Springbank 2010 Local Barley 13 yo

 

 

 

54,1°

Distillery : Springbank - Campbeltown

60% Bourbon Barrels, 40% Sherry Casks

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 12 ppm

 

 

 

If my notes are anything to go by, this is the 9th edition of Springbank Local Barley, leaving aside those from the 1990s which were of a different standard. In keeping with tradition, it is made from Belgravia barley grown at Glencraigs Farm, 2.4 miles from the distillery, and has undergone a maturation process that does not alter the distillate, in which the Bourbon dominates. 8,400 bottles have been released, which is far too few for the frenetic demand.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Buttered bread and hay, sunflower oil, honey sweets. A fairly powerful, creamy lemon, tempered by evanescent vanilla, a few mineral notes, a pinch of salt and light, elegant smoke. Plump yellow plums, ripe banana. Welcome floral hints. On the palate, it's again quite lemony, but also beeswax, liquid honey, green apples, fairly powerful spices, cumin and cloves. Grainy, toasted cereals. All this is rather rustic. Pleasant, long finish, with restrained explosiveness, charcoal, muddy, earthy notes, grape pips, almonds in the shell, wild herbs. Marzipan.

 

In Short, 

This one didn't seem to me to be as good as the others, a little less balanced on the nose and less tasty on the palate. On the other hand, the finish is very good. It has a mineral, evanescent and floral edge that I liked. It's obviously a challenge to get your hands on it, a quest that only the most passionate enthusiasts will accept. Failing that, you have to be prepared to pay an astronomical price at auction.

Score : 89 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Heart - Crazy On You

Lagavulin 12 yo Special Release 2024 Fireside Tales

 

 

 

57,4°

Distillery : Lagavulin - Islay

1st Fill Ex-Bourbon and Refill Casks  

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 38 ppm

 

 

 

Like every year, Lagavulin 12 year-old Special Release comes knocking on our door. Today marks the 24th edition of this traditional bottling. And this time, it's a return to its roots. After maturation in virgin casks in 2022, and in tequila casks in 2023, we're back to the classic maturation in Bourbon casks. I have to say it's a relief.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It :

We find again the classic Lagavulin 12 year old nose, bourbony freshness, iodine, vanilla and grapefruit, rather fine and elegant smoke despite the traces of tar. Cereals and hay, it's quite rustic after all. Chalky notes, dry earth and speculoos. On the palate, more on exotic fruits, roasted pineapple, papaya juice, mango, melted butter, perfectly integrated spices. The finish is very long and explosive, liquorice, dark chocolate, brown tobacco, Belle Hélène pear, melted caramel and wood splinters. Coconut peel.

 

In Short, 

It's not the best Lagavulin 12 Year Old I've tasted, the nose lacks a little complexity for my taste, but at least it's a true Lagavulin 12 Year Old, with a very recognisable character. The 2022 and 2023 editions are to be forgotten, with this one Diageo allows us to revive a tradition we thought had been lost. I sincerely hope they don't go astray again. Another problem that needs to be resolved soon is the price. Is it serious to sell a 12-year-old at such a price? Of course, we have to adapt to demand, but still.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

                                           Voodoo Wiseguys - Some Day You'll Know

Strathisla 1989 S Spirits Shop' Selection c. 5952

 

 

 

53,8°

Distillery : Strathisla - Speyside

Hogshead

Independent Bottling 

By Spirits Shop' Selection

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

We're still discovering this Taiwanese company founded in 2014, and which is currently looking to make its mark on the European market, having shed the tutelage of Sansibar, who previously distributed them. Here we have a Strathisla at least 33 years old, aged in a single Hogshead, and which yielded 239 bottles. Strathisla is often matured in Sherry casks, as it goes very well with it, but that won't be the case here.

Let's Taste It : 

The nose is light, but very well handled, with sweet fruit, soft caramel, maple syrup, varnished wood, fermented prunes, candied plums, mashed bananas, orchard fruit, yellow apples, Comices pears and white peaches. It's smooth on the palate, the fruit subdued by a layer of varnish, apricots, sultanas, figs and dates. Very discreet spices: nutmeg and cardamom. Mint leaf. Very long finish, with a measured explosiveness, green tea, a touch of liquorice, old wood, almonds and other groundnuts.

 

In Short, 

It's excellent, of course. It's a distillery I don't know that well, especially as it often matures in Sherry, and I'm still finding it hard to define its profile. But it seems to me that here it appears with all its character, that distinctive varnish, discreet fruit and a few menthol notes. A must-have for lovers of the profile, but it will be no easy task, as it's not on sale anywhere, and the price would undoubtedly be very high.

Score : 90

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

                                            Pat Martino Trio - Blue in Green

Ben Nevis 1998 S Spirits Shop' Selection c. 1483

 

 

 

41,9°

Distillery : Ben Nevis - Highlands

Hogshead

Independent Bottling 

By Spirits Shop' Selection

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Almost Unpeated

 

 

 

And this is a third Ben Nevis brought to us by The Spirits Shop' Selection, a company founded in Taiwan in 2014. This time, it is distilled in 1998, but the maturation is as minimalist as ever, much to our delight. 120 bottles have been made available.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Pastry vanilla, chestnut cream, with a light saline breeze, the mineral notes become dirtier. The exotic fruits are more discreet, replaced by citrus fruits, blood orange, pineapple and grapefruit. On the palate, the fruit is more jammy, the vanilla combines with hay and warm wax. Discreet spices, nutmeg, white pepper. The finish is very long and earthy, with shortbread biscuits dipped in milk, charcoal chips or chocolate, crushed peanuts and cream.

 

In Short, 

It's dirtier than the previous two, the exotic fruits are much less present, there's more minerality and hay, with citrus and vanilla forming a fine balance. I find it a little less successful than the first two, but I'd recommend buying it if I knew where to find it, and at what price.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Frank Kinsel - If It Wasn't for you

Ben Nevis 1996 S Spirits Shop' Selection c. 1602

 

 

 

46,8°

Distillery : Ben Nevis - Highlands 

Hogshead

Independent Bottling 

By Spirits Shop' Selection 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Almost Unpeated

 

 

 

And this is the sister cask of the previous one, distilled in the same year, same age, same maturation, only the cask number has changed. 157 bottles are on sale. The Taiwanese company founded in 2014 is striking hard with this series of Ben Nevis.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The honey is a little more marbled, woody, but the exotic fruits are still there, pineapple, mango, kiwi, papaya, with hints of apricot and banana, but it's lighter, more balanced, smoother. Buttered bread, beeswax, whipped cream, with a mineral character typical of the distillery. On the palate, it moves towards passion fruit, maple syrup and peach. It's well-tempered, with discreet spices and a delicate woodiness that balances it all out. It's creamy, milky. The finish is again very long, fruity, wood and resin, soft caramel, shortbread biscuits, bark, chestnuts.

 

In Short, 

The profile is very similar to that of the sister cask, dominated by exotic fruits and wax, an excellent Ben Nevis, just like we all dream of. Only this one is a little less exuberant, a little more influenced by the wood, which tempers the ardour of the distillate. On the other hand, it is more balanced, more elegant. In either case, I'd like to be able to recommend a purchase, but it's nowhere to be found, and I have no idea how much it will cost.

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Randy Newman - My Country

Ben Nevis 1996 S Spirits Shop' Selection c. 1428

 

 

 

46,1°

Distillery : Ben Nevis - Highlands 

Hogshead

Independent Bottling 

By Spirits Shop' Selection

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Almost Unpeated

 

 

 

Spirits Shop' Selection was founded in 2014 by Eric Huang in Taiwan. At first, they were getting help from Sansibar to distribute their products in Europe, but now they're flying on their own. They have some treasures in their warehouses, like this Ben Nevis at least 26 years old, distilled in the mythical year 1996. It was matured in a simple Hogshead, which is ideal. Only 133 bottles went on sale. 

Let's Taste It : 

This is pure Ben Nevis, fleshy honey, exotic fruit, pineapple, crushed banana, yellow fruit, plums and mirabelles, and that little mineral touch of limestone and slate. Light vanilla, but which goes very well with mango and passion fruit. Touches of liquid wax, melted butter, royal jelly. On the palate, it's still very fruity, with sponge cake and custard, very discreet spices, marzipan, papaya and all the other fruits I've already mentioned. The finish is long, deep and even explosive, with a hint of charcoal and earth, followed by exotic and candied fruits, shortbread biscuits, breadcrumbs, crushed chestnuts.

In Short, 

A superb Ben Nevis, deliciously classic, the distillate in all its splendour, drowned in exotic fruits and a discreet indulgence. It's truly magnificent, but very simple indeed. The only problem is that this bottle is extremely hard to find, available nowhere, and I imagine the price would make you sweat.

Score : 90

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Ry Cooder - The Prodigal Son

Octomore 2018 Edition 15.3 Islay Barley The Impossible Equation 5 yo

 

 

 

61,3°

Distillery : Bruichladdich - Islay

1st Fill Bourbon Barrels and 1st Fill Oloroso Sherry Casks 

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 307,2 ppm

 

 

 

This is the 10th Batch in the Octomore .3 series, and as such it, like its predecessors, has been made from barley grown at Octomore Farm on Islay, on the McTaggart's Field plot. The barley was harvested in 2017 and distilled in 2018. This time, the peat content is extremely high, and this is even the 2nd most peated whisky in the history of mankind, the first being the Octomore 08.3. Maturation is relatively straightforward, using Bourbon Barrels and Oloroso Sherry Casks from Fernando de Castilla in Jerez, Spain.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Lightly woody apricot jam. Enticing smokiness, dry earth and cereals, baked apples, cinnamon. Pulpy fruit, grapes and plums, mashed banana and vanilla. Chalky peat in the background. Floral tones. Tourage butter, used to make croissants. On the palate, it's very sweet, rosewater, lychee juice, icing sugar, then the spices rise, cumin and pepper, steamy vanilla, Conference pear. Very long and explosive finish, apple crumble, custard, liquid caramel, hot resin. Onion bread. Mellow brioche. A little cream.

 

In Short, 

What I remember about this whisky is its incredible delicacy. The peat is fairly unobtrusive and perfectly integrated. As a result, the fruit stands out, apricot, cooked apples and, on the palate, pear. This is one of the great Octomores, the ones that surprise us every time we dip our lips into it. On the other hand, the price is even higher than usual, which made me hesitate to buy one. Where will this end?

Score : 91

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

                                           Youth Valley - Pegasus

Redbreast 12 yo Cask Strength Batch N°B1/22

 

 

 

58,1°

Distillery : Midleton - Ireland

Ex-Bourbon Barrels and Ex-Oloroso Sherry Casks

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Pot Still 

Bottled in 2022

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

Since 2011, Redbreast has been releasing this 12yo Cask Strength, usually once, but sometimes twice a year, as a limited edition. It's more or less the same production method as the traditional 12yo, but with the added bonus of being unreduced, non-chill-filtered and colour-free. Just what every fan of the brand dreams of.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Fairly light sherry, honey and dates, apple compote, salted butter caramel, a few citrus, even exotic fruits, banana and papaya, treacle. Roasted walnuts, peanut slivers, Chasselas grapes, buttered toast. Cereals are barely perceptible. Peach core. It's very well done on the palate, with honey blending with white fruit, candied bananas, apricots and mirabelle plums, and then the well-balanced spices come to the fore. The finish is very unctuous, with intense caramel, wood liqueur and a touch of varnish. Rosewood.

 

In Short, 

It's less overpowered by Sherry than I thought, it seems to me that the classic 12yo is richer in Sherry. But that's all to the good, because it's so light and delicious. It's very well-balanced, but you don't really taste the cereals. All in all, a very fine bottling, albeit at a rather high price.

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           The Pogues - A Rainy Night in Soho

Cragganmore 1986 Whisky Sponge Special Edition 37 yo

 

 

 

52,9°

Distillery : Cragganmore - Speyside

Refill Hogshead, 1st Fill Port Barrique, 2d Fill Barrel Finish

Independent Bottling

By Decadent Drinks

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated 

 

 

 

This 37-year-old Cragganmore is a very special edition, having been matured three times, first for 30 years in a Hogshead Refill, then for 5 years in a 1st Fill Port Barrique, and finally for two years in a 2d Fill Barrel, presumably of Bourbon. All in all, only 72 bottles were produced, and they disappeared as quickly as they arrived.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

It smells of old, old varnished wood, parchment, beeswax and semi-salted butter, with torrents of red fruit, raspberry coulis, cherry clafoutis, redcurrant jam, rum baba, nougatine, blueberries, blackberries and blackcurrants. Apple crumble, sprinkled with cinnamon, cannoli with a zest of grapefruit, shortbread biscuits. Vanilla cream. Touches of menthol. It's full-bodied on the palate, we have a cheekful of fruit, cherries, redcurrants, blood oranges in particular, with aniseed and liquorice. Perfectly integrated spices, nutmeg, cloves. The finish is very long, like a slow-moving tidal wave, with the fruit becoming woodier and more jammy, and herbaceous notes of thyme and parsley. A pinch of salt and resin, soft caramel, a very slight acidic tinge, and you sink into the earth.

In Short, 

It's truly magnificent, from start to finish. A shock. The Port is very present, but not overpowering, it's more like an intense Sherry, like Pedro Ximénez, but less sweet and more fruity. And there's a balance with the Bourbon influence, which ensures a nice solidity on the palate, it's perfect. Of course, the price is depressing, but this is a very rare product.

Score : 91

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Raw Soul - I Need You

Octomore 2018 Edition 15.2 The Impossible Equation 5 yo

 

 

 

57,9° 

Distillery : Bruichladdich - Islay 

2d Fill Wine Casks and 2d Fill Bourbon Barrels, 1st Fill Cognac Finish 

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 108,2 ppm

This is the 2nd version of Octomore's 15th Batch, and for the occasion we have a double maturation in wine casks and Bourbon Barrels, with a finish in Cognac casks. The barley used is Concerto barley grown in Scotland, but not on Islay.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The nose is wrapped in a farmhouse peat, with lovely vinous fragrances and baked apples. The smoke is enticing but not overpowering. Candied chestnuts, juicy white fruit, almost liquid vanilla. Salt dough, sponge cake, rolled wafers. Whipped cream. Egg yolk. Unctuous mouth, olives and plums, but with lots of spice. Custard, floating island, mashed banana, almond milk, walnut liqueur. Long and powerful finish, never-ending, burnt coal, fuel oil, tide, foam, seawater. Tar-tinged rocks, soot and chalk, with a drop of caramel and black tea. Chestnut cream. Nutmeg. Pan-fried mushrooms.

 

In Short, 

Nothing exceptional, but by no means disappointing, this is a very successful Octomore, which is very similar to the 14.3, also aged in Cognac casks, but the wine softens the Cognac influence, so we have something very complex and very smooth, the peat is not very present either. The finish is the best part, very intense and radical. The price may seem high, but there's a unique know-how and expertise here, and it shows in the taste. For me, this is a must-buy.

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           The Yagas - The Crying Room

Ben Nevis 2019 100 Proof Edition #17 5 yo

 

 

 

57,1° (100° Proof)

Distillery : Ben Nevis - Highlands

Refill Oloroso Sherry Butts

Independent Bottling 

By Signatory Vintage 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Heavily Peated

 

 

 

This is the 3rd Ben Nevis in this range, launched almost a year ago now, and it is an exact copy of Ben Nevis #1, distilled in the same year, with the same maturation and more or less the same peat intensity. Only this one is a year older. But in both cases, these are very young whiskies. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Quite soft and mineral peat, a pinch of icing sugar, scallops and razor clams. Nice wispy and earthy smoke. Behind, honey and tobacco, vanilla and liquorice, with a light woodiness, it's the very recognisable Ben Nevis profile. Peanut butter, soft toffee. A pinch of salt. On the palate, apple and blood orange, a touch of candle wax, then dynamic spices. Powerful, even explosive finish, royal jelly, fine sand, hazelnuts and vanilla bean. Raw chestnuts.

 

In Short, 

I think it's the best of the three. The #1 was a bit more rustic because you didn't smell the Sherry casks as much. With #5, on the contrary, you could smell them too much, and it overpowered the distillery's identity. Here, there's a good balance between the peat on one side, the Sherry on the other, and the distillery's profile on the third. It's not overly complex, but it's very pleasant. Given the ridiculous price, I'd strongly advise buying it. It's not a great whisky, but you're sure to have a good time.

Score : 87

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Skloss - The Pattern Speaks

Tormore 1988 Cask Strength Collection Selected By La Maison du Whisky 33 yo

 

 

 

51,3°

Distillery : Tormore - Speyside

2d Fill Sherry Butt Finish

Independent Bottling 

By Signatory Vintage

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2022

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

Tormore was one of these distilleries designed solely to produce blends. Owned by Pernod Ricard, it was involved in the production of Ballantine's and certainly Chivas. Then, in 2022, Elixir Distillers bought it. This is an opportunity to rediscover this distillery and its identity, particularly through this bottling, finished in a 2nd-fill Sherry Butt, which produced 456 bottles. But it's the age of the beast that really catches our attention.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The nose is nicely woody, black tea and spices, but very quickly the fruit joins the party, plums of all colours, olives, prunes, melon and yellow apples. A few cereal and herbaceous touches, a tiny pinch of salt, just the right amount of vanilla and honey. Floral fragrances. On the palate, the fruit is fresher, white peaches, Comice pears, with a slightly waxy, mellow texture. Milk chocolate, discreet spices. Long, fairly powerful finish, candied fruit, cloves and nutmeg, farmhouse bread crust, olive oil, lemon zest. Roasted walnuts.

 

In Short, 

A very good whisky, typical of Speyside, both light and intense, with lots of fruit, but also floral and cereal notes. The Sherry is only there to enhance the qualities of the distillate, and the result is very pleasant. That said, it's not a complete success, lacking a little something, a bit of explosiveness on the finish, a bit of depth on the palate, I don't know. The price also dampens enthusiasm, it's very excessive.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Noah Gundersen - Better Days

Port Charlotte 2013 SYC : 01 Cask Exploration Series 10 yo

 

 

 

54,4°

Distillery : Bruichladdich - Islay

1st Fill and 2d Fill Bourbon Barrels and Syrah Wine Finish

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 40 ppm

 

 

 

This is the 7th in the Cask Exploration Series, and it is the oldest, aged first in Bourbon Barrels, then the liquid was transferred to European oak casks that had previously contained Syrah wine in 2018. The Syrah wine is a full-bodied wine from the northern Rhône Valley, and the farmer who supplied the barrels produces mainly organic and biodynamic wine. The only drawback is that we don't know how many bottles were produced.

Let's Taste It : 

Heady and vinous aromas, blackcurrant, pomegranate, watermelon, thick smoke, yet fruity and sweet. Tropical wood, ebony, dark chocolate mousse. Hints of honey and vanilla, iodised notes. On the palate, dark fruits, it's unctuous, forest berries, muscat grapes, blackberries, but also colourful spices, cumin, cloves and paprika. Some fresh raspberries. Powerful finish, with intense, pungent smoke, woody coffee, mocha cake, burnt bark, charcoal, a drop of tar, melted chocolate, very slight note of bitterness. Nutmeg.

 

In Short, 

I was a little disappointed by the first dram, but by the second I could understand what all this fuss was about. The nose is intense, very dark and deep, and the finish magnificent. Only the palate seemed very slightly pale to me, but full of flavour nonetheless. It's a totally original product, and I can't remember ever having drunk a whisky so marked by red wine. The price is high for what it is, but for a fan like me, it's definitely worth it.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Outclose - Cosmic Twin

Ledaig 2001 Cask Strength Collection Selected by La Maison du Whisky 20 yo

 

 

 

58,8°

Distillery : Tobermory - Islands

Refill Sherry Butt

Independent Bottling

By Signatory Vintage 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2022

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 37 ppm

 

 

 

20 years and nine months is a reasonable age for a Ledaig, the distillate is polished by time and we start to experiment with some really interesting things. What's more, this is a Refill Sherry Butt, which promises to be very fruity. The cask was selected by La Maison du Whisky to be part of the Antipodes collection, but it's sold just about everywhere. 536 bottles were produced.

Let's Taste It : 

Powerful sherry, ashy liquorice, honey and torched red fruits, smoke-coated cinnamon, walnuts, hot chestnuts, burnt caramel. Tar-soaked leather, dried fruits, dates, apricots. Curry, paprika. It's liquorish on the palate, fruit coulis, sticky honey, thick peat but a little in the background. Oven-roasted orchard fruits and hot ashes, lively spices, cumin, cloves. Very long and powerful finish, never-ending, charcoal, pastry cream, a zest of lemon, a dash of salt, discreet iodine, fuel oil, white lime, hot bark.

In Short, 

The Sherry is much more intense than expected and the result is an atypical Ledaig, very fruity but still dirty, where the peat is wrapped in leather, nuts and dried fruits. It's very interesting, but I prefer my Ledaig au naturel, with nothing to impede the extreme radicality of the distillate. That said, I'd still give it a good score, as I really liked the finish. The price, on the other hand, is outrageous, and I certainly wouldn't recommend buying it at that price.

Score : 90

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           David Judson Clemmons - Learn to Resist

Glentauchers 2012 100 Proof Edition #18 12 yo

 

 

 

57,1° (100° Proof)

Distillery : Glentauchers - Speyside 

1st Fill Oloroso Sherry Butts 

Independent Bottling 

By Signatory Vintage 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured 

Totally Unpeated  

This is the second Glentauchers to be released in the 100 Proof range created by Signatory Vintage earlier this year. The previous one, the #8, was distilled the same year, and went through the same maturation, it's just a year younger. Once again, I'm curious to see if there are any differences.

Let's Taste It : 

Right from the start, very intense and powerful Sherry, fairly rich strawberry jam, woody fullness, then it calms down a little, melting caramel, dried fruits, dates, apricots, figs. Dark chocolate and brown tobacco. More on red fruit at the end, redcurrants, raspberry coulis, but still very woody. It's unctuous and velvety on the palate, with red grapes and marrons glacés, but the spices are eager for a fight, cloves, cumin, black pepper. The finish is violent and extremely long, explosion of wood, slightly bitter, coffee, tobacco, dark chocolate, grated nutmeg.

 

In Short, 

This is a real Sherry Bomb, reminiscent of Glenfarclas 105. The Sherry is intense and the wood influence is strong. It's a bit typical of this range, where the Sherry is sometimes overpowering and doesn't leave much room for the distillate. And then all the bottlings look the same, so there's nothing really interesting about it. It's still a good product, especially for fans of the profile, and I think it's better than the #8, which had a few herbaceous notes that I didn't like. What's more, the price is very reasonable, so I don't see why anyone would complain.

Score : 87

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Eva Carboni - Slow Road to Redemption

Aultmore 2007 Exceptional Cask 100 Proof Edition #5 17 yo

 

 

 

57,1° (100° Proof)

Distillery : Aultmore - Speyside 

1st Fill Oloroso Sherry Butts 

Independent Bottling 

By Signatory Vintage 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated 

And here is the 5th representative of the Exceptional Cask series within the 100 Proof range launched earlier this year by Signatory Vintage. This is a 17-year-old Aultmore that has stayed in first-fill Sherry Butts. It is therefore an exact copy of Exceptional Cask #1, from the same distillery, distilled in the same year, with the same age and the same maturation. I'm curious to see if there's a difference in taste.

Let's Taste It : 

Deep and woody sherry, apple compote sprinkled with cinnamon, dried apricots and quinces, a zest of clementine, red plums. In the background, a few malty and cereal notes. It's slightly sweet on the palate, bananas, dates and honey, wild spices, cumin, cloves, black pepper. A hint of exotic fruit, pineapple or papaya. Powerful, spicy finish, again very woody, roots and earth, cocoa, dark chocolate, with bits of hazelnut. Brown tobacco. A touch of menthol.

 

In Short, 

It's very good, well-crafted and fairly well-balanced, although I did find that it was very woody and full of cinnamon. That said, it's very pleasant to drink. The Aultmore Exceptional Cask #1 seemed a little better to me, with a sweeter Sherry and better proportions. The price is still right, although a little expensive, so it's time to treat yourself.

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Shirley Brown - Woman to Woman

Craigellachie 2007 Exceptional Cask 100 Proof Edition #4 16 yo

 

 

 

57,1° (100° Proof)

Distillery : Craigellachie - Speyside 

1st Fill Oloroso Sherry Butt 

Independent Bottling 

By Signatory Vintage

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

Within the 100 Proof range launched by Signatory Vintage at the beginning of the year, there are the Exceptional Cask, made from the oldest casks. This is the 4th of its kind, a Craigellachie aged for 16 years in first-fill Sherry Butts.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Balanced lemon and floral notes, yellow flowers. Grapefruit, blood orange, light tobacco, dates and prickly pears, ethereal freshness, hawthorn. Very light smokiness. Creamy honey, woody touches, varnish. On the palate, it's very balanced, velvety, soft caramel, melting, slightly syrupy, honeyed, with lively spices, nutmeg, paprika. Almond paste, filled dates. The finish is full of character, damp wood, dark chocolate, cloves, Arabica coffee, earthy undertones.

 

In Short, 

It's really good and interesting, the Sherry isn't too overpowering, and there's a real identity in the glass. It's pleasant to drink. The price is still interesting, but not as much as the simple 100 Proof range, which is much cheaper. It's still a reasonable buy.

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Patti LaBelle - If You Don't Know Me By Now

Linkwood 2013 100 Proof Edition #19 10 yo

 

 

 

57,1° (100° Proof)

Distillery : Linkwood - Speyside 

2d Fill Oloroso Sherry Butts

Independent Bottling 

By Signatory Vintage 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured 

Totally Unpeated  

This 100 Proof range is a roaring success, as this is already the 19th bottling in less than a year, and I think they've just released the 34th for the festive season. It's good news for the whisky industry. This Linkwood is 10 years old, the first from this distillery in this range, but another has followed. The advantage is that it was matured in second-fill casks, which should allow the distillate to express itself. It is impossible to know how many bottles were produced, especially as the bottles are no longer numbered.

Let's Taste It : 

Soft caramel, strawberry jam and light floral touches. Minty freshness, orchard fruits. Green apples, Belle Hélène pears, yellow peaches. Candied lemon, Frécinette banana. Malted notes, toasted cereals. Vergeoise. On the palate, lovely smoothness, figs soaked in caramel, velvety prunes, powerful spices, black pepper, cloves, cumin. The finish is impressive and heavy, with coffee, saffron, paprika, thick bark and dark chocolate. A touch of bitterness, softened by brown sugar.

 

In Short, 

It's one of the best in the range, in my humble opinion, the Sherry is very present but allows the distillate to express itself, resulting in a fine balance. The price is really good and it's still available in many places, so it's a great gift idea.

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Ksenia Buzina - Never Felt This Way

Bunnahabhain 1975 The Single Malts of Scotland Director's Special 44 yo

 

 

 

42,4°

Distillery : Bunnahabhain - Islay

Independent Bottling 

By Elixir Distillers 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2020

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Almost Unpeated

 

 

 

Still within this range Director's Special, which represents the top of what Elixir Distillers has to offer, this 44 year old from Bunnahabhain triggers the wildest dreams. 492 bottles were offered for sale. I managed to find the distillation date, but it was impossible know what type of cask was used. It's odd for a bottling at this price.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

It's creamy and velvety, with vanilla cream, egg custard, plump yellow plums and exotic fruits, mango, pineapple, papaya, with candied lemon and orange marmalade. Slight floral touches and a discreet hint of salt in the background. On the palate, the fruit combines with a noble woodiness, old library, parchment, rhubarb, grapefruit zest, pastry cream, sweet spices, nutmeg and ginger. The finish is soft, with a whiff of smoke, candied dates, figs and loukoums, nougatine, precious woods.

 

In Short, 

In my opinion, this is a Bourbon Barrel, possibly Refill. I didn't find any Sherry in it. In general, Bunnahabhain in Bourbon casks performs less well, which is probably why the nature of the cask was not disclosed. However, this is sublime, with notes of exotic fruit and candied fruit, it's truly exceptional. That said, I found the finish a little lacking in explosiveness. The price is totally frightening, but that's the law of the market.

Score : 90 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Dionne Warwick - I Say a Little Prayer

Laphroaig 27 yo The Single Malts of Scotland Director's Special

 

 

 

51,2°

Distillery : Laphroaig - Islay

1st Fill Bourbon Barrel

Independent Bottling 

By Elixir Distillers

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 43 ppm 

This Director's Special series was launched in 2017 and brings together the very best of Elixir Distillers. Only bottlings over 20 years old, often from rare or closed distilleries. Here we have a 27-year-old Laphroaig, matured in a first-fill Single Bourbon Barrel, which yielded 210 bottles. Surprisingly, the year of distillation is not specified, but logically it should be 1996 or 1997.

Let's Taste It : 

Beautiful, greasy and full of petroleum peat, suspicious smoke with notes of coal and detergent. More elegant than a young Laphroaig, but just as subversive. Then there's pulpy, mellow, juicy fruits, lemon and pineapple, vanilla and papaya, a hint of clementine. On the palate, the fruit is still there, carefully combined with a noble, slightly burnt woodiness. Aniseed, almonds, sultanas, a trail of coarse sea salt, discreet spices, blond tobacco, cut hay, tar. Lovely, long finish, full of soot and heavy earth, dried apricots, melon, bark, eucalyptus.

In Short, 

It's wonderful, but I didn't feel the usual medicinal touch. Even at this age, Laphroaig is full of peat and thick smoke, there's just a little extra fruit. The downside is that age is not so noticeable, at least not here. The price, on the other hand, is hard to swallow.

Score : 90

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Life in Mono - Basic Reality