Benrinnes 2012 Hogshead 10 yo

 

 

 

48°

Distillery : Benrinnes - Speyside

1st Fill Ruby Port Octave Finish

Independent Bottling 

By Hogshead Imports

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2022

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated 

 

 

 

Hogshead Imports is a little-known Dutch bottler. It used to make a variety of spirits, but switched to whisky in 2022. In two years it has produced around twenty bottlings, including this one, a Benrinnes finished in an Octave cask for the last 32 months of its maturation. Octave casks are small barrels of 80 litres maximum. Here, only 62 bottles were produced. 

 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Particularly old school, with elegant oak, dried fruits in the background, raisins, figs, bananas, walnuts, velvety caramel, quinces, red plums and cherries, a few spices, blood oranges. You can still smell the alcohol. Spicy and fluffy on the palate, varnished wood, genoise, cloves and cumin. Amaretto, a candied vanilla pod. The finish is fairly full, chocolatey and peppery, velvety, with coffee powder, tiramisu, it's unctuous, vergeoise, slightly aniseed-flavoured. Nutmeg. 

In Short, 

You can read on the bottler's website that their aim is to make old school whiskies, and if that's all it is, it's totally successful. However, it's a good whisky, but I did find that there were a few small flaws, the nose high in alcohol, and the palate a little light. The finish, on the other hand, is very good. You can still find it here and there, at a rather high price I think, but enthusiasts can indulge themselves.

Score : 86

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Faithless - Insomnia

Oxford Rye Heritage Grains

 

 

 

40°

The Oxford Artisan Distillery - England

American Oak Casks 

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition

Rye Spirit

Bottled in 2021

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

The Oxford Artisan Distillery, also known as TOAD, was founded in 2017 in Oxford. They make gin, vodka, and Rye Whisky. It is the first certified totally organic distillery in United Kingdom. In 2021, they weren't making real whisky yet, so the sample I was given was about two years old, their first real Rye Whirsky coming out a few months later. It is made exclusively from rye, 20% of which is malted and 80% unmalted. The distillery closed last April, because they now want to move to Yorkshire to increase their production. I wonder if they'll change their name.

Let's Taste It : 

Quite strong turpentine, with some chemical violet. Crushed blueberry, mint candy. Behind, a certain cereal freshness can be detected, but it's not sufficient. Ethereal vanilla, lemon coulis, melting caramel, floral and honeyed fragrances. Light palate, wheat grains, rough rye, well peppered spices, acceptable finish, more or less long, almost crisp corn, a touch of alcohol, green wood, still young, cola nut, dry earth, tall grasses. Bay leaves, honeysuckle. 

In Short, 

Perhaps there was a problem with the conservation of the sample, which must have been lying around somewhere waiting for someone to get rid of it by giving it to me. As a result, the nose was severely degraded. This may have affected my tasting note, but one thing's for sure: this isn't a great spirit, because the palate and finish aren't great either. Be that as it may, since then this distillery has released some real whiskies, so we'll have to start by tasting that before forming a definitive opinion.

Score : 79

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Silky Roads - Out of Mind

Kilchoman Loch Gorm 2018

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : Kilchoman - Islay

19 Oloroso Sherry Butts

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2018

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 50 ppm

 

 

 

This edition of Loch Gorm is the sixth, since the name was launched in 2013, and, by reputation, it's one of the best. It's a blend of 19 Oloroso Sherry Butts, distilled in 2007, 2008 and 2011. The blend must therefore be between 6 and 11 years old, but what's certain is that it has given 15,000 bottles.. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The smoke is fine, ashy and grainy, charcoal balls with a knob of soft caramel, fig jam, tinder wood, a hint of raspberry, sultanas. Pellets of peat in the background, foresty and earthy. Acorn, bark and clay, in a damp clearing. A pinch of salt. Cashew nuts, dark chocolate. On the palate, it's silky, honeyed, with a big pile of peat, then fairly well managed spices, nutmeg, ginger, cayenne pepper, cocoa powder. The finish is wonderfully long, close to explosion, then languorous, with thick caramel, candied quince, cloves, black radish, roots, brown tobacco, more chocolate.

 

In Short, 

It's true that the nose is rather marvellous, with very nice smoke and magnificent balance. If I'm trying to be objective, this is certainly the best Loch Gorm I've ever tasted. On the other hand, if I stick to my personal tastes, I wonder if I didn't prefer other versions that were fruitier. It's all a question of taste. But it's still a very good product. 6 years after its release, it has become a collector's item, yet it's still relatively easy to find, but you have to put a disproportionate price on it.

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Oh Land - Wolf & I

Tullibardine 2015 100 Proof Edition #2 8 yo

 

 

 

57,1° (100° Proof)

Distillery : Tullubardine - Highlands 

1st Fill Oloroso Sherry Butts

Independeent Bottling 

By Signatory Vintage 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated 

Second release in the new 100 Proof range launched by Signatory Vintage, this expression has been declined in 2949 bottles. It is a Tullibardine aged in first-fill Sherry Butts, and it appeared at the very beginning of 2024. 100 Proof is the old traditional measure of alcohol content in the UK, and is precisely 57.1°.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The Sherry is very much present, fermented grapes, morello cherries, caramel, leather, red fruits that are no longer of the first freshness, raspberries, blueberries, gooseberries, a touch of woody varnish. It becomes more balanced with a drop of water, and is slightly earthy and spicy. Amadou, prunes, it gets much more interesting after a while. On the palate, it's syrupy, black cherry, peppermint, sage leaf, melting caramel. The spices are discreet. The finish is longer than I expected, woody liquorice, vegetal notes and cola.

 

In Short, 

At first, I thought the Sherry was really too strong. You need to add a bit of water and wait a few minutes. Then a pleasant woodiness appears, and spices add complexity. It's a good whisky, but you need to give it time to breathe. As for the price, it's very reasonable, and anyone with a taste for this profile should try to buy it.

Score : 87

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Ripoff Raskolnikov - Toll-Gate Blues

Caol Ila 2015 100 Proof Edition #10 8 yo

 

 

 

57,1° (100° Proof)

Distillery : Caol Ila - Islay

1st Fill Oloroso Sherry Butts and Hogsheads

Independent Bottling 

By Signatory Vintage 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 35 ppm 

Signatory Vintage launched this series last year, which consists of limited editions of several thousand bottles each of a low-priced vintage single malt. For this one, I don't know the exact number, but I do know that we're approaching 4,000 bottles. To reach such a figure, they had to buy a whole load of casks. This is the 10th in the series and it's a Caol Ila matured in Sherry.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

A creamy, pastry-like Caol Ila, but the smoke is still very strong. Milky vanilla, ripe mirabelle plums, sticky soot. Nice fullness, with light maritime touches. Seafood, sprinkled with lemon zest. After a while, the smoke becomes bewitching. On the palate, it's velvety, woody, mussels and scallops, thick peat, then violent spices, cumin and pepper, lead to a not very long but explosive finish, liquorice and caramel, peach pit, bark, eucalyptus, rosemary, cola, nutmeg.

 

In Short, 

It's not a great whisky, but it's well made nonetheless. The quality is there. The value for money is interesting, without being exceptional. It's a classic Caol Ila, without much originality, but also without flaws. It's not a must-have, but if you buy it you won't regret it.

Score : 87

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           The Afghan Whigs - I'll Make you see God

Lagavulin 8 yo

 

 

 

48°

Distillery : Lagavulin -Islay

Ex-Bourbon American Oak Cask

Original Bottling 

Core Range 

Single Malt 

Launched in 2017

Unchillfiltered

Peated around 38 ppm

 

 

 

A new addition to the Core Range, this 8yo was first released as a limited edition to celebrate the distillery's 200th anniversary, and I talked about it here. The advantage is that it is very different from the iconic 16 Year Old, very Bourbon while the 16 Year Old is very Sherry. The two expressions complement each other well.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

An earthy, marshy peat, loamy earth and fatty herbs, softened by a nice layer of vanilla. It's well-crafted, fairly balanced, full-bodied with hints of iodine and sea spray, and a pinch of icing sugar. The palate is full-bodied, chalky, fat, with salt crystals and gelatine, just the right amount of spices, cumin, nutmeg, and some white fruits. Quite powerful finish, full of cloves, heather, smoked bark, dark chocolate, cola, pepper, balsamic vinegar, truffles. Gentle minerality.

 

In Short, 

I really liked it. The nose is well-crafted, powerful, just the right amount of dirty, but still pleasant. The palate is solid and the finish is beautiful. Honestly, I preferred it to the 2016 limited edition, although everyone says that it is much worse, so I'll have to make a serious comparison. Anyway, if you can find it at a good price, it's a bargain.

Score : 87

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Hangwire - Stockholm Syndrome

Caol Ila 2009 Artist Collective #3.2 9 yo

 

 

 

57,2°

Distillery : Caol Ila - Islay

3 Refill Sherry Butts 

Independent Bottling 

By La Maison du Whisky

Limired Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2019

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 35 ppm 

Part of the 3rd batch of Artist Collective, a range launched by La Maison du Whisky in 2017, this Caol Ila was aged for 9 years in 3 Sherry Butts, before giving birth to 1888 bottles. This is the 2nd Caol Ila in the range, out of the 8 available in the 6 Artist Collective batches.

Let's Taste It : 

Well-crafted nose, mainly focused on iodine, to which is added fairly thick peat, traces of icing sugar, white fruits, the tide and the sea breeze of course, lychee, Chasselas grapes, soft banana. A note of sweetness, perhaps whipped cream. Gresil, green wood. On the palate, a little alcohol, still icing sugar and lychees, then spices, rather strong, grey pepper, cumin. The finish isn't quite so devastating, I was expecting stronger, a bit vegetal, full of unctuous fruits, apricots, medlars, slightly overripe, quite long nonetheless. Drops of caramel. Varnished wood.

 

In Short, 

It's a successful Caol Ila, very iodised, but also fruity and maritime. Nothing exceptionally original, but very pleasant, and quite full-bodied. Rumour has it that it's very peaty for a Caol Ila, but I didn't find that to be the case. It can still be found on certain websites at a fairly high price, let's say it's a bottle for collectors.

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           She Past Away - Kasvetli Kutlama

Raasay Ex-Bordeaux Red Wine Unpeated Cask Sample 36 Months

 

 

 

63,5°

Distillery : Isle of Raasay - Islands

1st Fill Ex-Bordeaux Red Wine Cask

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2021

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

 

 

At a tasting in 2023, the demonstrator discreetly placed this vial in my hand. This is a juice aged for 36 months in first-fill Bordeaux red wine barrels. This is one of the three types of casks used for the famous Nia Sia recipe, which is elaborated for the production of Raasay Single Malts, in its unpeated version. Here it's just a 5cl sample, the alcohol content is not indicated, but on their website they specify that all their samples have approximately the same alcohol content, around 63,5°. In September 2022, the first 700ml bottling was made from the same barrel, in Single Cask. I assume that the sample I tasted is very close to this bottling, as the difference in ageing is only a few months. The alcohol content of the bottle is 61.8°.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Sweet, cereal-like, astringent, dry hay, hints of sea iodine, velvety fruits, creamy vanilla. Peanut butter, oily honey, sweet almond milk. Tide and sea breeze, sea spray. A crust of salt. A few citrus fruits in the background. Silky on the palate. The smoothness of the wine, very liquid honey, then rather strong spices, cumin, black pepper, another trail of salt. Woody hazelnuts. Explosive finish, banana, cola, roasted corn, vanilla ice cream, milk chocolate. 

In Short, 

It's not bad at all, the alcohol isn't too noticeable, nor is the youth of the product. The influence of the red wine is very slight, adding only a velvety and fruity character to this rather costal and cereal distillate, which makes for a good blend. On the distillery's website, samples of the same type are for sale, so don't hesitate to take a few, it could be interesting.

Score : 87

                                           To Be Listened While Sippinng :

 

                                           Thurisaz - Years of Silence

The Ardmore 12 yo Port Wood Finish

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : The Ardmore - Speyside

American White Oak Bourbon Barrels and European Port Pipes Finish

Original Bottling 

Core Range

Single Malt 

Launched in 2015

Unchillfiltered

Peated around 12 ppm

 

 

 

This one is the only aged version in the distillery's Core Range. First released in 2015, it has now become its most important reference. It is not chill-filtered, but it is coloured and reduced to 46°.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Red fruits with a hint of smoke, raspberry jam, the smoothness of Port. A touch of liquorice and chocolate, perhaps a bit of tobacco. Damsons, gooseberries, muscat grapes, a pinch of cinnamon. After a while, the fruit becomes deeper, almost complex. Notes of honey and mirabelle plums. On the palate, there's a lovely suave woodiness, blueberries and strawberries, olive oil, it's liquorous, with traces of undergrowth and black berries. Then the spices rise, quite strong, cumin, pepper and cloves. Brown tobacco. Long finish, the caramel comes through, fudge, liquorice stick, cola, bark, black tea. Coal and chocolate.

 

In Short, 

I have to say that it's much better than I expected. The Port is very well brought out and deep, complex and bewitching. The downside is that it lacks the typical profile of this distillery, but you can't have everything. As for the price, it's more than fair, in my opinion you can go for it without hesitation.

Score : 87 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Kiki Rockwell - Syrena

Kilchoman 2014 Loch Gorm 2024 Edition 9 yo

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : Kilchoman - Islay

1st Fill and 2d Fill Oloroso Sherry Butts

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 50 ppm

 

 

 

Like every year since 2013, Kilchoman is bringing us a new version of the peat and Sherry combination. This one is the 12th, it's 9 years old, and is the fruit of 23 Butts of Oloroso Sherry from Bodega José y Miguel Martin, 17 of which are first-fill and 6 second-fill. It was released with a total of 18,000 bottles. Loch Gotm is close to the distillery, where it draws its water. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Liquorice and damsons, muscat grapes. The peat is not too strong, quite earthy. It gives a fine balance. Chocolate filled with dried fruits, bark dipped in caramel, a few drops of diesel and gas oil. Fig, thick smoke, hints of honey. Blueberry jam, peach pit. Dark chocolate mousse. Velvety on the palate, a good reflection of the nose, melted chocolate, flowing over fresh pear, red fruits, cinnamon, whiffs of smoke. The spices are barely perceptible, just a bit of nutmeg. Long finish, fairly smoky, not very explosive. Wood dripping with treacle, amber tobacco, beer yeast, cereal notes.

 

In Short, 

I found that this one insisted a lot on liquorice, and I didn't entirely like that. All in all, it's still a very nice bottling, but not the best Loch Gorm I've ever tasted. Still, it's up there with the rest of the series. The price, on the other hand, is again too high in my opinion.

Score : 88  

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Alcest - L'Envol

Kilchoman Batch Strength

 

 

 

57°

Distillery : Kilchoman - Islay

Recharred Red Wine, Oloroso Sherry and Bourbon Casks

Original Bottling

Core Range 

Single Malt

Launched in 2024 

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 50 ppm

This is the new expression included in Kilchoman's Core Range. Reduced to 57°, ageless, with triple maturation. It makes you curious. With a peat content of 50 ppm, it looks like a Peat Bomb.

Let's Taste It : 

Good thick peat, full of smoke, but we don't get the mineral character typical of Kilchoman, it's more about young wood, very green, with rosemary, angelica, and leaves full of sap. Parsley, resin, a touch of vanilla, and a nice fullness thanks to the peat. On the palate, there's a lovely sweetness, but it's immediately invaded by very strong spices, pepper and cumin, and then the finish is of course explosive, powerful, but not extremely long, oily earth, bark, dry tobacco, some white fruits.

 

In Short, 

A little disappointing. It's still very young and doesn't quite have the Kilchoman profile. It doesn't offer the usual lovely mineral peat, it's more heavily smoky and very green. That said, it's still a good product, and the price isn't outrageous, so enthusiasts can treat themselves. But it won't be for me. I prefer Machir Bay Cask Strength.

Score : 87

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Gary Harvey - Luv Game

Bunnahabhain 2012 Small Batch #7 11 yo

 

 

 

48,2°

Distillery : Bunnahabhain - Islay

Oloroso Sherry Casks

Independent Bottling 

By Signatory Vintage

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2024

Undhillfiltered, Uncoloured

Almost Unpeated 

With the Small Batch range, Signatory Vintage offers relatively young bottlings aged in small Sherry casks. There are two Small Batch series, the first was released between 2018 and 2022, with a total of 12 expressions numbered from 1 to 12; the second was released between 2023 and 2024, again with a total of 12 expressions numbered from 1 to 12, all reduced to 48.2°. This Bunnahabhain is number 7 in the second series. It is a special bottling for the German distributor Kirsch Whisky Serviice Gmbh, but can apparently be found throughout Western Europe. No details are available on the number of bottles produced or the number of casks used.  

Let's Taste It : 

First of all, quite pronounced maritime fragrances of iodine, sea spray, seaweed and kelp. Then there's the typical smoothness of Oloroso, with red fruit coulis, soft caramel, dark chocolate, tobacco and spices. It's well done, but lacks a little complexity. On the palate, it's unctuous, fondant with caramel, liquid honey, a hint of vanilla, some blackberries and gooseberries, light spices. The finish is fairly long but not very explosive, with light tobacco, coffee and dark chocolate pralines, truffles and cloves.

 

In Short, 

The Sherry is very present, but does not hide the identity of the distillery. So it's a success, it's just a shame it's reduced. The price is right if you go to the right shops, a purchase would be wise for enthusiasts.

Score : 87

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Luther 'Badman' Keith - Cream in your Coffee

Caol Ila 2007 Les Grands Alambics 13 yo

 

 

 

51°

Distillery : Caol Ila - Islay

Bourbon Hogshead

Independent Bottling

By Les Grands Alambics

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2021

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 35 ppm 

 

 

 

Les Grands Alambics is a highly reputed spirit merchant based in Chambéry, France. They also make their own bottlings, like this one, produced in 2021 in an edition of 126. It's part of the Birds series, and therefore features a beautiful bird on the label.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Fresh, light and iodised nose. You can smell the tide and seaweed, kelp and sea air. The peat is barely perceptible, very well integrated into a rather well-crafted ensemble of honey, icing sugar and creamy vanilla. Juicy white grapes, light hints of pineapple and papaya. The palate is again light and delicate, with white fruits, vanilla and a slight peatiness, followed by measured spices that add just the right amount of funk. Exotic fruits again, a few drops of grapefruit. The finish is long and beautiful, developing slowly without exploding. Lemony sea spray, fresh iodine, yellow plum.

 

In Short, 

I can see that this bottler's reputation has not been usurped. I'm a fan of Caol Ila and I recognise that this bottling is above average for its age and Bourbon cask ageing. What's more, the distillery's character is clearly recognisable, as strong as ever despite the age, which adds a nice complexity. However, 126 bottles is a very small number, and it sold out very quickly. I'd love to recommend buying it, but it still has to be possible.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Crowheart - Apotheosis

The Marketing Malt 2008 Whisky Sponge Edition N°88 15 yo

 

 

 

57,1° (100° Proof)

Distillery Officially Unknown - Speyside

Sherry Cask

Independent Bottling 

By Decadent Drinks 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

The 88th expression in the Whisky Sponge range comes from an undisclosed distillery, and is a 15-year-old heavily marked by a Sherry cask that produced 228 bottles. The distillery is secret, but according to the note on the Decadent Drinks website, it no longer exists, and this is a tribute to it, with this bottling reduced to 100° Proof, in the old-fashioned way. The distillery in question is Macallan, which closed in 2014, and whose new site opened in 2017. Like Clynelish in the 1960s, the old distillery was mothballed to open a new one next door, which produced more, and was given the same name. The bottle we have here is therefore a reminder of a bygone era, as it is impossible to produce exactly the same malt on another site. For Whisky Sponge, the new site is a ‘lifesize version of Teletubby land’, needless to say that for them, as for many connoisseurs, the current Macallan is no more than a vague imitation of what the old distillery used to offer.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Very rich sherry, with a hint of rancio. Crushed grapes, blackberry juice and raspberry jam, plums, damsons, prunes. Some earthy notes. Well-balanced. Woody-smoky amadou, dead leaves, Aosta ham, with a gooseberry on the top. Oak bark. On the palate, it's bright, silky, honeyed, cranberry jam and fairly strong but restrained spices, pepper and nutmeg. Drops of pear juice, green tea. The finish is long, powerful just as it should be, still green tea, this time accompanied by melted liquorice. Forest undergrowth, brown tobacco. Caramel lollipop, varnished wood, a pinch of salt, milk chocolate.

 

In Short, 

The Sherry Bomb in its purest form, the quintessential Sherry. It's exactly as it should be, with a cascade of crushed fruits, tobacco, caramel, a few dried fruits and a few meaty notes. For me, it's perfect. As is so often the case with Whisky Sponge, the bottling was sold out within hours or even minutes of its release, the price was a little high but acceptable, today you can still find it on the second market, but it's more expensive.

Score : 91

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           JMSN - Don't Make Me Change

Grant's The Family Reserve

 

 

 

40°

Around 25 different Distilleries, but mostly Girvan and Glenfiddich - Lowlands & Speyside

Bourbon and Sherry Casks

Original Bottling 

By William Grant & Sons

Core Range 

Blended Scotch Whisky

Launched in 1898

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

In 1898, William Grant, founder of the Glenfiddich distillery, took advantage of the bankruptcy of a competitor to launch his own Blend. As he was very proud of his offspring, 7 boys and 2 girls, he chose to call it The Family Reserve. The source of this Blend was Glenfiddich of course, but for the grain whisky, which made up the majority of the juice, Grant bought it from Distillers Company Limited, one of the forerunners of Diageo, which owned the Cameronbridge grain distillery. But in 1962, Distillers Company Limited stopped supplying the company, following a dispute. However, within 9 months it had the Girvan grain distillery built, which is now the source of most of the Blend. The Family Reserve was the 3rd best-selling Blend in the world, but its prestigious name was dropped in 2018, after 120 years of existence. The descendants of William Grant, who still own the group, decided to change the Blend recipe slightly, and renamed it Triple Wood. The end of a centuries-old tradition.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The nose is well-crafted, but sorely lacking in fullness. Grainy cereals, warm wood, melting caramel. Some forest berries, bark, spices, liquorice, a zest of lemon, a dash of vanilla. Dried fruits, figs, dates, apricots. The palate is a little insignificant, but not bad, pepper and alcohol. A touch of treacle. The spices rise. Green apple. The finish is short but quite pleasant, cola, liquorice and tinder, Armenian paper. Peanuts. The aftertaste is pastry-like, almost creamy.

 

In Short, 

For a Blend, it's not bad, in fact it's almost drinkable. What bothers me is that the nose is really very light. But it really is one of the best supermarket blends I've ever had. The Monkey Shoulder, which belongs to the same group, is better, because it has Balvenie in it. Even though production was discontinued 6 years ago, it's still quite easy to find here and there, as stocks are so high. It's good value for money, but if it's only to drink this, you might as well give up alcohol.

Score : 77

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Helmut Fritz - Ca m'énerve

Ballechin 2003 Conquête 18 yo

 

 

 

54°

Distillery : Edradour - Highlands

1st Fill Sherry Butt Finish

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2021

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 50 ppm

 

 

 

This Ballechin was released to celebrate the 65th anniversary of La Maison du Whisky. Finished in a first-fill Sherry Butt, it is exactly 18 years and 3 months old. Distributed in France, the Batch consists of 718 bottles.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Gritty, smoky peat, gravel, hot ashes, burning coal, fuel oil. A touch of stewed fruits, quinces and medlars, soft caramel, dark chocolate. Slight woodiness. Pencil lead, basalt. Malty on the palate, a little suave, red fruits with a dash of gas oil, light spices. A thick layer of peat in the background. Between liquorice and charcoal. The finish is just the way I like it, long, with a big whiff of smoke and brown coal, earth full of quartz, slate, stuffed fig, cola, pipe tobacco.

 

In Short, 

I didn't smell much Sherry. It's there however, but in the background, it doesn't add much complexity. On the other hand, what a great personality! Beautiful intensity of smoke, with mineral notes of graphite and slate. But also earth and charcoal. A fine bottling. Only the price is exaggerated, which explains why, three years later, La Maison du Whisky is still struggling to get rid of it.

Score : 89

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Pallbearer - Endless Place

Bunnahabhain 2001 Cask Strength Collection Symington's Choice 22 yo

 

 

 

56,5°

Distillery : Bunnahabhain - Islay

Oloroso Sherry Butt

Independent Bottling 

By Signatory Vintage

Limired Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Almost Unpeated

 

 

 

This one is a brand new addition to the recent Symington's Choice range, which brings together the finest productions of Signatory Vintage, Single Casks at least 21 years old. We're still in the Cask Strength Collection series, but this is the next level. 427 bottles have been released for sale.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Very delicate nose, yellow plum pulp coated in chocolate, candied fruits, muscat grapes, a touch of gooseberry. Salted butter caramel, melted butter with a drop of sweet white wine, toasted almonds. It's deep and racy, brown tobacco, thick acacia honey, all in fine balance. Banana and mother-of-pearl. On the palate, it's lighter, simpler, but very smooth, white chocolate mousse, vanilla éclair, then fairly powerful spices lead to a long, explosive finish, where the tobacco and dark chocolate stand out, clove, it's almost smoky, but more on the stuffed fig in fact. Braised mushrooms with cream, cachou. 

 

In Short, 

This is an excellent Bunnahabhain, very well married to the Sherry, as is often the case. However, the palate is just a little below the finish and the nose, which are frankly perfect, complex and bewitching. On the other hand, the distillery's costal profile is not present. The price isn't that high, and to be honest, the idea of buying it has crossed my mind, it wouldn't be a waste in any case.

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Dede Priest - What it is ain't what it ain't