bananas, plums, Belle-Hélène pears, with plenty of whipped cream. The palate is in the same vein, very medicinal, a little herbaceous, fruity, with relatively well-managed spices, pepper, cumin, nutmeg. The finish is long and sparkling, powerful but not overwhelming, with cola, coffee, green tea, basil and parsley. And also coal and gas oil in the background.

 

In Short, 

For me, it's a great success. We have a product that is totally emblematic of the distillery, with its own personality, much less harsh or aggressive than the 10 Year Old Cask Strength, more complex, but less drowned in sherry than the the 10 Year Old Sherry Oak Finish, more typical than the Càirdeas. I think it strikes the right balance between typicality and originality. What's more, the price is just right, provided you buy it via their website of course. It's rare enough to be noticed. What, you haven't got any yet?

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

                                           Shaka Ponk - Palabra Mi Amor

Fettercairn 1988 Cask Strength Collection 28 yo c. 2019

 

 

 

57,5°

Distillery : Fettercairn - Highlands

Bourbon Hogshead 

Independent Bottling 

By Signatory Vintage 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2017

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Almost Unpeated

 

 

 

Another of those distilleries that devote themselves almost exclusively to blends. It has a Core Range, but it is very small and little known. That's why it's always interesting to look at an independent bottling, especially one that has matured exclusively in a bourbon cask, allowing the distillate to develop and see what it's like. Signatory Vintage has quite a collection of Fettercairn casks filled in 1988, they released them all between 2015 and 2019, this one was emptied in 2017, they made this beautiful thing, sold 246 copies.

Let's Taste It : 

It takes a while for the nose to take hold, at first it's misty, paraffin, limestone, pomade, then the fruits come to the fore, pears and lemon, and finally a lovely honeyed, iridescent balance where citrus peel vies with brown sugar and walnuts. Milky vanilla, pastry cream, orange blossom flan. Cardamom, star anise. Buttered bread, hot chocolate. Still vanilla on the palate, but also spicy, clove, cumin, black pepper, it's very woody, malty, barley, roasted corn. Rye toast. Very long, powerful, sparkling finish. Heather earth, humus, truffles. Black coffee, a hint of milk, cinnamon. Gingerbread.

 

In Short, 

All this is very interesting, and if the nose left me a little cold, the palate and then the finish delighted me, especially the finish in fact. It's a fine piece of work, which allows us to discover a Highland whisky that's fairly smooth, a little rocky but delightful. We're not very far from Speyside, but we're still in the Highlands. Today, it's all sold out, but back in the day you could still find a few bottles of this type at a decent price, it seems to me that was in another lifetime.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Elvis Perkins - Anonymous

Ardbeg 2003 Traigh Bhan 19 yo Batch 4

 

 

 

46,2°

Distillery : Ardbeg - Islay 

American Oak and Oloroso Sherry Casks 

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2022

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 54 ppm

 

 

 

The years go by and with them the various Batches of Traigh Bhan, from 2019 onwards, at the rate of one new Batch per year. The maturation process is exactly the same as for Batch 3, and the name remains unchanged, inspired by a beach close to the distillery. It was distilled on 7 March 2003 and bottled on 16 March 2022. Prices were still high, but this time the bottle was not sold out in three days.

 

Let's Taste It : 

Very lemony and herbaceous, with hints of eucalyptus, laurel and damp undergrowth. Plant moss, tree bark. Very soon the tide is felt, the iodine, the mangrove. Kelp, seaweed. The peat is not so strong. Fine, it disintegrates into a beautiful granular smoke. Very suave, oily and fruity on the palate, with plums, mirabelles and Comice pears. Banana, citrus fruit. Well managed spices. Sufficiently long, beautiful finish, parsley, reeds, marshes. A touch of peat at the end, pungent, earthy, dark chocolate. Cola, charcoal.

In Short, 

It's hard to say which is better, between Batch 3 and this one, which is more lemony but also fruitier, it seems to me. Batch 3 was more balanced, with a nice fullness, but less easy to drink. Batch 1 seemed to me to be a bit of a step down, rougher and more monochrome. Finally, like the others, it's sold at a much higher price than it deserves, so to recommend buying it at this price is really inappropriate.

Score : 89

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Gary Numan - My Name is Ruin

Glenburgie 1992 Cadenhead Single Cask 27 yo

 

 

 

48,9°

Distillery : Glenburgie - Speyside 

Bourbon Hoghshead 

Independent Bottling 

By William Cadenhead Limited

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2019

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

Cadenhead has not finished making a name for itself, thanks in part to this Single Cask collection, one of the most prestigious. This is a fine Glenburgie from the last century, very simply aged in a single Bourbon cask to bring out the purity of the distillate. All sold in 222 bottles.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Black wheat. Peanut butter, maple syrup, vergeoise. Pine needles, freshly cut wood. Eucalyptus honey, and soon eucalyptus leaves. Peppermint, sage. Lemon, but well hidden. On the palate, honey, olive oil, it's really smooth. Then the spices rise, paprika, curry, nutmeg, cloves. The finish is very long, with honey and olives, woody notes, a pinch of cinnamon, hand cream and argan. This finish takes us to the other side. A few drops of lemon juice at the end.

 

In Short, 

I was expecting an explosion of fruit, but that's not what happened. If the nose left me a little unimpressed, the palate on the other hand captivated me, very oily and silky, I felt like I was drinking olive oil, but very good. And it was the finish that won me over. Endless, not explosive but robust, it leaves you with a deep sense of well-being. Bottling completely sold out, don't expect to find it, it would be a miracle.

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Anohni - Candy Says

Mannochmore 1997 Connoisseurs Choice Cask Strength 22 yo

 

 

 

55,8°

Distillery : Mannochmore - Speyside 

1st Fill Sherry Butt

Independent Bottling 

By Gordon & MacPhail  

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2020

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Almost Unpeated

Mannochmore is one of those huge distilleries that produce almost exclusively for Blends. It is located near Glenlossie, with which it shares some of the premises. It produces a slightly peated Whisky which I estimate at around 5 ppm. Here we have a 22-year-old, aged entirely in a single Sherry cask, and spread into 490 bottles.

Let's Taste It : 

The first nose is waxy. Camphor, tiger balm, ointment. Even a little ether. At the same time, it's counterbalanced by a honeyed, nutty, rough woody, liquorice character. Light smoke, very pleasant. Italia grape pulp, ripe pear. Moist talc, arnica. With a little water, a fine balance is achieved between fruits and pomade. A hint of citrus. More honey on the palate, but this one is earthier, with figs, and very quickly saturated with spices. Grey pepper, cloves, cumin. Vanilla and lemon, it's a bit drying. A few grains of icing sugar. Oily. The finish is lovely and long, still earthy, with hints of old wood, cherry, a touch of aniseed, tingling on the tip of the tongue. Cola.

 

In Short, 

To be honest, it's not my thing. But I have to admit that it's well done and fairly balanced. I found it interesting. I don't like this camphorous flavour, but there must be something for everyone. Besides, as a fan of Laphroaig with its medicinal touch, it would be inappropriate for me to pass judgement. What can be said, however, is that you can't really smell the Sherry despite the 1st Fill cask. The price is quite high, so I'm not going to stop anyone from buying it, but I'm not likely to help them.

Score : 88 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Triorität - Inelegant Peeling

Talisker 11 yo Special Release 2022

 

 

 

55,1°

Distillery : Talisker - Islands 

1st and 2nd Fill American Ex-Bourbon Casks, Wine Seasoned Finish

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2022

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated less than 22 ppm

 

 

 

It's as if they were ashamed of the previous Talisker Special Release at Diageo. They've done everything to ensure that this time it's the opposite of the one they dubbed The Rogue Seafury. First of all, they took care to select the least peated whisky they had in stock, as it says on the tin: "The least peated stocks". Then, after an initial maturation in Bourbon casks, they transferred it to wine casks to soften the juice as much as possible. And it's all been on sale since last month, with a unknowable number of bottles.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Fairly strong iodine, but smoother than usual. A beautiful tide, sea spray, kelp. Honeyed lemon, as in a grog, with a spoonful of rum. Gradually, it becomes more mellow, with vanilla, cinnamon and tinder. Sweet potatoes, nectarines. A greyish, ashen smoke appears. With a little water, the Bourbon character comes out even more. White plums, mirabelles, chasselas grapes, conference pears. Prickly pears, lychees. On the palate, it's thick, spicy, yet smooth and balanced, very classic in fact. Wood, earth, leather, a hint of caramel. Gravel and ash. Nice finish, quite explosive but contained. Long, syrupy. Banana, papaya, cane sugar, reeds. A beach of fine sand in the sun. Some seaweed.

 

In Short, 

After a few weeks' airing, it finally reveals its true identity. It is indeed a Talisker. Not very peaty, still costal, but above all fruity and sweet. I have to admit that it's very pleasant, the balance is impressive. It's a bit like the 2019 edition, but nowhere near as good. The price of Special Releases goes up every year, and it's starting to be like we're being taken for a ride, but hey, it's hard to miss out.

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                          To Be Listened While Sipping :

  

                                          Cold Blood - Kissing My Love

Tamdhu Batch Strength Sherry Oak Casks Batch n°006

 

 

 

56,8° 

Distillery : Tamdhu - Speyside

1st Fill and Refill Oloroso Sherry Seasoned Casks

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2021

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

After batch n°5 comes batch n°6, which is the natural order of things, since Tamdhu concocts something new each year in this range, which continues to win awards in competitions. This new bottling is a new milestone, without changing the recipe. Oloroso casks, cask strength, no chill filtration or added colouring. However, the number of bottles produced is not specified.

Let's Taste It : 

The nose is evanescent, almost ethereal, but still solid on its legs. Creamy, syrupy, with citrus fruit and a hint of iodine. Full-bodied, with tawny leather, dried fruits, prunes, apricots and figs. Some walnuts and hazelnuts. Pleasant, well-crafted, fairly smooth palate. Caramel, blood orange, chocolate pear. Spices, paprika, nutmeg, cinnamon, cumin. Green tea. Creamy olives. Very stinging finish, but not very long. Nice though, with heather, bark and ferns. Cardamom, star anise. Candied lemon.

In Short, 

It's surprising how different it is from the previous batch. I thought Batch 5 was very fruity, whereas this one is much more woody and lemony. Perhaps more second-fill casks? I didn't like this batch as much, even though I found it interesting. It's still of a high standard and may be worth buying.

Score : 87

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Tears for Fears - Shout

Cù Bòcan Creation #3

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : Tomatin - Highlands

Ex-Rye Whiskey from Indiana and Moroccan Cabernet-Sauvignon Wine Casks

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2021

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 15 ppm

 

 

 

Cù Bòcan's Creation range is all about experimentation, some of it quite daring. Here, it's a blend of Indiana rye whisky barrels and Moroccan wine casks made from Cabernet-Sauvignon vines. Where did they come up with this idea? But it's the result that counts. 4200 bottles went on sale.

Let's Taste It : 

Complex nose of peppery grapes and light red fruits, with sweet cereals in the background. Raspberries, cranberries, blackberries. The peat brings a mineral balance. Changing and bewitching. On the palate, a bit clear and smooth, with more white fruits and spices. Liquorous and relatively solid. The finish is very round, well-crafted, pleasant and fairly long. The red fruits are back, with a hint of forest undergrowth that I find pleasing. Heather, humus, vegetal moss. Charcoal.

In Short, 

Personally, I think it's a success. It's clearly original, surprising, a little exotic and fruity. Too much spice perhaps. Unfortunately, it's the price that doesn't suit me. I understand that experimentation is expensive, but this is a non-aged whisky.

Score : 86

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                          Heretoir - Golden Dust

Cù Bòcan 15 yo 2022 Edition

 

 

 

50°

Distillery : Tomatin - Highlands 

Oloroso Sherry Casks 

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2022

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 15 ppm

 

 

 

They're starting to specialise in the finer things, on the peaty Tomatin stuff. They started in 2013, and now, almost ten years later, they're daring some prestigious releases. Like this 15-year-old edition, aged entirely in Oloroso Sherry casks, and released this year in 3,000 copies. It's the very first of this age, but the title 2022 Edition suggests that there will be others. We hope so. The Tomatin distillery only produces peated whisky for one week a year, which isn't much, but it can still afford some interesting limited editions.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The nose is full-bodied, marked by red fruits, gooseberries and raspberries, without being overpowering. It's also velvety, noble wood, tinder, cherry, leather, caramel, dried fruits, resin, cinnamon, molasses. A touch of herbaceousness, I thought. Mineral peat. On the palate, the Sherry makes its mark, with blueberries, blackberries and a hint of blackcurrant, it's deep, a little earthy, still woody. Nuts and hazelnuts. Discreet but present spices. The finish is well-crafted and fairly long, with earth, charcoal, cola and chocolate.

 

In Short, 

For me, it's a great success. It's very Sherry, I only smelled peat on the nose and on the finish. But it's quite balanced, very round, it feels like drinking velvet with red fruits and a touch of minerality. Pleasant. I'd advise you to ask about the price, as it can be found very expensive in some places, and more decently priced in others.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Heilung - Krigsgaldr

As We Get It Islay Single Malt 2021 Second Batch

 

 

 

61°

Distillery Officially Unknown - Islay

Bourbon Casks 

Independent Bottling 

By Ian MacLeod Distillers Limited

Limited Edition  

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2021

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Up until now, they had only released one batch a year or so, but in 2021, the gentlemen at Ian MacLeod Distillers had the luxury of releasing two editions of the famous As We Get It Islay Single Malt, a certainly very young product from a secret distillery  that is bottled cask strength, without adding anything, as they say. So this is the second batch, bottled just a few months after the first, and released in December. It is all the more surprising that nothing has been released in 2022, at least for the time being.

 

Let's Taste It : 

Deep Iodine, tide, sea spray, waves whipping your face. Kelp, seaweed, seafood. Intense peat, with some white fruits, plums, mirabelles, greengages. Very fresh. Frost, sea breeze in winter. Pleasant palate, a little less intense, simple, smooth, a hint of vanilla, then very strong spices, cumin, black pepper, cloves. A zest of lemon, anise. Atomic finish, long, disturbing, oysters, whelks, razor clams, lobsters. Rusty. Silt. A coal line in the rock. Swampy land.

In Short, 

The different editions follow each other and are very similar, which is good. However, it seems to me that this one is the least good of the last few years, with a palate that's a bit light. Overall, it's very seaworthy, less honeyed than the previous edition. Even more raw, I think. The price is as attractive as ever if you're careful, and a purchase would be advisable if you're an aficionado.

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Michael Romeo - Metamorphosis

Smokehead Sherry Cask Blast

 

 

 

48°

Distillery Officially Unknown - Islay

Bourbon and Sherry Casks, Oloroso Sherry Finish

Independent Bottling 

By Ian MacLeod Distillers Limited 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2021

Unchillfiltered

 

 

In 2021, Sherry Cask Blast takes the place of the Sherry Bomb, which has been released every year since 2018. Why such a name change? Because the maturation process is not the same. The Sherry Bomb was aged entirely in Oloroso Sherry casks, the Sherry Cask Blast was first matured in Bourbon and Sherry casks, and only finished in Oloroso casks. What's more, the Sherry Cask Blast seems to have had colouring added, whereas the Sherry Bomb does not. Everything degrades. That said, this is still a limited edition of 18,000, so we'll see if it's really worse.

 

Let's Taste It : 

Nice thickness of the Sherry, sweet red fruits, raspberry coulis, leather, caramel, nice balance with fat coal and violent, herbaceous, marine peat. Blackberries, blueberries, lignite. A few drops of tar, still hot fuel oil. A touch of lemon to sweeten things up. Pleasant and fruity on the palate, strawberry, raspberry, well-managed spices, paprika, white pepper, nutmeg. Hints of earth. The finish is long and sparkling, with cola, slush, humus, burnt wood, blackcurrant.

 

In Short, 

To my surprise, it's about as good as the Sherry Bomb, perhaps even a little more balanced and mastered. They're doing well. As friendly as ever. On the other hand, the price is only slightly lower, although the maturation must have cost them a lot less. Inflation is taking its toll, or the demands of shareholders, I don't know. Obviously, I'm less enthusiastic, but the quality is there. We're still a long way from Uigeadail.

 Score : 87

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Devin Townsend Project - Deadhead

Kilkerran Heavily Peated Peat in Progress Batch N°6

 

 

 

57,4°

Distillery : Glengyle - Campbeltown

75% Bourbon and 25% Sherry Casks

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2022

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 84 ppm

 

 

 

While we wait for Batch 7, which should arrive at the end of the month, we can quench our thirst with this one, released in June. For three years now, this distillery has been offering us two batches a year of this Heavily Peated, much to our delight. The proportions of Sherry and Bourbon vary a little each time, it's cask strength, and the peat content is reasonable. The age should be around 5 to 6 years, although this is not mentioned. However, I have no idea how many bottles were produced.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

It's more Bourbon, with iodine and vanilla, whipped cream and an airy lemon zest. The smoke seems relatively light. Small delicacies, genoise, marzipan, filled fig. A bit fatty. The palate is again focused on vanilla, quite thick and oily, mellow, liquid honey, lemonade, hazelnuts, pleasant spices, white pepper, cloves, cumin. A hint of grimy charcoal in the background. Long, interesting finish, cola, heather, young wood. A square of dark chocolate. Coffee.

 

In Short, 

I found this one to be more greedy, more vanilla-based, although the Sherry content is higher, you don't smell it much. It's less balanced, less varied, with less peat and almost no iodine. So it's very good, but less surprising, less original. For this reason, I'm lowering my score a little, but it's still a very good product, which you shouldn't hesitate to buy if you're an enthusiast, especially as the price is still right.

Score : 88  

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Gary Clark Jr. - When My Train Pulls in

Kilkerran Heavily Peated Peat in Progress Batch N°5

 

 

 

57,7°

Distillery : Glengyle - Campbeltown

85% Bourbon and 15% Sherry Casks

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2021

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 84 ppm

Released at the very end of 2021, Batch 5 of the Heavily Peated range differs very little from its predecessors. One ounce less sherry casks, almost the same amount of peat, and still no chill filtration or colouring. It is said to be 5 to 6 years old. We do not know how many bottles have been released.

 

Let's Taste It : 

Still a sweet nose despite the smoke. Vergeoise, pastry cream, cannelé, frangipane, meringue. Then marine elements, lobster with mayonnaise, prawn crakers. Intense iodine. Scallops. A hint of hay in the background. The palate is even more pastry-like, with genoise, macaroons and creamy, ashy vanilla. The peat gives a nice thickness. Very long finish, cola, dry earth, crazy intensity. Milk chocolate, traces of charcoal. Fine sand. Almond paste.

 

In Short, 

Another great success, where the smoke is only there to bring out other sweet, marine and farmhouse flavours. It's very varied and complex. I preferred Batch 3, but it's not far off. The price is right, so if you can, jump on it.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Sonic Youth - The Sprawl

Tomatin 2006 Portuguese Collection Port Casks 15 yo

 

 

 

46° 

Distillery : Tomatin - Highlands

Traditional Scotch Whisky Casks and Tawny Port Finish

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2022

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

The Portuguese Collection follows the French Collection released in 2021, including three different bottlings distilled on the same day, having undergone a similar first maturation, then transferred the same day in three different types of casks for a seven years finish, and finally, bottled on the same day, in May 2022. And here we have the one that bathed in Tawny Port Casks. The number of bottles produced is not known.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Rather pungent red fruits, with damson and gooseberry. But very sweet overall, with pomegranate syrup and strawberry. Syrupy, a bit earthy, noble and exotic wood. Tropical, sticky humidity. Reeds, mangroves, and at the same time it's sugared, almost greedy. Almond paste, toffee apple. Well-crafted on the palate, but not quite dense, cranberry jam, fairly strong spices, turmeric, cardamom, nutmeg, cumin, paprika. Long, robust finish, cola, earth, meaty depth. Blood orange, meat sauce.

 

In Short, 

I liked it, the port finish leaves a very fruity, slightly sweet, tropical and fleshy character. It's quite complex, perhaps a little intrusive, as there aren't many of the distillery's markers. The whole is really beautiful and original. Despite the variable and somewhat exaggerated price, it's worth considering a purchase.

Score : 87

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Zombie Zombie - Livity

Tomatin 2006 Portuguese Collection Madeira Casks 15 yo

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : Tomatin - Highlands 

Traditional Scotch Whisky Casks and Madeira Finish

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2022

Unchilfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

The Portuguese Collection is a set of three limited-edition expressions released very recently. Each was finished in Portuguese wine casks, after 8 years of initial maturation in traditional Scotch Whisky casks. All distilled on 8 September 2006, then transferred to a different type of casks on 23 April 2015, they were bottled on the same day, 9 May 2022. These three bottlings are therefore complementary. It is not known how many bottles are on sale.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The nose is very full-bodied, rich and varied from the outset, but a little evanescent. Red plum, muscat grape, slightly earthy, pastoral. Some vegetables, courgette flower and stuffed aubergine. A little delicacy, a gooseberry stuffed in whipped cream, a sphere of sugar. Dense on the palate, but a little drying, tannins, wood bark, slightly oily spices, nutmeg, sandalwood, black pepper. Strong finish, heather earth, fern, humus, almost forest-like. A touch of charcoal perhaps. Cola.

 

In Short, 

The Madeira is both lighter and fatter on the palate, with a surprisingly earthy consistency. I like it, but I find it the least successful of the three. It's similar to Port, but less interesting. The price remains the same, very variable, and often too expensive. A purchase is possible, however, for informed connoisseurs.

Score : 86

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Klasmos - Looped

Tomatin 2006 Portuguese Collection Moscatel Casks 15 yo

 

 

 

46° 

Distillery : Tomatin - Highlands 

Traditional Scotch Whisky Casks and Moscatel de Setùbal Finish

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2022

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

On 8 September 2006, what would become Tomatin's Portuguese Collection was distilled. It was transferred to Scotch whisky casks, ,and rested there for over 8 years. On 23 April 2015, everything was poured into three different types of cask, one in Moscatel, another in Port and the last in Madeira. Another 7 years of waiting, and it's finally ready. The three new limited editions are being bottled on the same day, 9 May 2022, to succeed the French Collection released last year. As always, they are not coloured or cold-filtered, but the number of bottles produced has not been disclosed.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Powerful and heady nose of cranberry jam, muscat grapes and pomegranate. Blackcurrant and gooseberry. Earthy background, humus, roots, but it's also delicious, strawberry, raspberry, with a lovely pastry cream, whipped cream, vanilla yoghurt. Successful on the palate, with blood orange, prickly pear, good breadth, spices galore, paprika, nutmeg, ginger, cumin. Wine lees, heather, undergrowth. Long and robust finish, the earth is back, more stony this time. White and grey pepper. Amarena cherries, candied red plums.

 

In Shot, 

A very fine finish in wine casks. The nose is highly aromatic, with a strong personality. The palate and finish are in perfect harmony, and the whole is spectacular and masterful. There's perhaps a little lack of distillery markers. But I'm quibbling, it really is a fine bottling. Beware of the price, which can vary enormously depending on the country and the site, from a little expensive to extremely expensive. Nevertheless, a purchase, at least of this bottle, would not be a folly.

Score : 87

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                          To Be Listened While Sipping :

  

                                          Thylacine - Anatolia

Smokehead Rum Rebel

 

 

 

46°

Distillery Officially Unknown - Islay 

Bourbon Casks and Caribbean Rum Finish

Independent Bottling 

By Ian MacLeod Distillers Limited

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2020

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

 

 

 

To further diversify the Smokehead range, Ian MacLeod's scientists came up with the idea of finishing it in rum casks. They first launched the Travel Retail version in early 2020, Rum Riot, and then it was on 16 August, International Rum Day, that this edition went on sale. Unchill-filtered and without colouring, which is always good, but the number of bottles produced is not mentioned. It's a limited edition, but today, two years later, it's still fairly easy to find. The peat content is not given either, but I suspect a good old 50ppm, like its big brother Smokehead Islay Single Malt.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

An explosion of fresh and maritime peat from the very first nose. Violent, cavernous, charcoaled. Seaweed, sea foam, kelp, but also cold, damp stone, rust, fuel oil. You can barely smell the rum barrels, which add a pleasant sweetness of grilled pineapple, lemon pulp and pastry cream. A successful marriage. The palate is a bit light, but smooth, a nice contrast to the aggressive nose. Thick peat, but also cane sugar, barley sugar and vanilla. Still clean, despite some spices. Quite a long, successful finish, lignite, cola, mashed banana.

 

In Short, 

It's nice to have an expression finished in rum casks, just a year after Ardbeg Drum. Admittedly, it's less complex, but more powerful and sweeter. The price is exaggerated, but within reasonable proportions. For those who would like to have a pleasant, well-peated Islay that still bears a strong resemblance to Drum (I'm just saying), but at a better price, and with packaging that will shock your grandmother and scare your grand-nephew, why not?

Score : 86     

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Walk in Darkness - Walk Like Heroes