Karuizawa 1999 Artist #13 19 yo

 

 

 

60°

Distillery : Karuizawa - Japan

Sherry Butt 

Independent Bottling 

By La Maison du Whisky 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2018

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Slightly Peated

 

 

 

The Karuizawa distillery is now more of a myth than a real distillery. It was mothballed in 2000, closed 11 years later, and definitively dismantled in 2012. But rumours suggest that it will be back in operation in a few years' time, with different stills and different know-how, but on the same site. Since the closure, speculation has been rife about the few casks still in circulation. This one, which I was lucky enough to taste, is undoubtedly one of the last. It's true that this distillery has its particularities. The distillate came exclusively from Golden Promise barley, reputed to be the best variety, the production method was deliberately artisanal, with wooden Mash Tuns, and most of the casks used were Sherry casks from Spain. Hua Yang now has exclusive rights to the remaining Karuizawa casks, and they have entrusted this one to La Maison du Whisky. This whisky raises questions because it came out of the cask in 2018, but was not released for sale until 5 years later. There is certainly a problem of traceability here, but that does not detract from the fact that this is a rare and exceptional bottling - only 180 bottles came out of the cask, which was a premium Sherry Butt. It seems that the Karuizawa from the last period, just before closure, were slightly peaty, like this one, around 10-15 ppm I'd say, but that's still very approximate. Artist Wang Yung Chiu has adorned the label with his work Moon Jar Serenade IV.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

It's pure Karuizawa, an inimitable style, dates and dried figs, smoked leather, beetroot, artichoke heart, all matched by a slight minerality, but without iodine, rather basalt, burnt wood, quartz and slate. Dried meat, smoked Aosta ham, and a drop of blood orange, dark chocolate filled with liquorice, woodwax and forest berries. Oily earth, just ploughed. Almost as intense on the palate, the beetroot gives way to candied citrus fruits, Ratte potato du Touquet, butternut, blueberries and other red fruits, measured spices, cloves and nutmeg. A few wisps of salt. Long finish, not explosive but constant, long crescendo of coffee, dark chocolate, quinces, cherries in brandy, macerated almonds, with a very slight bitterness. A drop of tar with a cloud of milk.

 

In Short, 

I found it completely original, and monstrously well made, of course. This is my first Karuizawa, but it's so unlike anything I've tasted before that I'm sure it's totally typical of the distillery. It's a product of another dimension, of brilliant radicalism, to be explored without moderation. The price is far more dangerous than the bottle itself.

Score : 91  

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Arvo Pärt - My Heart's in the Highlands

Ardbeg 1991 Artist #13 Over 30 yo

 

 

 

47,7°

Distillery : Ardbeg - Islay 

Bourbon Hogshead 

Independent Bottling 

By La Maison du Whisky 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 54 ppm

The Artist range was launched in 2011, and is now in its 13th batch. For this one, La Maison du Whisky has teamed up with Hua Yang, the Taiwanese trading company founded by Eric Huang in 2008. Hua Yang has entrusted some of its rarest for the occasion, including this one, which has held Ardbeg for at least 31 years. Conceived at a time when Ardbeg only distilled for two months of the year, this whisky has an elegant, venerable, even austere profile, compared to its younger siblings, made later, after the distillery's renovation. It is aged in a Bourbon Hogshead, which does not detract from the character of the juice. Only 158 bottles came out of this slow process. The label features a painting by Wang Yung Chiu entitled Geometry of Music.

Let's Taste It : 

Fine and very herbaceous nose, lettuce and cabbage leaf, laurel, reeds, grainy peat, quite powerful but very elegant, almost ethereal, set with iodine. Salt crystals, candied seaweed. Floral ash, vetiver, damp gypsum, and a gentle medicinal touch, as if in the corridor of a disused hospital. Dried prunes and raisins. On the palate, the peat is as if concentrated, notes of charcoal and soot, from which citrus fruit, candied lemon and crunchy grapes emerge. Shavings of clove, gentian and nutmeg. Candied ginger, cooked fruit, courgette blossom. Long finish, very expressive without being explosive, hints of cereal, malt and peat, shards of granite and slate. Vegetal once again, alfalfa, tobacco, cola seed, dried flowers, Indian spices.

 

In Short, 

It's obviously an event to taste this. Every Ardbeg lover should cherish this kind of dram. It's not the Ardbeg we know today, it's less explosive, less ostentatious, more elegant and even discreet than violent. But there are some constants: the planty touch, which is very present, and the clearly recognisable citrus notes. This is a deep, cavernous whisky, whose peat does not mask the variety of flavours and its expressiveness. Taste it at least once in your life if you like this profile. As for the price of a bottle, bearing in mind that it's the price of a second-hand car or a month's travel, it's up to you to consider what your priorities are.

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

                                           Cinema Strange - Moundshroud

Kilchoman 2011 100% Islay Single Cask 12 yo

 

 

 

53,5°

Distillery : Kilchoman - Islay 

Bourbon Barrel

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Slightly Peated

 

 

 

This one is the result of a highly original experiment: first distilled with unpeated malted barley, the juice was distilled a second time after being mixed with the foreshots and feints, in other words the liquid resulting from the beginning and end of distillation, of this time well-peated juices, at 50 ppm I suppose, since Kilchoman peats its barley at 50 ppm. The result is a lightly peated whisky, at around 20 ppm, which was kept for 12 years, to the day, in a Bourbon single barrel. It is a limited edition of 240 bottles, sold exclusively in France as part of the New Vibrations Collection launched by La Maison du Whisky.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The nose is well balanced. On the one hand, the peat is very present, mineral, with notes of quartz and silica. On the other, it gives way to velvety white fruits, plums, mirabelles, bananas, and creamy vanilla. The smoke is dusty, set with charcoal and iodine. Some shellfish in the background. On the palate, the fruit is more present, banana purée, juicy pear, yellow apple, but there's still a rather thick peat, somewhat maritime, and lively spices, clove, pepper, cumin. The finish is respectable, quite long, charcoal, gas oil, oily, encaustic, industrial glue.

 

In Short, 

I thought the peat was quite noticeable, and so much the better. There was something abrasive, cottony and tarry about it, unusual for Kilchoman. Otherwise, the rest is pretty well done, but it's still a 12 year old, nothing particularly exceptional, and yet the price is, I find that incongruous.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           In Letter Form - Edison's Medicine

Glenfarclas 2013 Single Cask Collection New Vibrations 10 yo

 

 

 

61°

Distillery : Glenfarclas - Speyside

Sherry Hogshead 

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

The gentlemen from Glenfarclas also wanted to take part in the great Whisky Live festival in Paris, and they entrusted the contents of this cask to the organisers, La Maison du Whisky, for exclusive sale in France as part of the Collection New Vibrations. Like all the casks that have contained Glenfarclas, this is a Sherry cask, a Hogshead to be precise, and 303 bottles have been filled with its contents.

Let's Taste It : 

This is a very fruity Sherry, very expressive on red fruits, raspberries, cherries, cranberries, gooseberries, with a slightly earthy note, damp leather, waxed wood, soft caramel, blond tobacco, apricot stone, a drop of lemon and mango. On the palate, same combination, fruit tart, fruit salad, with those previously mentioned, plus kiwis, lychees, clementines, bananas, vanilla pastry cream, intense spices, cloves, thyme, black pepper. The finish is well-crafted, long and powerful, with sandalwood, speculoos, vergeoise, brown sugar, damp earth, praline chocolate, pine needles, saffron and sultanas marinated in liqueur.

In Short, 

Glenfarclas often has particularly distinctive casks, which add fruit and spice to the juice. This is particularly the case here, and the result is an expression capable of competing with the best, despite its young age. The price is commensurate with the quality of the cask - in fact, I find it disproportionate.

Score : 89

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Elsa - John Henry

The GlenDronach 1994 Cask Bottling 28 yo c. 474

 

 

 

51,8°

Distillery : The GlenDronach - Highlands 

Pedro Ximénez Puncheon Cask 

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

At Glendronach, each Cask Bottling comes from a cask that has been specially selected by the distillery's Master Blender (now Rachel Barrie), because the whisky inside has been deemed remarkable, even exceptional. And when you realise that this particular Cask Bottling has been selected too by La Maison du Whisky for exclusive sale in France as part of the New Vibrations label, you realise that it can only be particularly incredible, because it has been selected twice. It was aged for a minimum of 28 years and nine months in a Pedro Ximénez Puncheon cask, from which 684 bottles were released.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Very rich sherry, fruit pastes, blueberry, blackberry and raspberry jam, waxed wood. Chocolate and exotic tones, blood orange, mango and apricot. But it is above all the red fruits that dominate, very pulpy. On the palate, it's unctuous, syrupy, heady, satiny, you can really feel the fruit pulp, the spices add fullness, nutmeg, cardamom, and even thyme and sage, there's liquorice, melted chocolate, wild strawberry, clementine, and a few tarry notes in the background. The finish is very long and mellow, gently drying, then becoming fuller, with fudge, liquorice, coffee, brown tobacco, fruit loukoum, damp and crumbly wood.

 

In Short, 

Glendronach's Cask Bottlings never disappoint. You know what you're going to get, and it's great every time. Such consistency in excellence is impressive. This one is more or less on a par with the others I've had the chance to taste, except that I found the palate a little lacking in expressiveness, but it's still top quality, it's just not the best. The price is also constant, always astronomical, out of reach for us humble workers.

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Dave Chavez Band - Nothing But the Blues

Big Peat Christmas Edition 2020

 

 

 

53,1°

Distillery : Ardbeg, Bowmore, Caol Ila, Port Ellen - Islay

Ex-Bourbon Casks

Independent Bottling 

By Douglas Laing & Co. 

Limited Edition 

Blended Malt

Bottled in 2020

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 40 ppm

 

 

 

I've been following every Big Peat Christmas Edition release for a few years now, and because of the pandemic, I'd missed this Batch. So I jumped at the chance to grab a sample as soon as I could, to see if this one is the same as the others. This is Batch 101 from Big Peat, a brand that is supposed to represent Islay within the Remarkable Regional Malts, and it's the 10th Christmas Edition since 2011. It seems that no other one of the 4 announced distilleries was used, so Ardbeg, Bowmore, Caol Ila and Port Ellen were called upon to produce this Blended Malt, one of the most famous on the whisky planet. On the label, Pete is dressed up as Father Christmas, which should be added to the long list of abuses inflicted on him.

Let's Taste It : 

Thick, stringy smoke, Ardbeguish, almost suffocating. A hint of honey and lemon, fairly strong iodine, caolilesque, with seaweed and kelp galore. Mirabelle plum, banana, exotic fruits in a Bowmore sauce. Haribo sweets, vanilla cake. Gradually, iodine takes over from peat. Velvety on the palate, rosewater, icing sugar, and very quickly violent spices, cloves, grey pepper, nutmeg. Vanilla and apple, then a fairly long finish, not so explosive, a shovelful of ash, coal, cola, resin, tobacco. Slight woodiness at the end. A touch of bitterness.

 

In Short, 

This one seemed even smokier than usual, and therefore less fruity. On the palate, you can feel the product's youth, but it's still quite well done. It's one hell of a smoke uppercut each time, with a finish that could wake the dead. It's clear that it's not going to play nice, it's dirty for sure. What's more, the price is very attractive, so if you're a fan of the profile, don't hesitate to go for it.

Score : 88

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Esben and the Watch - No Dog

Kilkerran Heavily Peated Small Batch Batch N°9

 

 

 

59,2°

Distillery : Glengyle - Campbeltown 

90% Bourbon, 10% Sherry Casks

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 84 ppm

 

 

 

Kilkerran's 9th Batch of Heavily Peated is the most peaty malt from Campbeltown to my knowledge. At 84 ppm peat, only Octomore and some Ardbeg bottlings can rival it. This 9th Batch differs from the previous 8 in that it is no longer marked Peat in Progress on the label, but Small Batch. Does this mean that the production process has changed slightly, to include smaller casks? The fact remains that this spirit is aged almost exclusively in Bourbon casks, and the number of bottles produced is unknown.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Thick smokiness, a peanut butter slice. It's mineral and chalky, with a bit of vergeoise. The peat gives a nice fullness. After a while, it opens up and becomes caramelised and vanilla-flavoured. It's also slightly muddy, even boggy. Almond glaze. Calissons of Aix. Margarine. The palate is clear, with a good layer of ash, a hint of iodine, spices in force, nutmeg, pepper and cloves, but behind, some white grapes, banana, pineapple. The finish is long and violent, with lychee, pear and waffle with whipped cream.

 

In Short, 

It's a nice product, the peanut butter notes are original. That said, it's far from being the best Heavily Peated. Nevertheless, it's already better than the previous Batch. The price is really interesting, so don't hesitate to buy it if you're a fan of the profile.

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Joanne Shaw Taylor - Heavy Soul

Arran 1995 Single Cask 27 yo

 

 

 

49,8°

Distillery : Isle of Arran - Islands 

Sherry Hogshead 

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated 

This is the bottle that caused the biggest buzz at the last Whisky Live Paris, all the experts said it was the best. It's a 27-year-old Isle of Arran, distilled in the year the distillery was launched, and aged in a Sherry Hogshead. 293 bottles were produced and sold exclusively in France, under the New Vibrations label created by La Maison du Whisky.

 

Let's Taste It : 

The nose is well rounded and balanced, with a suave, honeyed texture and pulpy prunes in the background. Plums of all kinds, mirabelles, greengages, damsons, all juicy, with malty, cereal-like hints. Dried fruits, dates, sultanas. Smooth, brioche-like on the palate, still very fruity, with discreet spices, nutmeg and cloves. Panettone, candied fruit cake. Almost vinous, syrupy, oily notes, blood orange, lime. Quite a long, gently explosive finish, chocolate mousse, cocoa powder, tinged with coffee, praline, and hazelnut shortbread biscuits.

 

In Short, 

It's true that there's something special about it, with all those almost candied dried fruits and honey-coated citrus fruits. But I didn't enjoy it as much as some, I thought it lacked power, and that the Sherry didn't blend perfectly with the distillate. Anyway, given the price, it's better not to like it, so you don't have any regrets.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Meena Cryle - It Makes Me Scream

Benromach 2001 Single Cask Collection New Vibrations 22 yo

 

 

 

56,2°

Distillery : Benromach - Speyside

1st Fill Organic Virgin Oak Cask 

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 12 ppm

 

 

 

This is the twin brother of its predecessor, also selected by La Maison du Whisky to be part of the New Vibrations collection, which means exclusive sales in France. This one is organic, meaning that it has been made from Optic organic barley and aged in a virgin organic oak cask. 274 bottles were produced.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It :  

It's more farmy, with cereals and cut hay, toasted wheat and muesli, a little earthy too, all coated in a lovely grainy peat. Slightly astringent, even medicinal, with hints of limestone and quartz. Yellow fruit and vanilla amidst straw and chalk. On the palate, there's a note of bitterness, with dried fig, and the woodiness is intense, perhaps a little too much so. The spices are very present, cloves and nutmeg. The finish is long, well-balanced but not explosive, rather herbaceous. Reeds, bamboos, leaves of succulent plants, yucca and others. All this with grain and crushed chestnuts.

 

In Short, 

I really liked the nose, but on the palate the virgin casks were noticeable and gave it a bitter taste, which I didn't really like. What's more, the finish lacks explosiveness. A few slight flaws which mean that the bottle is still available today, not to mention the very high price.

Score : 89

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Intuitive Compass - Don't Mind the Will of the Ones Who Aim to Destroy you

Benromach 2002 Single Cask Collection New Vibrations 21 yo

 

 

 

58,3°

Distillery : Benromach - Speyside

1st Fill Bourbon Barrel

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 12 ppm

 

 

 

This Single Cask released by Benromach has been selected by La Maison du Whisky to be part of the New Vibrations Collection, which means an exclusive sale in France. It was made from Optic barley, a fairly rare variety. It then spent 21 years, 2 months and 14 days in a first-fill Bourbon barrel, and finally, 185 bottles came to light.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The nose is perfectly balanced, with the Bourbon giving notes of honey, vanilla custard, lemon zest and frangipane. It's smooth, despite the influence of delicate and grainy peat. The distillate is earthy, but also floral, even rustic. The palate is full of thick, acacia honey. Bananas and passion fruit, it's exotic, with white grapes and leafy hints. The spices are relatively light, leading to a long finish, with just the right amount of explosion, crushed chestnuts, hazelnuts, almonds, cashew nuts, dry earth, pistachio. Pine needles.

In Short, 

It's extremely well made, the Bourbon has a nice influence but not too strong, and the distillate brings a discreet but present character. It's an excellent bottling, and one that's made quite a splash, so much so that it's sold out everywhere despite being overpriced. It's the kind of bottle to buy the day it's released.

Score : 90

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Mick Harvey - When We Were Beautiful & Young

Old Orkney 2009 Decadent Drinks 13 yo

 

 

 

50°

Distillery Officially Unknown - Islands

1st Fill Ex-Bourbon Barrel 

Independent Bottling 

By Decadent Drinks 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 20 ppm

 

 

 

This whisky is special because it pays discreet tribute to a brand that has been defunct since the 1990s, Old Orkney, or Double-O. Apparently, Angus MacRaild, founder of Decadent Drinks in 2020, has bought back the name and intends to use it for a series of future bottlings, of which this is the first. For the occasion, an image from the early 20th century has been used for the label. What's more, the juice has been reduced to 50°, which is perhaps part of the tribute. So everything has been done to bring back an old-fashioned whisky. It is not known how many bottles were released to the public.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It :

This is a superb nose, typical of Highland Park, delicately lemony and peaty, with heather and bushes and a dash of vanilla, not too sweet. Soft white fruits, plums, mirabelles, chasselas grapes. A tiny touch of iodine. The palate is even fruitier, honeyed, vanilla-flavoured and brioche-like. Lively spices, nutmeg, cloves, and a few vegetables, courgettes, pumpkin, butternut. The whole is fairly smooth and well-made. Nice finish, on sweet almonds, gently explosive, quite long. Milk chocolate, chantilly cream, but also some forest and earthy hints.

 

In Short, 

I really enjoyed this very well-balanced product, it's totally Highland Park, old-fashioned, rustic but also subtle. It suits my tastes perfectly. What's more, the price was more or less reasonable, but unfortunately I missed out as it's now sold out.

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Free - Mr. Big

Smögen 2013 Twin Barrels 9 yo

 

 

 

54,3° (95° ¨Proof)

Distillery : Smögen - Sweden

2 Bourbon Barrels

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 50 ppm 

Smögen is a distillery founded in Sweden in 2009. Located north of Gothenburg, it faces the sea. It seems that the distillery has been a firm favourite with connoisseurs for some years now. I confess that I hadn't heard of it. Here we have a 9-year-old bottling, aged in two similar casks, hence the name of the series, Twin Barrels. The distillate has been slightly reduced to the 95° Proof of the old Sikes scale, which is deliciously old-fashioned. 770 bottles have been released, distributed exclusively by La Maison du Whisky in France.

Let's Taste It : 

Dusty smoke, graphite, gravel, hot cement, leading towards a grainy vanilla. Macadamia nuts, mineral rock. Herbaceous and earthy notes, curry, brown sugar, cinnamon. A few white fruits, but mostly fresh lemon. It's slightly salty. The palate is lighter and more floral, the fruits a little fuller, but the spices rise, cloves and pepper. Still citrus fruits. The finish is fairly long, ranging from liquorice to peppermint, rosemary and parsley. Bark, refreshing chocolate touches, after eight.

In Short, 

I know that Serge Valentin gave it 90, and I have to say that I disagree, despite all the respect I have for him. I like peat because it gives the whisky great richness and allows for an infinite number of nuances. Here, the peat is too dry to be subtle, the juice has character but lacks complexity in my opinion. What's more, the asking price seems totally inappropriate. If the price were halved, I'd recommend buying it. Instead, I recommend a Laphroaig 10 Year Old Cask Strength, which is cheaper, almost as peaty and much better.

Score : 87 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Draconian - Sleepwalkers

Hellyers Road 2004 Peated New Vibrations 19 yo

 

 

 

69,9°

Distillery : Hellyers Road - Australia

American Oak Cask 

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Slightly Peated

 

 

 

I said that the Hellyers Road included in the New Vibrations collection for exclusive sale in France by La Maison du Whisky formed a trilogy. So here is the third addition, after the two 6-year-olds I mentioned earlier. This one has matured for a total of 19 years. Apart from that, the profile is similar to the first two, with not very strong peat and an American oak cask. We don't know how many bottles came out of the cask. On the other hand, the alcohol content is very high for a 19-year-old, and the maturation must have taken place in an extremely dry place, perhaps a desert, which prevented the alcohol from evaporating.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Iridescent vanilla, light iodine, cereal hints. Peat still quite present, earthy, sandy. Worn leather, abundantly greased. Animal sweat, like when horses are scared. Fruits with thick pulp, apricots, quinces. Almonds, courgette blossom. A note of exotic fruit, pineapple perhaps. Smooth and fruity on the palate, with very fine vanilla and honey. Lively spices, cloves, nutmeg. Blond American tobacco. Very long, very powerful, impressive finish. Chestnuts, cola, brown sugar, chocolate chips, grated truffles. Still quite earthy.

 

In Short, 

A highly original product, showing us the purity and strength of a truly unique distillate. It's astonishing, intense and, ultimately, good. Unfortunately, the price is beyond the reach of most people.

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Circuline - Tempus Horribilis

Blair Athol 2006 Hidden Spirits 12 yo

 

 

51,1°

Distillery : Blair Athol -  Highlands

Ex-Bourbon Cask 

Independent Bottling 

By Hidden Spirits 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2019

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

Created in 2013 by Andrea Ferrari, Hidden Spirits is brillantly keeping alive the tradition of whisky trading in Italy. Their bottlings often have a little something special for my taste, and we're going to check that out with this 12-year-old Blair Athol, aged in a single and simple Bourbon cask. 362 bottles have been put on sale.

Let's Taste It : 

Yellow apple and white peach. Fresh young wood, Haribo banana. Mint candy, and a very light medicinal touch, vaporub. Liquid acacia honey, with a touch of vanilla and white plums. Sugar glaze. Slight minerality. Shellfish, whelks and scallops. The alcohol is perfectly integrated, but it gradually becomes astringent, even bitter. The palate is a bit aggressive at first, then the fruit rises. It's acidic, woody, velvety. The spices are light, clove and cardamom. Leafy notes. A touch of camphor on the finish, followed by a long, honeyed aftertaste of vergeoise, raw grain, dried earth, sunflower seeds, sultanas and mirabelle plums.

 

In Short,

It lacks power and fullness, but on the other hand it has great complexity and subtlety. The nose, in particular, evolves a great deal, at first it's a basket of yellow fruits, then it's honeyed, costal, mineral and finally astringent. Very surprising. It's a curiosity that will delight enthusiasts. What's more, the price is quite right, and it can still be found on certain websites. You can go there with complete confidence.

Score : 88 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Warpaint - Billie Holiday

An Irish Distillery 1990 Archives The Fishes of Samoa 31 yo

 

 

 

52,9°

Distillery Officially Unknown - Ireland

Bourbon Barrel 

Independent Bottling 

By Archives 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2021

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

Created in 2011, Archives, the dutch trading company, have released several single Malts from Ireland without ever revealing the name of the distillery they come from. But we can make our own investigations. In 1990, only 2 Irish distilleries made Single Malt: Cooley and Bushmills. In 2012, Cooley was sold to the Japanese Beam Suntory group. Its former owner, John Teeling, was no longer allowed to use the name of the distillery, but he still owned all the old casks, the oldest of which dated back to 1987. He could therefore have sold some of them to the gentlemen of Archives after 2012, without them being able to use the Cooley name. That's why I think it's Cooley, and the distillate doesn't really look like Bushmills, but of course I could be wrong. In any case, this is a 31-year-old single cask aged in a single Bourbon cask, from which only 141 bottles were released. It is part of The Fishes of Samoa range, and as with all the others in the same range, the label features a fish from this archipelago, in this case an Acarauna Major Pinnis Cornutis, designed by Mark Catesby.

Let's Taste It : 

Vanilla and mango, a few other tropical fruits, banana, papaya, pineapple, a hint of lemon, cereals in the background, bursts of honey, floral and greedy notes, flan, custard. It's slightly iodised, evanescent, a breath of fresh air, coconut. On the palate, candied corn, crème brûlée, exotic fruit festival, sweets, buttered bread, cut hay, delicate woodiness. The spices are barely perceptible, but give a fine breadth. Fairly long finish, slightly liquorice, fried butter, lots of vanilla and white fruits, honey, heart of palm. A delicately bitter note at the end.

 

In Short, 

An excellent bottling, delivering a full palette of tropical fruits. But that's not all: there are also costal, buttery and even cereal notes. In short, a real festival, with perfectly integrated alcohol and magnificent balance. Another great success from Archives. It's all the more sad that this little marvel is no longer available anywhere, and in any case the release price was far too high for me.

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Caro Emerald - A Night Like This

Cameronbridge 1982 Liquid Treasures From Miles Away 38 yo

 

 

 

48,6°

Distillery : Cameronbridge - Lowlands

Bourbon Barrel

Independent Bottling 

By Liquid Treasures 

Limited Edition 

Single Grain 

Bottled in 2020

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated 

 

 

 

Cameronbridge is one of the largest distilleries of the world, producing 136 million littres of pure alcohol per year, and it's only grain whisky. It belongs to Diageo, so we can assume a bit of Cameronbridge can be found in all the famous blends from the renowned company. The German brand Liquid Treasures, founded in 2011 by the liquor trading company eSpirits, decided to enlight this distillery with this bottling, a 38 year old Single Cask, aged in a barrel of Bourbon, that means the distillate will be able to thrive peacefully. Only 140 bottles were put on sale. It was integrated in the From Miles Away range, dedicated to the beauty of nature. The label is adorned with a photography by Matt Deakin, famous landscape photographer. 

Let's Taste It : 

Thick grain, cracked wheat, with earthy hints, but also exotic fruits, pineapple, banana. There's some solvent, even astringent, but in the background. Light vanilla, mirabelle plum pulp, greengages. Sunflower oil and brewer's yeast. Liquid honey. On the palate, it's syrupy, caramelised, quince and apricot jam, spices in the background, nutmeg. The finish is long and slightly explosive, sandy, shortbread biscuits, langue de chat, dried coconut, hazelnut powder.

 

In Short, 

A very fine bottling, with a superb balance between earthy grain and exotic fruit. For a single grain whisky, 38 years is not very old, and I found this whisky to be very fresh. You can't find it anywhere these days, which is a pity because the release price was attractive.

Score : 89 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

                                            Mean Mary - Sweet Jezebel

Armorik 2015 Zn09 Série Cyberpunk

 

 

 

53,5°

Distillerie : Warenghem - France

STR Vinho Diaz Cask 

Independent Bottling 

By Mava Spirit

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

Zero Nine Spirits, a company founded in 2022 by two friends, is releasing here its 2nd whisky, as they mainly make Rum and Armagnac. It's a French whisky, from a renowned distillery, the one that introduced whisky to France in 1983. Indeed, Warenghem is a distillery founded at the end of the 19th century, which distilled the first drops of French whisky. Here we have a single cask from 2015, aged in a Portuguese wine cask, Vinho Diaz. For the occasion, the cask was Shaved, Toasted and Re-charred, in other words sanded, torched and burnt again, in order to enliven its flavours. 202 bottles emerged from this slow process. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Woody and winey notes, figs and prunes, thick caramel. Beautiful forest fullness, pine forest, undergrowth, dry earth and morello cherries, a touch of charcoal, furniture polish. Continues on the palate, with tannins, heather earth, essential oils, damp bark, black fruits, forest berries, a few drops of blackberry, clove and pepper among a variety of spices. The finish is long, powerful, earthy, chestnut trees, walnut and hazelnut, varnished wood, the earth is now almost muddy, chocolate and coffee.

 

In Short, 

It's very interesting, you can feel the influence of the Portuguese wine barrel, which gives it fruit, but the whole is balanced and quite subtle. I found there was a very nice finish that justified the score. As an Unpeated, it's certainly the best French whisky I've ever tasted. I'm still very wary, but I have to admit that the French are not so far behind the Scots. The price is still a bit of a problem, for a 50cl bottle.

Score : 89 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Her - Neighborhood

Midleton Barry Crockett Legacy MSPS22

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : Midleton - Ireland

Seasoned & Unseasoned American Bourbon Casks

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Pot Still

Bottled in 2022

Unchillfiltered

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

When Barry Crockett, Master Distiller at Midleton, retired, the gift he was given was a bottle in his name, the Barry Crockett Legacy, the distillery's first Single Pot Still. Given its success, a new batch was launched, and we now have a new expression of this elixir every year. Here we have batch 2022. It is officially a NAS, but legend has it that the recipe includes spirits aged between 10 and 22 years. Production is limited to 2,500 bottles a year.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Cereals galore, muesli, toasted wheat, roasted corn, cracked rye, all coated in a knob of honey, it's unctuous, sweet, delicately encrusted in brioche and wheat galettes. Floral, with a few white fruits. The palate follows on from this, with a nice dash of vanilla, crunchy cereals, oats, millet, but it remains honeyed, and even greedy, genoise, vergeoise, marzipan, whole almonds, apricot kernel, discreet spices, an ounce of clove, very well done finish, chestnut, fresh wood, bark, pine needles, coconut.

 

In Short, 

This is undoubtedly the summit of what can be done in terms of Single Pot Still. For fans of the genre, it will be a marvel. For the rest of us, it's certainly an exceptional product, but far too expensive for what is still a NAS.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Foy Vance - It Ain't Over

Longmon 25 yo The Tasteful 8 A Dream of Scotland

 

 

 

50,6°

Distillery : Longmorn - Speyside

2 Bourbon Hogsheads

Independent Bottling 

By Brühler Whiskyhaus

Limited Edition 

Single Malt

Bottled in 2022

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated 

 

 

 

In 2022, Brühler Whiskyhaus released this series of 8 bottlings entitled The Tasteful 8, in reference to the Quentin Tarantino film (and if you don't know which one it is, it's time to study a little), and incorporated it into its wider range, A Dream of Scotland, which brings together all its Scottish bottlings. Among these 8 beauties, this 25-year-old Longmorn is a blend of 2 Bourbon Hogsheads, resulting in 307 bottles. It says on the label that it's Bourbon, but given the colour and flavour profile of this beauty, I think there must be a few staves of Sherry added to the Hogsheads, which wouldn't be surprising coming from a bottler with a reputation for producing very cask-driven whiskies, gorged with Sherry or wine, or even more intriguing stuff, or repulsive, depending on your taste.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Luscious nose, clementine, blood orange, red fruits, raspberries, gooseberries, slightly malty and woody, warm caramel, earthy hints in the background. Fresh tomatoes, dried figs and dates, truffle crumbs. On the palate it's more tannic, but still quite syrupy, gingerbread, pan-fried fruits, a zest of lemon and various citrus, meat sauce, maple syrup, a big nutmeg as a spice. Deep finish, damp bark, humus, cooked mushrooms, black earth, forest undergrowth, oak leaf.

 

In Short, 

A surprising product, where the Bourbon doesn't make itself felt very much, for me and for the friends who have tasted it with me, it's very Sherry. It's not annoying at all, it's a good Sherry, not too strong or sickening. The whole thing is well done, very varied and intense, I'm not sure it reflects the distillery's profile but it doesn't matter. It's not what we came here for. The release price was more than fair, but now that it's sold out everywhere, the price has gone way up and it's no longer really worth it.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           No-Man - Things Change

Dornoch 2018 Cask No. 115 4 yo

 

 

 

57,7°

Distillery : Dornoch - Highlands 

1st Fill Ex-Bourbon Octave Cask 

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

Phil and Simon Thompson had already opened an independent bottling company in 2013, but that wasn't enough for them. They needed their own distillery. This has now been achieved with Dornoch, named after the town where they live, where the first drops of whisky were distilled in 2017. They only produce 12,000 litres of alcohol a year, but what a spirit! Made from traditional organic barley and with what is believed to be the longest fermentation in Scotland (216 hours!), each Single Cask bottling is sold in very limited editions. This one, aged 4 years and 6 months, has been stored in an Octave cask of around 80 litres to speed up the ageing process. The barley used is Plummage Archer, which is very rare. Only 89 bottles were made during the slow production process.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The influence of Bourbon can be felt, with an intense woodiness. Young and powerful, vanilla flan, custard, île flottante, some yellow fruits, notes of honey and banana. Intense cereals, like rye. Oak bark, slightly bitter caramel. On the palate, it's lighter, the young age is visible here, but it's very well done, balanced and quite full-bodied, the bourbon mellows out, almonds and marzipan, to let through some more typical notes, cola, peaches, courgette blossom, no doubt the rudiments of the distillery's identity. Dark bread, buckwheat pancakes. Robust finish, not quite long, sparkling and aniseed-flavoured, milk chocolate, pepper and salt.

 

In Short, 

For its age, this is an excellent bottling. It's still a little young - I'd have given it 8 to 10 years - but it's nuanced and balanced, with a nice variety of flavours. The barley used gives an atypical flavour, and the finish is more than correct. It's just a little light on the palate, otherwise it could rival good Single Cask bottlings over 10 years old. The quality is truly impressive. On the other hand, the price is high, but that's justified by the rarity of the product and the high standards of the production process. You have to support an effort like this.

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           The Barn Swallows - Born For This World