Highland Park 2007 Connoisseurs Choice Cask Strength Collection Foundations 16 yo

 

 

 

56,1°

Distillery : Highland Park - Islands 

Refill Bourbon Barrel 

Independent Bottling 

By Gordon & MacPhail 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 20 ppm

 

 

 

The 2nd bottling from the prestigious company Gordon & MacPhail to be specially selected by La Maison du Whisky as part of the Foundations Collection is this Highland Park, aged for 16 years in a Refill Bourbon Barrel, giving the distillate all the space it needs. 250 bottles are on sale.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Almond milk, malted barley, toasted wheat, soufflé, brioche, then the fruits come, teased by a slightly herbaceous peat, greengages, melon, walnuts. Delicate touches of heather and iodine. Cinnamon, shortbread biscuits. On the palate, milky vanilla, whipped cream, crossed by citrus flavours, lime, grapefruit, but still some greengage and a slight exotic note. Light spices, Williams pear. Long, gently mineral finish, liquoriced, chlorophyll, mint leaf, candied lemon, hot chestnuts. Bark.

 

In Short, 

A lovely Highland Park with its own little touch of originality, full of brioche and greengages. I'm not totally convinced but it's still very good. The price is a bit high but it's still OK. A purchase may be considered.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Jasmine Myra - Rising

Caol Ila 2002 Connoisseurs Choice Cask Strength Collection Foundations 21 yo

 

 

 

52,5°

Distillery : Caol Ila - Islay 

Refill Sherry Hogshead 

Independent Bottling 

By Gordon & MacPhail

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 35 ppm

 

 

 

Founded in 1895, Gordon & MacPhail is one of the world's leading independent bottlers. In order to shine in the Foundations collection on offer for tasting at the Whisky Live Paris 2024, the best casks are opened, such as this Caol Ila aged 21 years in a Refill Sherry Hogshead. 159 bottles are produced.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

A magnificent balance of mineral and maritime iodine, fine ashy peat and dried fruit. Dried dates and apricots, soot-tinged gravel, sea breeze, limestone and gypsum, pinch of salt, seaweed, kelp, shellfish, whelks topped with caramel, shortbread biscuits. It remains delicate on the palate, with light but fleshy fruit, vanilla mixed with peat, slate and quartz slivers, fresh fish with their scales, a zest of lime. Broad spices, nutmeg, cinnamon, benzoin. Very slight medicinal touch, ointment. Long, explosive finish, charcoal and bark, marzipan, walnut honey, apricot-filled biscuits.

 

In Short, 

It's really very well done, with great delicacy. As is often the case with Gordon & MacPhail, the age adds subtlety and complexity, but in no way detracts from the distillery's character. The price is high, however, so let's hope for a promotion.

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Shedfromthebody - Lungs

Arran 2012 Private Cask Collection Foundations 11 yo

 

 

 

55,9°

Distillery : Lochranza, Isle of Arran - Islands

Bourbon Barrel 

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 20 ppm

To complement the 14-year-old I mentioned earlier, these gentlemen from Arran have released this 11-year-old, which is peated. The Isle of Arran distillery distilled its first peated whisky in 2004, and released it in 2010 under the name Machrie Moor, the first in a long series that has recently come to an end. This bottling is therefore an opportunity to rediscover peated Arran, which will happen very rarely from now on, as priority must be given to the neighbouring Lagg distillery, which produces only peated whisky. Aged in a Single Bourbon Barrel, it gives pride of place to the distillate. 240 bottles are on sale.

Let's Taste It : 

The peat is light and blends very well with the lemony and costal notes. Candied lemon, liquid honey, a pinch of sea salt, foam and sea spray, but it remains delicate. In the background, limestone ash, quicklime and ointment. On the palate, it becomes more herbaceous, reeds, nettles, grapefruit, lively spices, almonds, pecans, chalk, yellow plum and golden apple. The finish is powerful enough, long and pleasant, iodine and fleur de sel, sediments, quartz, slate, grey mushrooms, lichen, dry earth.

In Short, 

It seems very good to me, the costal character of the distillery is well highlighted, with mineral notes increased by the peat, which is nevertheless quite discreet. I think it will delight fans of peated Arran, but I find the price a bit high for what it is.

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           The Sixsters - Hurricane in my Soul

Speyside (M) 2011 100 Proof Edition #29 13 yo

 

 

 

57,1° (100° Proof)

Distillery : The Macallan - Speyside

1st Fill Oloroso Sherry Butts 

Independent Bottling 

By Signatory Vintage 

Limited Edition 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured 

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

And since good things never come alone, it seems that a new Macallan has just hit the shelves of the spirits shops. This time it's aged exclusively in 1st Fill Oloroso Sherry Butts, but apart from that the age is the same, 13 years. No idea how many bottles were produced.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

It's heady, indulgent, but also balanced. Plum tart, apfelstrudel, cinnamon and brown sugar, whipped cream, light autumnal freshness, orchard fruits, syrupy smoke, compote, pumpkin soup, candied peppers, blackberries and blueberries, wild strawberries. Hot chocolate, walnut-filled gingerbread. On the palate, full of caramel, it's almost acidic, chocolate chips, mirabelle plums, gently bitter deep wood, exotic spices, cinnamon, saffron, curry, nutmeg. The finish is long and powerful, but not overpowering, with baked apples, cola, liquorice, liquid caramel, oak bark and hot chestnuts.

 

In Short, 

The flaws I found in 100 Proof #25 are nowhere to be found here, it's very well balanced, everything is in its place, and we're left with a very good product, to be snapped up without a second thought if you can find it near you.

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Mary Dukes & The 32-20 Band - Too Much To Drink

Speyside (M) 2011 100 Proof Edition #25 13 yo

 

 

 

57,1° (100° Proof)

Distillery : The Macallan - Speyside

1st Fill and Refill Oloroso Sherry Butts 

Independent Bottling 

By Signatory Vintage

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated

A Speyside with an 'M', what could it be? Miltonduff? Mannochmore? Mortlach? No, dummy, it's Macallan! At least, that's what everyone thinks. It could just as easily be another distillery. But it's the only one that doesn't want its name on independent bottlings. So logically, it's Macallan, and it's a godsend to have a 13-year-old from this distillery with a fairly high alcohol content, at a price well below that of the original bottlings. Maturation in Sherry Butts is traditional with this distillery.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Warm wood, chestnut cream, walnut cake, soft resin, fig filled with caramel, light smoke. Red fruit paste, molasses, wood varnish. Chocolate filling, marzipan, brown tobacco crumbs. Apple crumble, full of cinnamon. It's unctuous on the palate, wood liqueur, greengages pulp, powerful spices, cumin, black pepper, slight bitterness. The finish is long, violent and very woody, sawdust, pine honey, warm chestnuts. A herbaceous and camphorated touch.

 

In Short, 

The balance isn't perfect here, there's a lot of wood on the palate, and the herbaceous notes on the finish are also a little strong. But, from experience, I know that these flaws tend to disappear with time. Leave your bottle to rest for a few weeks, or rather a few months, after opening, then the contents will seem much rounder. For the moment, however, this is not a perfect whisky, despite its very fine qualities, and even though it's not expensive at all, I'd advise you to think twice before buying.

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

                                           Mogwai- God Gets You Back

Orkney (HP) 2010 100 Proof Edition #30 14 yo

 

 

 

57,1° (100° Proof)

Distillery : Highland Park - Islands

1st Fill Oloroso Sherry Butts 

Independent Bottling

By Signatory Vintage

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2024 

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 20 ppm

This is the third bottling from the Isle of Orkney in the 100 Proof range launched in early 2024 by Signatory Vintage, and this time it is clearly stated to be a Highland Park, thanks to the initial HP in brackets. As with the others, the age is 14 years and the maturation is in Sherry Butts, but this is the first time that only 1st Fill Butts has been used. The number of bottles produced is not disclosed, but it is more than a thousand. 

Let's Taste It : 

Fruity heather, mountain honey, iodine freshness with a malty touch, some floral fragrances. Milk chocolate, and light peat in the background. Creosote. Caramelised roundness, nougatine, plump mirabelles. Quince jam. On the palate, it's very well-balanced, very suave, with cereals in the middle of the honey, roasted wheat, toasted barley, then spices make themselves felt, grey pepper, cumin. Pungent finish, cloves, fresh wheat, banana Frécinette, bamboo stalk, dry earth, shortbread biscuits. Churned butter.

 

In Short, 

The Sherry is not overpowering, on the contrary, there's a lovely balance between the influence of the cask and that of the distillate. It is sweeter than the 100 Proof #15, which also comes from Orkney, with less peat and rock, but the finish is less powerful. It's still a good bottling, very pleasant to drink, and quite round. At this price, it's worth buying.

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory - Trouble

Bunnahabhain Staoisha 2013 100 Proof Edition #7 10 yo

 

 

 

57,1° (100° Proof)

Distillery : Bunnahabhain - Islay

1st Fill Oloroso Sherry Butts

Independent Bottling 

By Signatory Vintage 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 40 ppm

 

 

 

The seventh bottling in the 100 Proof range launched in early 2024 is a 10-year-old peated Bunnahabhain. Peated Bunnahabhains of this age are quite rare, and that's what interested me. What's more, the Sherry influence should give it a certain roundness. I don't know how many bottles were produced, but there were several thousand. 

Let's Taste It : 

Quite strong peat, both mineral and buttery, enticing smoke and quartz, slate, iron filings, cooked rice. A few notes of coal and earth. Strong iodine, foam, kelp, fish. A pinch of salt. Waves whip the face. Limestone stalactites, gypsum, clay. On the palate, seawater, oysters, pepper, coal and soot, lively spices. Shadow of white fruit. Citrus zest. Long, devastating finish, chalky, cola, a drop of caramel. Stretto coffee, hints of dark chocolate. Cold meat.

 

In Short, 

A bottling that will appeal only to fans of peat, as it lacks a little complexity. The Sherry has not particularly marked the distillate. This is interesting, as the distillery's maritime and mineral character is quite intense. However, the peaty Bunnahabhain reaches here its limits, with metallic notes and too much simplicity. Having said that, the price is rather advantageous, so there's nothing to lose by making a purchase if you're a fan of the profile.

Score : 87

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           White Tygër - Midnight Lovers

Arran 2009 Private Cask Collection Foundations 14 yo

 

 

 

56,5°

Distillery :  Lochranza, Isle of Arran - Islands

Refill Sherry Hogshead

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

The Isle of Arran distillery has been in existence since 1995, but since 2019 it is no longer alone on the island, which is why it has changed its name. This one, distilled in 2009 and kept for 14 years, 7 months and 22 days in a Refill Sherry Hogshead, is full of promise. The Maison du Whisky has made no mistake, selecting this bottling to be part of the Foundations collection showcased at Whisky Live Paris 2024. 270 bottles have been crafted.

Let's Taste It : 

An oily, jammy Sherry, with apricot and raspberry, mirabelle plum, pear, but also airy, with traces of salt and iodine, cereals, puffed rice, barley, salted butter caramel, blood oranges, red carrots. A few malty hints. The palate is creamy, vanilla cream, caramel and candied lemon. Notes of liquorice and nuts, discreet spices, nutmeg, white pepper. Long, deep finish, exotic spices, hazelnuts, ginger, mint leaf, brown tobacco, with a delicate woodiness. Cashew nuts.

In Short, 

Very nice Arran, the Sherry is perfectly integrated, the fruit is expressive but doesn't hide the distillery's profile, it's really pleasant. What's more, the price is more or less acceptable, which is rare enough to be worth mentioning. Enthusiasts can try a purchase.

Score : 89

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Cindy Lee - Dracula

Old Pulteney 2004 Single Cask Collection Foundations 19 yo

 

 

 

56,7°

Distillery : Pulteney - Highlands 

1st Fill Bourbon Barrel 

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated 

The Pulteney distillery is contributing to the Whisky Live Paris 2024 festivities by launching this 19-year-old single cask as part of the Foundations collection managed by La Maison du Whisky. The very simple maturation process will allow the distillate to express itself fully. 204 bottles have been released from the cask.

Let's Taste It : 

It's very salty, sea salt, samphire, big fat oysters, slightly herbaceous, lichen, celery, reeds, then the barrel plays its part, juicy yellow plums, bananas, melted butter, a zest of lemon. Iodised fullness, foam, kelp. It's oily on the palate, sunflower, argan, with a dash of vanilla, salted butter caramel, cereals sprinkled with flour, maritime notes linger in the background, spices under control. The finish is perfectly mastered, long, wide and powerful, chalky and limestone, the tide is rising, but it leads on to orchard fruits, green apples and Conference pears. Peanut chips.

In Short, 

A perfect Pulteney, giving access to all the typicality of the profile, it's a very good example of what the distillate has to offer. The nose and finish are really very good, but on the palate it's slightly underwhelming, more under the influence of the cask. It's going to sound surprising, but I would have liked to taste it a little earlier, to get an even more authentic distillate, at 19 years old it has mellowed a little though. The price is a bit high for my taste.

Score : 89

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Tigran Hamasyan - Markos and Markos

Benromach 2003 Artist #14 Legendary Distilleries 20 yo

 

 

 

56,7°

Distillery : Benromach - Speyside 

1st Fill Bourbon Barrel

Independent Bottling

By La Maison du Whisky

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 12 ppm

 

 

 

Among the Benromachs released by La Maison du Whisky as part of the Artist #14 series, this 20-year-old has been aged exclusively in a 1st Fill Bourbon Barrel, before being transferred to 181 bottles. The label features a work by Logovarda entitled Sans Titre 3. The cask number being 666, we can expect something devilish.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The nose is more cereal-like, fatter, with puffed rice, semolina with milk, lemon zest, creamy vanilla, light peat. A pinch of salt, herbal touches, hay and speculoos. Honeyed freshness. On the palate, it's barely fruity, lime, mirabelle plum, then smooth and mineral vanilla, a hint of peat and a few spices, nutmeg, cardamom, a mint leaf. Long, delicately maritime finish, with mushy cereals, oats, millet. It's vaguely woody, with whiffs of barnyard. Nuts, chestnuts.

 

In Short, 

The difference is very slight with the 25 year old, perhaps because I drank them one after the other. The 25-year-old is sunnier, while the 20-year-old is fatter and milder. But both are very interesting and pleasant to drink. The price is a little less crazy for this one, but it's still exaggerated.

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                            Car Seat Headrest - High to Death

Benromach 1998 Artist #14 Legendary Distilleries 25 yo

 

 

 

50,3°

Distillery : Benromach - Speyside

1st Fill Bourbon Barrel

Independent Bottling 

By La Maison du Whisky

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 12 ppm

 

 

 

A whole section of the 14th Batch in the Artist range is devoted to Benromach, a Speyside distillery reopened in 1998 when it was bought by independent bottlers Gordon & MacPhail. So a series of 5 bottlings is released into the wild, and the oldest is this one, a 25 year old, distilled in the same year that the distillery returned to operation. The ageing is classic, with only 160 bottles produced. The label features a work entitled Sans Titre 5 by Logovarda.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The nose is excellent, pure elegance, mellow, warm brioche, butter soufflé, wheat semolina, egg cream, a few speculoos crumbs, frangipane, exotic fruits in the background, banana, kumquat, a touch of grapefruit, mirabelle plums, greengages, quetsches, whipped cream. On the palate, as fruity as ever, pine honey, milk chocolate coulis, vanilla pastry cream, discreet spices, candied ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon, noble and delicate woodiness. The finish is very long, powerful and distinguished at the same time. The chocolate becomes dark, almost earthy, and is accompanied by cereals, toasted wheat, shortbread biscuits, hints of menthol then herbaceous, but very delicate.

 

In Short, 

It's truly magnificent, with great subtlety and a beautiful variety of flavours and fragrances. At once delicate and very assertive, fruity and creamy, the Bourbon is perfectly integrated into the distillery's profile. In short, it's a delight. Unfortunately, the price is grotesquely high.

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Gold Connections - Icarus

Highland Park 2003 Artist #14 Rothes Glen Over 20 yo

56,9°

Distillery : Highland Park - Islands 

Sherry Butt 

Independent Bottling 

By La Maison du Whisky

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 20 ppm

 

 

 

The 14th edition of the Artist range pays tribute to the architect Charles Doig, who drew up the plans for some fifty Scottish distilleries, and in particular designed their pagoda-shaped roofs, which are now the hallmark of whisky distilleries all over the world. Charles Doig was also behind the construction of Glen Rothes Castle, a nineteenth-century manor house, hence the subtitle of this Batch. This Highland Park is one of 6 whiskies to bear this subtitle, and the engraving of the manor house on the label. The label also features a painting by Victor Ekpuk entitled Child. 435 bottles are on sale.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Quite dark and racy sherry. Blackberries, raspberries, redcurrants, delicate and damp woodiness, rather exotic wood, sultanas, fig, and a drop of balsamic vinegar. Fresh iodine, a pinch of salt, liquorice, chocolate fondant. Very light smokiness. On the palate, blackberries and morello cherries, but it glides along very easily, it's not thick like some Sherries, resin, fat brown tobacco, copper tints, rich and varied spices, curry, saffron, cinnamon, walnut cake. Long, deep, earthy finish, dark chocolate, chicory, roots, ginger, sweet potatoes. Brown sugar, heather, delicate floral touches.

In Short, 

The Sherry is very present, but it complements the distillery's profile in a very subtle way, which remains however in the background. It's extremely well done, and fascinating to discover for a lover of this distillery like me, the profile is as if transfigured by the Sherry, but it's still there. Unfortunately, the very high price puts a stop to the desire.

Score : 90

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Celeste - This is Who I am

Glenrothes 1995 Artist #12 Over 25 yo

 

 

 

55,5°

Distillery : Glenrothes - Speyside

1st Fill Sherry Butt 

Independent Bottling 

By La Maison du Whisky 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2022

Unchillfiltered Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

As part of the 12th release in the Artist range launched in 2011 by La Maison du Whisky, this Glenrothes at least 26 years old is intriguing. Aged in a 1st Fill Sherry Butt, it provided 448 bottles and was included in the Antipodes collection, which is a selection of bottlings showcased by La Maison du Whisky at Whisky Live Paris 2022. It doesn't appear to be a Cask Strength, as it's labelled as such on only one website, and the others are silent, so I've deduced that it isn't, as at such a high alcohol content, a slight reduction is possible.The artwork featured on the label, as on all the Artist bottlings, is entitled Il Giardino segreto della Giapponese, and is produced by Gesine Arps, a German artist. But she lives in Italy.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The Sherry is obviously present, but very balanced, rich and unctuous, with everything you need in a good Sherry, chocolate, red and dried fruits, blood orange, thick caramel, a few notes of cinnamon and ginger, an ounce of rancio. On the palate, it's more nuanced, the Sherry is there, but more vinous, blueberries and blackberries, heather, and in the background we find cereals and coffee. The spices are measured. The finish is long, well-crafted, very fruity with grapes of all colours, tannins, ginger, earth and sandalwood. Brown tobacco.

 

In Short, 

A very fine Sherry, very well balanced but lacking a hint of originality and complexity for my taste. It's very well made, though, and will delight fans of the genre, but the price is so ridiculously high that I wouldn't recommend buying it.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

                                           Lucky Lloyd - I Feel the Pain

Ledaig 2005 S Spirits Shop' Selection

 

 

 

55,3°

Distillery : Tobermory - Islands

Hogshead

Independent Bottling 

By Spirits Shop' Selection 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 37 ppm 

A properly peated Ledaig, matured in a simple Hogshead, this is the kind of stuff I like. 293 bottles are ready to be sold. Taiwanese company Spirits Shop' Selection founded in 2014 is responsible for this package. Unfortunately, we have very little information about this bottling, the photo below is the only one I have, taken by me it doesn't allow you to read the cask number.

Let's Taste It : 

Grainy peat, thick smoke, tin, burnt plastic, medicinal touch, ether, gas oil, gravel, mineral character, quartz, silica, a few fruits behind, chasselas grapes, Conference pear, a dash of vanilla, a zest of lemon. On the palate, a good layer of peat and dust, which blends well with the white and even exotic fruits, lychee, banana, but there are already shards of charcoal, lively spices, and then comes the finish, full of soot and pudding, fig, dark chocolate, coffee, tar, black earth, mud puddles.

In Short, 

A Ledaig equal to itself, a little more mineral than usual, where the fruit shaves the walls alongside much bolder fragrances, coal, tar, dirty peat and others. Only fans of the profile can appreciate this blend, and so much the better, as there will be more for anyone who dares to drink it. The problem is that this bottle is nowhere to be found.

Score : 90

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Sinclair Noire - Bone Orchard

Bunnahabhain 1991 S Spirits Shop' Selection c. 5385

 

 

 

50,4°

Distillery : Bunnahabhain - Islay

Hogshead

Independent Bottling 

By Spirits Shop' Selection

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Almost Unpeated

 

 

 

This Bunnahabhain is at least 31 years old and has spent all this time in a simple Hogshead, allowing the distillate to find its full expression. 169 bottles were made, much to our delight. Spirits Shop' Selection is a Taiwanese company founded in 2014 by Dong Fang Ming, and until recently they were distributed in Europe by Sansibar.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

A fresh and salty breeze, a few notes of iodine, and the fruits are behind, vanilla, mirabelle, banana, white plum, lychee, brioche bread, speculoos, buttered toast, with semi-salted butter of course. Crushed walnuts, shortbread biscuits, sultanas and figs. It's well-crafted on the palate, where fruit has pride of place, apricot purée, dates, quinces, medlars, noble old wood with a fine layer of varnish, touches of pastry, vergeoise, fresh cream, nougatine. The spices are rather discreet, but rise slowly. The finish is long and violent, ginger, cardamom, before plunging into earth with an ounce of chocolate and caramel, black tea, charcoal.

 

In Short, 

An excellent Bunnahabhain dominated by Bourbon doesn't come along very often, and you should make the most of it when you find one. Bunnahabhain is more often in Sherry casks, so here, as well as originality, we have the real character of the distillery, which is mostly altered by Sherry. And it's magnificent in my opinion, very fruity with a maritime touch, but also earthy, pastry and chocolate hints. Unfortunately, there's no indication of how to find this bottle, or what price to pay.

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                          To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           The Black Heart Procession - A Cry for Love

Jura 1989 S Spirits Shop' Selection

 

 

 

47°

Distillery : Isle of Jura - Islands

Hogshead

Independent Bottling 

By Spirits Shop' Selection 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

This offspring of the Isle of Jura distillery spent at least 33 years in a Hogshead before being released to the public. 259 bottles were filled. Spirits Shop' Selection is a Taiwanese company founded in 2014, looking for a new distributor in Europe after parting ways with Sansibar.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Salty nose, light dash of vanilla, sea breeze, breadcrumbs, candied apricots, white peach. Evanescent cereals, floral touches, sesame, puffed rice, toasted wheat, lilac. Toasted walnuts. On the palate, the cereals are more present, muesli, buttered bread, treacle, pho soup. Very light and varied spices. Very long, sparkling finish, an ounce of charcoal, a pinch of pepper, baked apples, not quite ripe pear, shortbread biscuits, raw chestnuts, millet. And the salt comes back at the very end.

 

In Short, 

An excellent Jura, without doubt one of the best I've drunk, if not the best. The maritime character is very noticeable, with a nice balance of yellow and orange fruits, cereals and nuts. I think it's the best this distillery has to offer. It is extremely regrettable that there is no way of getting hold of this bottle, nor of getting an idea of the price.

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Lea Thomas - We Must Be In Love

Blended Scotch Whisky 1969 S Spirits Shop' Selection Bonnington Scotch Whisky

 

 

 

41°

Distilleries Officially Unknown - Scotland

Bourbon Cask 

Independent Bottling 

By Spirits Shop' Selection

Limited Edition 

Blended Whisky

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated 

A great deal of mystery surrounds this Blended Whisky distilled in 1969. It is subtitled Bonnington Scotch Whisky, which is rather curious, as no distillery named Bonnington was operating in 1969. There is one today, but it began operations in 2020. There was another in the 19th century, famous for being the first to use a Coffey Still, but it closed in 1853. That said, the premises of the former Bonnington distillery are still used today as warehouses. This is probably where the cask of Blended Whisky was found. That's what the demonstrator said, but she didn't specify that it was the Bonnington warehouses. Since these warehouses belong to Diageo, it's logical to assume that the distilleries used in this Blended also belong to Diageo. But that's all we know. 219 bottles were put up for sale.

Let's Taste It : 

Once again, it's very old school, but with some original fragrances, crushed almonds, liquid honey, cereal bar, white fruit and vanilla, with a few floral and petrol notes. Buttered bread, exotic fruits, pineapple, banana. It's very balanced, but with a slight tension. On the palate, woody fruit, exotic wood, heart of palm, apricots, quinces, medlars, sultanas. Candied figs, very discreet spices, black tea. Very long but not very deep finish, frangipane, crème pâtissière, brown sugar, nougatine, another dash of vanilla. Shortbread biscuits.

In Short, 

The nose is exceptional, but the palate is less interesting, and the finish is very good, but nothing more. In any case, it was a fine experience, which I would have liked to explore a little further. It's not every day you come across a juice that's at least 53 years old. Especially as this one is nowhere to be found, and I have no idea what the price is, which must be very high.

Score : 89

                                            To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Boz Scaggs - Lowdown

Blended Malt Scotch Whisky 1965 S Spirits Shop' Selection c. 57

 

 

 

45,1°

Distilleries Officially Unknown - Scotland

Sherry Cask 

Independent Bottling 

By Spirits Shop' Selection

Limited Edition

Blended Malt 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

A piece of antiquity this monster of nobility, released by the Taiwanese company founded in 2014. Where did they find this cask? It's a mystery. In any case, the angels had enough left over to fill 80 bottles. So the age is at least 57 years, and, although it's a Blended Malt, the blend was aged in a single Sherry cask. It's the oldest whisky I've ever drunk. I specify the cask number, because there's another one, the 58, which produced 76 bottles, distilled in the same year, but I didn't have access to that one.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

It's very old school, with a rustic balance, but also fragrances that reflect the age of the beast, naphthalene, ether, old parchment. Then the fruits make their way through, and it's a festival, the Sherry is perfectly integrated, blueberry tart, morello cherries, fermented prunes. On the palate, it's still very fruity, blackberries, bilberries and a few redcurrants, with noble old wood and venerable spices. The finish is magnificent, never-ending, almonds, solid honey, egg yolk, woody charcoal, dry earth, hot chestnuts.

 

In Short, 

This is a whisky marked by time, old-fashioned, but also very expressive. The nose is marvellous, and the finish magnificent, despite the low alcohol content. It's a real blessing to be able to taste this kind of pinnacle of human gastronomy. I wish I could have enjoyed it a little more. But this stuff is nowhere to be found, and the price would have been devastating anyway.

Score : 91

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Mel Powell All-Stars - After You've Gone

Tomatin 2008 S Spirits Shop' Selection

 

 

 

63,8°

Distillery : Tomatin - Highlands

Sherry Butt

Independent Bottling 

By Spirits Shop' Selection

Limited Edition

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

This bottle is very mysterious because, apart from the photo I took myself, I have no indication of its existence. Unfortunately, the photo is of poor quality, and the cask number is illegible. But it's a Sherry Butt, which yielded 620 bottles. What happened to them? I don't know, and it's a shame, because a 15-year-old Sherry Butt Tomatin is always interesting.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The nose is marked by Sherry, with a slight lack of balance. More fresh than dried fruits, yellow plum, custard, thick honey, raw egg yolk, not too ripe banana. Some exotic fruits, but very discreet, pineapple and papaya. A fresh iodine note adds a little fullness. On the palate, the fruit becomes woody and a little drier, with dates, quinces and fermented plums. Not very remarkable spices. The finish is quite powerful and long, but not as violent as I'd expected, it's quite well integrated. Shortbread biscuits, leather, light tobacco. Tinder leaf.

 

In Short, 

It's not quite successful, but it's still very good. The profile of the distillery is not very recognisable, well, I'm not an expert on this distillery either. The palate is good, and the finish is excellent. This is a quite remarkable bottling, and I'd like to know where all these bottles went. 

Score : 89

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

                                           Erika Lewis & The Lonesome Dolls - Running Wild