Benrinnes 2011 100 Proof Edition #33 13 yo

 

 

 

57,1° (100° Proof)

Distillery : Benrinnes - Speyside

1st Fill Oloroso Sherry Butts 

Independent Bottling 

By Signatory Vintage 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

The 33rd bottling in the 100 Proof range launched just over a year ago is a Benrinnes, and it's the first one. For the occasion, they found 1st Fill Sherry Butts at least 13 years old, which should be enough to embellish the distillate.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Deep and rich sherry, red fruits, blueberries, blackcurrants, raspberries, redcurrants of all colours. Spoonfuls of jam. Forest honey. Prunes, varnished noble wood. On the palate, molasses, resin, quinces, green tea, apple crumble generously sprinkled with cinnamon. Intense spices, cloves, nutmeg, cumin. Quite a long and appreciable finish, religieuse au chocolat, slight woody bitterness, cola, coffee grounds. Shortbread biscuits, chestnuts, forest undergrowth, a few drops of caramel. 

 

In Short, 

I liked the nose, it's Sherry as we like it, deep, subtle and not sickening. The finish is also a success, just lacking a little something on the palate to make it a total success, but I didn't find what I required. That said, this is a good Benrinnes for a very attractive price, and I'd recommend buying it.

Score : 87

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Suzie Ungerleider - The Wilds

Mortlach 2013 100 Proof Edition #34 11 yo

 

 

 

57,1° (100° Proof)

Distillery : Mortlach - Speyside

1st and 2d Fill Oloroso Sherry Butts 

Independent Bottling 

By Signatory Vintage 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated 

 

 

 

This is the 34th bottling in the 100 Proof range launched early last year, and the first Mortlach. It is 11 years old and aged in 1st Fill and 2d Fill Sherry Butts. Mortlach works very well with Sherry, so we'll see what happens this time.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Warmer sherry, sandalwood, various red fruits, prickly pears, blood oranges, plantains. Juicy pears, with a mint leaf. Dates, quince jam. Vinegary condiments and a touch of malt. It's a little shy on the palate, with just a few yellow fruits, apricots and lemon, jam and coppery wood. Rape honey and all sorts of spices, ginger, cinnamon, cloves. Powerful, very woody finish, burnt caramel, pistachio. Nutmeg, salted butter caramel. Mille-feuilles, pastry cream and icing sugar.

 

In Short, 

The nose is not bad, with a variety of fruits and beautiful nuances. The finish is powerful and will not leave you indifferent. On the palate, on the other hand, I found it decent but unremarkable. It's not a great Mortlach, lacking in character and rather inconsistent. But it's still pleasant to drink, sometimes nuanced and powerful. The price is derisory, so there's not much risk in buying a bottle.

Score : 87

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Velvet Rush - Aurora

Glenburgie 1995 Artist #14 Rothes Glen Over 25 yo

 

 

 

54,7°

Distillery : Glenburgie - Speyside

Bourbon Hogshead

Independent Bottling 

By La Maison du Whisky 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated 

 

 

 

Still in the 14th Batch of the Artist range, and subtitled Rothes Glen to pay homage to the architect Charles Doig, this Glenburgie distilled in 1995 is considered to be over 25 years old, but in fact it's more like 28 years old that should be claimed on the label. The latter is adorned with a work by Victor Ekpuk entitled Returnee. 200 bottles have been crafted, and reserved for the French market.

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The nose is very creamy, with cake pastry, custardy vanilla, and some exotic fruit in the background, pineapple, grapefruit, banana, but also pear, peach, mirabelle plum, cereals galore and acacia honey, puffed rice, cracked wheat, barley. Almond milk, semi-salted butter. The palate is delicate, even silky, the cereals are there, sprinkled with lemon, but also pastry cream, pulpy white fruit, cinnamon, rosemary and black pepper. The finish is as long as I'd hoped, as creamy as ever, liquorice, caramel, almond paste, candied fruit, shortbread biscuits.

 

In Short, 

It's an excellent Glenburgie, less saturated with fruit than some others I've tasted, but infused with cream, almonds, vanilla and icing sugar. It really is beautifully made. Unfortunately, the price is excessive, which is often the case with this range. So it's best reserved for absolute fans and, if possible, wealthy.

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

                                            Nina Nesbitt - The Mountain & The Man                                  

Glendullan 2012 100 Proof Edition #32 11 yo

 

 

 

57,1° (100° Proof)

Distillery : Glendullan - Speyside

1st Fill Oloroso Sherry Butts

Independent Bottling 

By Signatory Vintage 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

The 100 Proof range has been around for over a year now, and we're already on the 32nd bottling. This is an 11-year-old Glendullan, aged in a few Oloroso Sherry Butts. Glendullan is a distillery belonging to Diageo, which is almost entirely devoted to Blends, so it's interesting to have a bit of Single Malt from them, as it allows you to discover the profile.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Quite simple and slightly alcoholic sherry. Copper and dried fruits, dates, raisins. Delicately waxed wood. Plum, peach and pear pulp. White melon. Vanilla glaze. Apple crumble, cinnamon. It"s very decent on the palate, with nectarine, brugnon, white grape and more of these copper notes. Quinces and apricots. Imposing spices, cloves, cumin, grey pepper. Long and full finish, slightly charred, burnt caramel, intense wood with a touch of bitterness. Bread dough.

 

In Short, 

This is a representative bottling from the 100 Proof range, with an intense Sherry and a cask pushed to its maximum capacity to impregnate the distillate. The result is quite successful, despite a few slight flaws. It's pleasant to drink, but the downside is that it's hard to detect the distillery's personality behind all the Sherry. As usual, the price is very attractive, which may convince even the most reluctant to try a bottle. But you have to like Sherry.

Score : 87

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Array of Illusions - Whispers

Compass Box The Peat Monster 4th Edition

 

 

 

46° 

Distillery : Caol Ila, Laphroaig, Ledaig, Ardmore, Clynelish, Dailuaine, Teaninich - Islay, Islands, Highlands, Speyside

Refill Bourbon Hoghsheads nad Barrels, Heavily Toasted French Oak Barrels

Independent Bottling 

By Compass Box 

Limited Edition 

Blended Malt Scotch Whisky

Bottled in 2016

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 38 ppm

 

 

 

The Peat Monster is a legend in the history of whisky, and is the work of John Glaser, the founder of Compass Box. The first Peat Monster dates back to 2003, but it was only called Monster at the time. Then came the first, second, third and fourth editions of Peat Monster. In between, we had a special 10th anniversary edition, a first Peat Monster Cask Strength in 2015, the Peat Monster Arcana in 2020, and a 2nd Cask Strength in 2023 for the 20th anniversary. Finally, in 2019, Peat Monster was integrated into the Signature Range, Compass Box's regular range. It has therefore become much easier to find. The recipes change depending on the edition, and I'm not entirely sure about the one for this 4th edition released in 2016, as it's kept more or less secret. The only recipe officially given is for the new Peat Monster in 2019, but the ones before contained Ardmore and sometimes Ledaig. Nor is it known how many bottles were produced for this edition. However, it is said to be between 10 and 16 years old.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Powerful and herbaceous peat right from the start, followed by a fine balance. Mineral notes, sprinkled with lemon. Yellow fruits in the background, thick and slightly medicinal smoke. Whitewashed walls, damp hay. Mountain honey. The palate is a little pale and rather lemony, the peat is still there. Pungent spices, cloves, ginger, treacle, lychees. Apple not quite ripe. Quite correct, decent, almost long finish, charcoal, pepper, liquorice, greasy ashes. Braised chestnuts. Waxed wood.

 

In Short, 

It's typically the kind of thing you can't resist having another glass of. I opened it a few days ago, and the bottle is already well used up. It's not extremely complex, nor powerful, it's not that monstrous, far from it, but it's the perfect formula for an easy-to-drink whisky, which is bound to please peat lovers. I think it's Laphroaig that dominates, helped a little by Ledaig, while Caol Ila is more discreet. On the Signature Range Edition, Caol Ila is more present, and I prefer it, but this edition is very pleasant. You can still find it at the release price on certain sites, but you'll have to look hard because it's officially been out of stock for at least 5 years.

Score : 86 

                                            To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Copperboots - The Quiet Queen

Bunnahabhain 1977 Artist #12 Over 40 yo

 

 

 

47,2°

Distillery : Bunnahabhain - Islay 

Refill Sherry Butt 

Independent Bottling 

By La Maison du Whisky 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2022

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Almost Unpeated

 

 

 

This one was released in 2022, with the 12th Batch of Artist, the range relaunched every year by La Maison du Whisky for the Whisky Live Paris. It is claimed to be over 40 years old, but in fact its exact age is 44, which is getting on in years. It has spent all this time in a Refill Sherry Butt, resulting in 546 bottles. The label features a painting by Gesine Arp entitled Volo Sul Sup.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Creamy nose typical of the distillery, with a pinch of salt, but fruit as far as the eye can see, vanilla, pear, peach, pineapple, papaya, redcurrants, blueberries, honey galore, woody fragrances, mint and bay leaves. On the palate, woody and marine fullness, a shadow of peat, fruit pulp mixed with wood wax, very light spices, nutmeg. Very long, full and explosive finish, some exotic fruits, chamomile, shortbread biscuits. Herbaceous notes, dark chocolate, coffee, dried figs.

 

In Short, 

To confess, I was a little disappointed by the palate, which seemed clear to me, but the rest is excellent, very impressive. The nose is captivating with its variety of pulpy fruits, and the finish wins you over with its exceptional length and vigour despite the fairly low alcohol content. Quite marvellous stuff on the whole, but the price cuts short any spell, it's out of reach for 95% of the population.

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                          To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Etta James - Cry Like a Rainy Day

Longmorn 1994 Artist #14 Rothes Glen 30 yo

 

 

 

55,9°

Distillery : Longmorn - Speyside

Refill Hogshead

Independent Bottling 

By La Maison du Whisky 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated 

 

 

 

La Maison du Whisky continues with its Artist range, subtitled Rothes Glen in honour of the great architect Charles Doig, and it's now a 30-year-old Longmorn that we're dealing with. Distilled in 1994 and then aged in a Refill Hogshead, the distillate should come out very much embellished. Only 141 bottles were offered for sale, and Serge Valentin, the master of us all, rated this nectar 92. Needless to say, the bottles sold like hotcakes, despite the very high price. The label features a picture by Victor Ekpuk entitled Take Five.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Buttered toast and white fruit, pineapple, coconut, mirabelle plums, Italia grapes. An ounce of wax, resin, lacquered noble wood. Crushed banana, heather honey, dates and figs, coppery tints then a little earthy, blond tobacco, ginger. On the palate, soaked and waxy leather, thick lemon sauce, some exotic fruit in the background, then it becomes more chocolatey, even rooty. Orchard fruit, juicy pear, green apple. White peach. Rare spices. Very long, honeyed finish, resin, tobacco once again, almonds and orange peel, shortbread biscuits, egg yolk. Chestnuts.

In Short, 

It's obviously very good, but I have the impression that I'm missing something, because for me it doesn't deserve 92 at all. It's still a very good whisky, complex, fine, long on the palate, but nothing exceptional. The price, on the other hand, is exceptional, even outrageous, but that didn't stop it from being sold out at La Maison du Whisky. You can still find it on some lesser-known websites.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Heather Nova - Ghost in my Room

Aberlour 2008 Artist #14 Rothes Glen 15 yo

 

 

 

58,9°

Distillery : Aberlour - Speyside

Sherry Oloroso Hogshead

Independent Bottling 

By La Maison du Whisky 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated 

 

 

 

The Artist #14 range, launched on the occasion of the Whisky Live Paris 2024, includes this 15-year-old Aberlour aged in Hogshead Sherry. The label features a painting by Victor Ekpuk entitled Found Green. 257 bottles are on sale.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Very intense and heady sherry, dark chocolate, in which someone must have forgotten one or two coffee beans, blueberry jam, blood oranges, exotic fruits such as papaya, watermelon, pomegranate, with black berries and muscat grapes, sultana pudding, redcurrants, candied ginger, apricots and dates. Forest undergrowth. It's silky on the palate, but a little light, with pineapple and mango, crème brûlée, guava. Spices under control. Very long, intense finish, pipe tobacco, blackcurrant, dried bay leaf, heather earth, salted butter caramel, wild strawberry coulis. Shortbread biscuits.

 

In Short, 

A very deep and rich Sherry, like you'd find in any old Aberlour, but this one is still a bit young and lacks a touch of complexity. There's a certain freshness as well, and lots of fruit of all kinds. A great pleasure for fans of the profile, but the price seems very excessive to me.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Betty Fox Band - Slow Burn

Benromach 2005 Artist #14 Legendary Distilleries 19 yo

 

 

 

59°

Distillery : Benromach - Speyside

1st Fill Sherry Butt

Independent Bottling 

By La Maison du Whisky

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 12 ppm

 

 

 

Of the 5 Benromach bottlings launched within the Artist #14 range, hallmarked Legendary Distilleries, 3 are aged in 1st Fill Bourbon Barrel, and 2 are aged in Sherry casks, like this one, which spent 19 years in a Sherry Butt. The label is decorated with a work by Logovarda called Sans Titre 2, and 264 bottles have been released from cask.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

A full-bodied nose of red fruit, black cherry, redcurrant and blueberry, waxed wood, fat earth, powerful citrus fruit, juicy pear with a dash of chocolate, all enhanced by slightly ashy peat. Forest fragrances, ferns, chestnuts in their husks, undergrowth. On the palate, the fruit becomes even more intense, blackberries, blackcurrants, muscat grapes, raspberry coulis tinged with vanilla, a few dried fruits and strong spices, nutmeg, cloves. The finish is long and fierce, woody but above all herbaceous, with sage, thyme and fennel. A pinch of salt, some seaweed, very vague maritime touches.

 

In Short, 

I find it very Sherry-like, with elements that are typical of the distillery, but too rare for my taste. That said, it's very nuanced and subtle, very pleasant to drink, and has a consistency that only a respectable age can provide. But the price is too high in my opinion. Despite the quality of the Sherry, it lacks a bit of personality for me to recommend buying it at this cost.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Arbess Williams - Walking the Back Streets and Crying

Benromach 2014 Artist #14 Legendary Distilleries 10 yo

 

 

 

60,4°

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

 

 

 

Within the Artist #14 range, launched on the occasion of Whisky Live Paris 2024, there is a Legendary Distilleries section, dedicated to a particular distillery, this year it's Benromach, highlighted by 5 bottlings, including this one, the youngest, distilled in 2014 and aged in a 1st Fill Bourbon Barrel, to give way to its vigour and the ardour of its youth. 238 bottles were issued, with priority given to the French market. The label features a work by Logovarda entitled Sans Titre 1.

Let's Taste It : 

The nose is relatively complex, with yellow fruits, blood oranges, vanilla, banana, a zest of lemon, a few drops of honey, beeswax, mirabelle plums, and finally a light mineral touch: chalk and quartz, a pinch of salt, malted cereals. On the palate, it's more pungent, with more character and spices that bring out the fruit, cinnamon, ginger and cloves. Delicate herbal and menthol notes, gentian. The finish is long and powerful, with juicy pear, somewhat jostled by a delicate peat, shortbread biscuits, chestnuts and reeds.

In Short, 

The Bourbon cask softens the youthfulness of this one, resulting in a very fruity nose, but with more liveliness on the palate and on the finish. The result is a powerful, taut Benromach, somewhere between the sweetness of the cask and the power of youth. The price is yet a little high for what it is, though affordable. Fans can treat themselves.

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Rowena Wise - Oh Man

Maison Benjamin Kuentz La Prohibition Histoire de fût Edition 1

 

 

 

54,6°

Distillery Officially Unknown - France

Sweet Sauternes Wine Finish from Rousset Peyraguey in France

Independent Bottling 

By Maison Benjamin Kuentz

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Almost Unpeated

 

 

 

The Maison Benjamin Kuentz has been around for ten years or so, the idea is to defend French whisky by offering bottlings from exclusively French distilleries. The downside is that the origin of the juice is often kept secret, as it is here, but fortunately some well-informed people were able to tell me that it comes from the Bercloux distillery, located in the Cognac region and which has been making whisky since 2002. It's a slightly reduced single cask, aged around 7 years, and the cask used to finish it is a barrel of sweet Sauternes wine from the Rousset Peyraguey estate. The wine has been matured under veil to bring out all its flavours. I don't know any further details about the maturation process, but this is a very rare bottling, of which there are very few left. The name of the bottling is La Prohibition, in honour of a whisky bar in Paris that I recommend.

Let's Taste It : 

Quite mineral on the nose, with white fruits such as lychee or plum, yellow apples, notes of limestone, gypsum, light iodine breadth, ethereal vanilla, a zest of lemon. Young wood, various cereals, oats, wheat, barley, dried sultanas. On the palate, the influence of the wine barrel is significant, thick wax, margarine, fermented fruits, bananas and mirabelle plums, pumpkin, relatively discreet spices. Well-tempered finish, shortbread biscuits, mountain honey, slight woody bitterness, a few grains of salt, pork rind.

In Short, 

It's not bad, but it's still a French whisky, with a few flaws. I found it rather fatty and waxy, and the wine wasn't perfectly integrated. Otherwise, the nose is pleasant, the alcohol is not too noticeable, and it's pleasant to drink. I have no idea what the asking price was, but in any case, it's impossible to find a bottle today, even at La Prohibition.

Score : 85

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

                                           Brunelle - Je Pars

Ardbeg 2009 Sansibar 15 yo

 

 

 

52,8°

Distillery : Ardbeg - Islay 

Sherry Butt 

Independent Bottling 

By Sansibar

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 54 ppm 

Sansibar is an independent German bottler founded in 2005 by Jens Drewitz. They are one of the pioneers of whisky distribution in Germany, before Best Dram, Whisky Druid or Brühler Whiskyhaus. Today they are releasing a series of white-labelled bottlings in honour of the DeinWhisky.de website, available only there. These include this Ardbeg, aged for 15 years and matured in a Sherry Butt. Unfortunately, there is no indication of the number of bottles.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

A small uppercut of Ardbegian peat, thick and powerful smoke, white ash, sandstone and chalk. Lime pulp in the background, and an ounce of icing sugar, a dash of vanilla, evanescent iodine, cotton wools, slices of unripe pineapple, soya milk. Then the fruit really takes off, mirabelle plums, reines claudes and banana, but still that kick of peat and alcohol at times, at others lychees, crème fraîche, apple doughnut. The palate is really pure and delicious, plums sprinkled with lemon, but the spices, white pepper and ginger, make themselves felt. The finish is long and very controlled, with citrus syrup, vanilla coulis, liquid honey and rare herbaceous notes.

 

In Short, 

A superb Ardbeg, lacking only a little power and length to be exceptional. Fans should not hesitate, I find it a little expensive for what it is, but those are the market prices unfortunately.

Score : 90  

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Graveyard Lillies - Don't Leave Me In The Dark

Chichibu 2017 From Tokyo to Paris Traveler Edition

 

 

 

63,4°

Distillery : Chichibu - Japan

1st Fill Bourbon Barrel 

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated 

Chichibu produces a large number of very limited editions for all occasions, including Whisky Live Paris, an important event because Chichibu has been associated with it for several years. But this one is a Traveler Edition, even harder to find than the others, with only 204 bottles available. The maturation is simple, in 1st Fill Bourbon Barrel, and should give pride of place to the identity of this highly reputed distillery.

Let's Taste It : 

Creamy lemon, indulgent vanilla, chocolate shavings, brown sugar, a few drops of caramel, crème brûlée, egg custard. Behind, pine thorns, dried herbs, chives. An ounce of minerality, salt crystals, quartz. Tying it all together, some floral hints, primroses, chicory, juicy white grapes and ripe pears. On the palate, it's like a warm croissant, but still with vanilla and lemon, malted cereals, wheat, oats, puffed rice, shortbread biscuits, forest berries. Very measured spices. Very long finish, powerful but controlled, warm apple doughnut, liquorice and chamomile. The vanilla is still there, as if impregnated in a dry, sandy earth.

In Short, 

Of course it's excellent, the quality of the cask is impressive, and the distillate remarkable in every way. But is it worth the price it's sold for? Absolutely not. I have to admit that I find the hype surrounding Chichibu a bit excessive, it's very good quality, but the prices are really crazy. And despite that, it's always sold out very quickly, like this one, just out and already impossible to find. That said, everyone puts their money where their mouth is, as long as it's not vulgar speculation, and sincerely appreciated.

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

                                           Wagakki Band - Homura

Lagavulin Islay Jazz Festival 2017

 

 

 

57,6°

Distillery : Lagavulin - Islay

Refill American Oak Hogsheads and Refill European Oak Butts

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2017

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 38 ppm 

Lagavulin has been an official sponsor of the Islay Jazz Festival since 2010, and since 2011 a special bottling has been available for this three day event held in the whisky capital. This one was released during the 2017 festival and is ageless, but that's not to say it's very young. Aged in American and European oak casks, it is likely to have been influenced by Sherry and Bourbon. 6,000 bottles were produced, each selling for £99 at the distillery at the time. Today they are worth more than three times that amount.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Thick, molasses-filled peat, salted butter caramel, melting toffee, quince jam, juicy mirabelle plums. Mountain honey, mineral notes, a generous pinch of salt. Noble woods, cedar, wild cherry, a few ivy leaves. On the palate, creamy vanilla and cinnamon, loaded with fat, maritime peat, coal, tar, dust. Not too strong spices, nutmeg, black pepper. Not very ripe greengages. The finish is long and explosive, still peaty and tarry, but with more and more fruit, shortbread biscuits, apple crumble, lemon pie, hot chestnuts.

 

In Short, 

I wouldn't be surprised to learn that this is a blend of a rather young whisky and another that is considerably older. There is a tension throughout the tasting, between a powerful, mineral and salty peat, and a racy elegance, intense and sweet fruits. That's what makes this bottling so interesting, captivating and unique. It's obviously long sold out, but because it's ageless, it's not overly expensive, so it's definitely something for fans to try.

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           The Underground Youth - One of the Dreamers

Secret Highland 2008 Whiskybase 16 yo

 

 

 

59,3°

Distillery Officially Unknown - Highlands

Bourbon Barrel 

Independent Bottling 

By Whiskybase.com

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Almost Unpeated

 

 

 

Whiskybase is probably the most popular whisky website in the world. In fact, it's so efficient that it has already referenced more than 250,000 bottles. To celebrate this unprecedented event, this bottling has been released, not by Archives, the trading company belonging to the site's owners, but directly by the site itself, Whiskybase.com. The distillery is secret, but rumours suggest Clynelish, which would not be surprising. The maturation is very simple and took 16 years, with 247 bottles produced.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Juicy white fruits, plums and mirabelles, banana, melting white chocolate, vanilla pastry cream, intense candle wax. White peaches, yellow apples, Comices pears, liquid honey, beeswax, royal jelly. A pinch of salt, mineral notes, minimal peat. On the palate, oily almonds, chocolate cookies, salted butter caramel, hazelnuts, a zest of lemon. Very light spices. Long and beautiful finish, dried fruits, apricots, raisins, dates, blood oranges. Shortbread biscuits, chestnuts. Lemon macerated in herbs.

 

In Short, 

To me, this is definitely a Clynelish, and an excellent one. The influence of the cask is just strong enough to enhance the distillery's waxy and lemony character, giving a fruity and very distinctive result, close to perfection. What's more, the price is very low for a 16-year-old single cask, so all those who pounced on this bottle as soon as it was released were totally right. On the other hand, it's sold out now, and I think the price on the secondary market will be much higher.

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Ain't Sisters - Heart Attack

SMWS 2010 95.73 Raisin Rodeo 12 yo

 

 

 

65,3°

Distillery : Auchroisk - Speyside

1st Fill Heavy Toast Medium Char Barrel

Independent Bottling 

By Scotch Malt Whisky Society

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

Founded in 1983, the Scotch Malt Whisky Society has now produced thousands of bottlings, including more than 73 from the Auchroisk distillery, which is little known because its production is mainly for blends. The cask used here was heavily toasted to produce a smoky flavour unusual in Speysiders. 177 bottles were produced.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Macerated grapes, soggy wood, fairly strong brown tobacco, cigar ashes, shoe polish, dates and figs, marzipan, pudding, dark chocolate, black fertile earth, bay leaves, pan-fried mushrooms. Various vegetables. On the palate, still fermented grapes and dark chocolate, with liquorice and coffee, pastry filling, fierce spices, nutmeg, cumin, cinnamon, black pepper. Explosive finish, very powerful but not very long, cola, cedar leaves, Armenian paper, and still dark chocolate and grapes, deep earthy notes, chestnuts, truffles, sesame seeds.

 

In Short, 

It's very interesting, but I don't find the style of the other Auchroisk I've tasted at all. This one has a lot of character, which wasn't necessarily the case with the others. It's quite woody, with a hint of dried fruit. The finish is very intense, perhaps it would have been better to add a little water. All in all, it's not bad at all and deserves to be tasted. As for buying one, it's complicated, firstly because it seems to be sold out, and secondly because the high alcohol content may discourage some people.

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Chapter 24 - I've Never

Edradour Vintage 2000 Barolo Cask Finish 18 yo

 

 

 

56,5°

Distillery : Edradour - Highlands

Ex-Bourbon Casks and Barolo Wine Finish

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2019

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

There are many editions of Edradour finished in barrels of Barolo wine, but only one is 18 years old, and that is this one. It is a blend of two 12-year-old Bourbon casks, finished for 6 years in a barrel of this highly reputed Italian wine. The result gave 578 bottles.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Woody and spicy notes, soft and moist bark, black cherries, apricot tart, dried dates, cinnamon and nutmeg, heather, ivy, earth and chocolate. Slight hints of menthol and lemon, forest honey, candied quince. On the palate, dark berries, orchard fruits, Conference pears, Golden apples, salted butter caramel, vanilla custard, fig and chocolate filling, intense spices, whole almonds, peach stones. Long and powerful finish, but not quite explosive, bark, resin, maple syrup, shortbread biscuits, speculoos crumbs.

 

In Short, 

The wine's influence brings forest and spicy notes, which are very interesting, chocolatey, earthy and woody, quite original. I'm not totally won over, but I'm impressed. Unfortunately, the price is excessive.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           The Limiñanas - Prisoner of Beauty

Glengoyne 1999 Master of Malt 20 yo

 

 

 

50,5°

Distillery : Glengoyne - Highlands

Sherry Hogshead 

Independent Bottling 

By Master of Malt 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2019

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated 

 

 

 

It's often forgotten, but Master of Malt isn't just an excellent spirits website. It's also a respected independent bottler. This 20-year-old Glengoyne can testify to that, having aged honourably in a Sherry Hogshead before being sold in 130 bottles.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Blueberries, redcurrants and blackberries, black grapes, all wrapped in a cosy bark, lichen, vegetal moss, soft caramel, roasted hazelnuts, melted chocolate on warm pear, light mineral and spicy notes. Morello cherries, liquorice, a pinch of blackcurrant. On the palate, orange marmalade and dark chocolate, treacle, candied ginger, various spices, thyme and nutmeg, fir honey, where red fruit swims. Honeysuckle. The finish is long, rich and languorous, with dried fruits, apricots, figs and dates. Chocolate custard with a dash of vanilla.

 

In Short, 

A classic Glengoyne, deep and complex, fruity and pastry-like, with delicate hints of wood. It's a great success. It is still on sale on the Master of Malt website, but can also be found at auction. Fans of the profile will not be disappointed.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Deke McGee - That's Love

Speyside 1997 Chorlton Whisky 22 yo

 

 

 

55,4° 

Distillery Officially Unknown - Speyside

Bourbon Hogshead 

Independent Bottling 

By Chorlton Whisky 

Limited Edition 

Blended Malt

Bottled in 2020

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

Chorlton Whisky is a company founded in 2017 in Manchester by David Bennett. Quick to make a name for itself, it is putting together some choice bottlings, including this 22-year-old Speyside, which is actually a Kininvie teaspooned with Balvenie. Only 133 bottles came out of the cask.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Milky cereals, fresh hay, a zest of citrus, then juicy fruits, yellow apples, white peaches, melon, grapefruit, papaya, banana. camomile. Candle wax, liquid honey. Very discreet floral fragrances, yellow flowers. On the palate, a delicate dash of vanilla, enhanced by citrus and creamy fruits. Woody and waxy notes. Whole almonds. Evanescent, fluid spices. Fairly long finish, but not very powerful, a hint of liquorice, honeysuckle, reeds, shortbread biscuits, custard. Egg white.

 

In Short, 

The nose is really very pleasant, the rest is less remarkable, but you have a very good time. Why hide the provenance of this product? If this is indeed a Kininvie, it's a real opportunity to discover this little-known distillery, which is mainly used for William Grant & Sons blends. Perhaps the aim is to let consumers imagine a more prestigious origin? In any case, the qualities are there, but I don't think the value for money is up to scratch. To be reserved for the curious wealthy.

Score : 88

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                            Roni Jean - She's Lost Again

Thompson Bros. x Campervan 8 yo

 

 

 

46,7°

Distilleries Officially Unknown - Highlands, Islay and Speyside

European Oak Casks and Beer Finish  

Independent Bottling 

By Thompson Bros. 

Limited Edition

Blended Malt

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Almost Unpeated

 

 

 

For this one, the Thompson brothers, based in Dornoch where they own a distillery and a renowned bar, took a blend they had already prepared for another bottling, the SRV5, and finished it for 10 months in beer casks from the Campervan brewery located in Edinburgh. The beer casks used are Imperial Stout and Riesling-flavoured beer. The Blend itself comes from three regions of Scotland, North Highlands, Islay and Speyside. I think there's some Clynelish in it, because Thompson Bros. use Clynelish a lot in their Blends, and they emphasise the waxy note in this one in the tasting notes. They also insist on a very light maritime peat, so I'm thinking about Caol Ila or Bunnahabhain, or maybe Ardbeg, Laphroaig or Bowmore, but that's unlikely. In any case, the whole thing had at least eight years of maturation when the finishing began. I don't know how many bottles were produced.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Fermented cereals, ale yeast, lemon pulp, a medicinal but also fruity touch, blackberries and cranberries, green apple, white grapes, pomade, slate, quartz, nice breadth that rises, soap and foam, liquid wax. The palate is balanced, malty, with a few lively spices, wild herbs, rosemary, chives and crushed cereals, followed by a slight touch of bitterness. The finish is woody, with candied vine leaves, various herbaceous notes and a hint of liquorice. The bitterness becomes a little stronger. Green tea.

 

In Short, 

It's very interesting, and it's got the merit of thinking outside the box. It's original. However, I can also detect a few flaws, such as this slight bitterness that lingers a little on the finish, and a relatively short finish. Perhaps the whole is a little too diluted for my taste, but it's also true that I drink a lot of Cask Strength, so I don't know. In any case, it's not expensive at all, it's quick to drink and there's not much to lose by trying it.

Score : 86

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           The Nunnery - Garden of your Heart