Ardnamurchan 7 yo Living Souls

 

 

 

50°

Distillery : Ardnamurchan - Highlands

1st Fill Bourbon Barrels 

Independent Bottling 

By Living Souls 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2026

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated from 15 to 18 ppm

 

 

 

As I’d really enjoyed this Bowmore launched by Living Souls, I decided to explore this distillery a little further, especially as they have bottlings that interest me. Like this one, from the young Ardnamurchan, aged just 12 years. Made from 50 per cent peated barley and 50 per cent unpeated barley, it has a light peat profile, is matured in first-fill bourbon casks, and has a respectable age. I would have liked to know how many bottles were produced, but this has not been disclosed.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It :  

It’s lemony and mineral, with rich honey and a slight astringency. But it’s also briny and floral, which lends it lovely depth, and a sumptuous fruitiness, mirabelle plums, not-quite-ripe bananas, icing sugar, Haribo sweets, and sweet butter. A few cereals in the background, all of this combines to create a superb balance. On the palate, lychees, vanilla, a couple of drops of honey, a pinch of salt, barely detectable peat, light spices. A fairly long, syrupy finish, citrusy, liquorice, wheat germ, rice pudding, corn cakes, young and untreated wood. Cauliflower.

 

In Short, 

Once again, this is a real success, the nose is excellent and the finish is very long, there’s a lovely fruitiness that blends beautifully with the distillery’s character. It’s both very approachable and full of personality, though of course it’s still a little young. The price is a bit on the high side, but fans of the distillery might want to give it a go.

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                               To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                              @ - Autosmile

Bowmore 1997 NS Cask Series 015 10th Anniversary Sansibar 24 yo

 

 

 

52°

Distillery : Bowmore - Islay

Refill Sherry Cask 

Independent Bottling 

By North Star Spirits

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2021

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 25 ppm

 

 

 

I’ve always said that I’m very interested in North Star Spirits, this bottler founded in 2016 in Glasgow by Iain Croucher, but I’ve just realised that this is only the second product I’ve tasted from their warehouses. It’s true, though, that they’re a bit of a hidden gem and don’t make many appearances at whisky fairs. At the same time, they don’t need to, as their reputation is second to none. Here we have a 24-year-old Bowmore matured in a refill sherry cask, 326 bottles have hit the shelves. Sherry-cask Bowmores are rarer these days, this one is here to show us just how much of a shame that is. It was released to pay tribute to another bottler, a German one, Sansibar, which was celebrating its 10th anniversary at the time. Now that North Star Spirits is also 10 years old, I hope Sansibar returns the favour. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Monstrously balanced sherry, with a touch of ash and charcoal, intoxicating smoke, crushed red fruits, a hint of fermentation, cherries, blueberries, visciole, varnished mahogany, raisins and acacia honey. Slight medicinal and mineral notes. Bay leaf, tannins. On the palate, it is almost viscous, syrupy, amarena, fiery spices, apricot stones, orange marmalade, lemon zest, lychees. The finish is quite oaky, powerful, flint, smoky bark, slices of grapefruit, chunks of granite, baked apples, cinnamon, coffee grounds. Black and damp earth, mushrooms.

 

In Short, 

I have a friend who told me that Bowmore whiskies matured in sherry casks shouldn’t even exist, he really ought to try this one, where the sherry brings out some distinctive characteristics of the distillery. The smoke and charcoal become more pronounced, the oak even more elegant, the herbaceous notes more pronounced, and the fruit is balanced by delicate mineral notes. It’s truly top-class. Although it was released nearly five years ago, you can still find it here and there at a prohibitive price, but perhaps die-hard fans will find a way to get their hands on it, and they won’t regret it. 

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                              To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                             Grace Cummings - Fake

Octomore OBA Redux Rock'Ndaal 05.2 Feis Ile 2026

 

 

 

54,2°

Distillery : Bruichladdich - Islay

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2026

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Heavily Peated

 

 

 

In honour of Feis Ile 2026, the distillery has launched this new release, about which very little is known. It’s the OBA concept – Octomore Black Art – where you’re not supposed to know anything about the bottle’s contents, neither the age, nor the maturation, nor the blend. And this lack of transparency is presented as a selling point. The most surprising thing is that it works, the bottles flew off the shelves, and now it’s sold out, with prices on the secondary market reaching dizzying heights. I’d also love someone to explain the significance of the code number 05.2 to me. 2,500 bottles were released onto the market. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Creamy honey, very ripe mirabelle plums, mineral notes, iodine, prickly pears, white grapes, candied bananas, it’s beautifully full-bodied. Vicks Vaporub ointment, ether, the peat is powerful, almost suffocating, yet it leaves room to breathe. Rich cereals, a hint of lemon zest, green apples. On the palate, it’s very well-balanced at first, juicy pears and lychees, followed by quite strong spices, cloves and pepper, a pinch of charcoal, generous vanilla. A very long finish, blond tobacco, brown sugar, not too overpowering, almonds, egg yolk, more honey, fried apple fritters, light woodiness, tinder leaf, a touch of acidity.

 

In Short, 

You have to admit it’s excellent, and even a little more than that. It’s of a very high standard, although it’s true that my rating is a tad generous. Since we know nothing about this elixir, I’m going to play along a bit and try to imagine. As for the age, I’d say it’s older than a classic Octomore because the peat isn’t very strong, let’s say 8 to 11 years. The profile reminded me of the 10.2 and 06.2 editions, so I’d say there are Bourbon casks, but also sweet white wine casks, perhaps Sauternes, or even brandy, though that last possibility seems unlikely to me. Probably Bourbon and white wine, perhaps a few virgin casks. In any case, that’s what it reminds me of. The price has reached astronomical heights, everyone’s clamouring to guess what it really is, it seems to me that the distillery’s marketing department has achieved its objectives. 

Score : 91 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                    To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                                    Chelsea Wolfe - Death Is Not The End

Orkney (HP) 2011 100 Proof Edition #58 14 yo

 

 

 

57,1° (100° Proof)

Distillery : Highland Park - Islands

1st Fill Amontillado Sherry Finish

Independent Bottling 

By Signatory Vintage 

Limited Edition

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 20 ppm

 

 

 

Yet another Highland Park from the 100 Proof range, launched by Signatory Vintage in January 2024. There are seven, and this is the fifth one I’ve tasted. Contrary to what one might think, they do differ from one another, take this one, for example, which has been finished in first-fill Amontillado sherry hogsheads. However, we know nothing about the initial maturation. It’s becoming something of a trend to mention only the finish and keep quiet about the initial maturation. Even though it’s almost certainly Bourbon casks, it would be better to specify this. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

A whisper of peat, raw wood, followed immediately by a mellow cloud of fruit, mirabelle plums, redcurrants, heather honey, creamy vanilla, candied apricots. A medicinal drop, turpentine, perhaps mercurochrome. A touch of iodine and sea foam. On the palate, very apricot-like, orange marmalade, then virulent spices, cloves, cumin, black pepper. A fairly long finish, though not extremely powerful, semi-salted butter, resin and runny honey, elegant oak, scrambled eggs, thyme and rosemary, vanilla ice cream.

 

In Short, 

Although the finish in Amontillado Sherry hogsheads lends a pleasant fruitiness, the rest is rather unremarkable, with a few recognisable notes from the distillery and a robust oakiness. That’s why I would have liked to know about the initial maturation, although I doubt it was in refill bourbon casks, as these failed to give this whisky sufficient personality. It’s still a pleasant and powerful product with a certain character, but there are better whiskies in this range, I can guarantee you that. 

Score : 87 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                              To Be Listened While Sipping :  

 

                                                    Automatic - Black Box

Bowmore 2001 The Character of Islay Whisky Company 18 yo c. 11714

 

 

 

55,4°

Distillery : Bowmore - Islay

Refill Bourbon Barrel

Independent Bottling 

By The Character of Islay Whisky Company 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2020

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 25 ppm

 

 

 

This independent bottler’s existence was short-lived, four years at most, but each of its releases is legendary. This is particularly true of the Bowmore whiskies, which alone account for a third of the company’s production. This 18-year-old whisky was matured in a single refill bourbon cask, with a total of 184 bottles produced.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Iridescent iodine, sculpted limestone, with a lovely sea breeze, seaweed and exotic fruits. Dried hay, very fine and light peat, marine character, accompanied by oysters and razor clams. A very subtle trace of vanilla. Damp rock, sea foam, surf. Grapefruit and pineapple. On the palate, the fruit is more pronounced, citrus, banana, yellow plums, white peaches, but the maritime character remains strong, scallops, mussels, a few spices, varnished wood. The finish is long and gradually builds in intensity, lime zest, bamboo, nutmeg, dried tobacco, lumps of charcoal, beach sand, a pinch of bitterness.

 

In Short, 

It’s obviously excellent, and I’m actually convinced that it’s thanks to bottlings like this that Bowmore has once again become a leading distillery. It used to rely too heavily on original casks, sherry, wines of all kinds, and people had forgotten the quality of its spirit. In my view, it was this company that released these Bowmores in simple refill bourbon casks and restored the distillery to its former glory. That said, the price is still high for what it is, making it suitable only for die-hard fans and the very wealthy. 

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                     To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                                     Milton Andersen - Lilac Flowers

Blair Athol 2014 100 Proof Edition #64 11 yo

 

 

 

57,1° (100° Proof)

Distillery : Blair Athol - Highlands

2d Fill Oloroso Sherry Butts 

Independent Bottling 

By Signatory Vintage 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

The 64th bottling in the 100 Proof range, launched in January 2024 by Signatory Vintage, is an 11-year-old Blair Athol matured in second-fill Oloroso sherry butts. Blair Athol is, in my humble opinion, an underrated distillery, and it is always interesting to taste one of its expressions.

   

 

 

Let's Taste It :  

Mellow Sherry and robust oakiness, cherry wood beams, quince jelly, varnish, and light smoke that must stem from the intensity of the wood. A touch of citrus, nuts, dried fruit. Soft caramel, chocolate. Springtime freshness, morning dew, a stream winding its way between the rocks. On the palate, it is creamy, honeyed, treacle, apricot stones, then the spices come to life, black pepper, cloves. The finish is sufficiently long and powerful, brimming with sap, oozing with charcoal, mocha, buttered toasts, dates.

 

In Short, 

Critics generally aren’t too kind to this one, yet it does have its merits, the finish is really pleasant, the nose is nice, and it’s good on the palate. It’s certainly not a masterpiece, that’s for sure, but it’s a pleasant enough drink. Honestly, if you fancy trying something from the 100 Proof range, this isn’t the one I’d recommend you go for first, but if you do give it a go, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. 

Score : 86

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                 To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                               A Place To Bury Strangers - Losing Time

Springbank 2015 Fino Cask Matured 10 yo

 

 

 

55°

Distillery : Springbank - Campbeltown

Refill Bourbon Casks and Fresh Fino Sherry Finish

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 12 ppm

 

 

 

The latest addition to the Sherry Wood series, launched in 2022 and due to conclude this year, is this one, which was aged for 4 years in refill bourbon casks before undergoing a 6-year finish in fresh Fino sherry casks. 11,400 bottles are being released, which is 1,200 more than the Palo Cortado released in 2023 and 1,500 more than the Amontillado released in 2024. Is this an effort to meet demand? The final instalment in this series is due to be released this year, and it will be a Manzanilla Cask Finish. Which makes me think that several types of sherry will be missing from the series, notably Oloroso and Amoroso, or even Moscatel. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

A generous sherry, featuring redcurrants, marzipan, raspberry jelly. Brown sugar, maple syrup, melting dark chocolate. Lingering citrus notes, blood oranges, grapefruit, warm wax, heather honey, and a few herbaceous notes of reeds and bushes. A hint of iodine that lends lovely depth. A touch of smoky peat. On the palate, it is very oily, spicy, egg yolk, Reine-Claude plums, vanilla, varnished wood, lacquer, clove and cumin. A long, deep finish, waxy, macerated grapes, Aosta ham, hawthorn, dark tobacco, charcoal, black earth, caramel.

 

In Short, 

I have to say, this one is noticeably weaker on the palate than its two predecessors. I’ve compared them. That doesn’t make it a bad product, far from it, it’s just a tiny bit less good than the others, overall it’s still a very interesting and enjoyable drink. However, given the price on the secondary market, I wouldn’t recommend buying this one, go for one of the other two if you can, and if possible, the Palo Cortado. 

Score : 89 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                     

                                               To Be Listened While Sipping : 

                                                 Liminal - The Crop

Bowmore 22 yo Living Souls

 

 

 

52°

Distillery : Bowmore - Islay

1st Fill Bourbon Barrels

Independent Bottling 

By Living Souls 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2026

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured 

Peated around 25 ppm 

 

 

 

Living Souls is an independent bottler based in Glasgow, it has apparently been in existence since the 2010s, but it is only since 2024 that it has been flooding the market with a variety of bottlings. This one is one of its most renowned, as a 22-year-old Bowmore is not something you come across everywhere. All the more so as the maturation process has preserved the character of the distillate. However, what is unusual is that it is neither vintage nor a single cask, though this does not necessarily affect the quality of the product. Although one website states that it is cask strength, others do not specify this, so I assume it is not. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It :   

The nose is very clean, with a light sea breeze, subtle notes of iodine and sleet, pebbles on the beach, then exotic fruits emerge. Pineapple, banana, papaya, and of course a generous zest of lemon. Chalky peat in the background, layers of gypsum and salt crystals. On the palate, scallops, small oysters, razor clams, whelks and other shellfish, with a delicate touch of Bourbon, vanilla and lychees. Spices are clearly present, but not strong. A very controlled and very long finish, where honey dances with limestone, mirabelle plums with basalt, dried herbs, sap-filled wood, resin and a very slight bitterness. Nutmeg. More seafood.

 

In Short, 

Personally, I really liked it, it’s a perfect Bowmore, as good as it can be at this age, with everything you’d expect from it. It has a distinct maritime character, with barely perceptible peat, great delicacy overall, and generous fruit notes. The price is, of course, a little high, but lower than it was a while ago for this distillery. I’d recommend buying it if you can afford it. 

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                             To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Aisha Vaughan - The Water

Benriach 2013 100 Proof Edition #69 12 yo

 

 

 

57,1° (100° Proof)

Distillery : The BenRiach - Speyside

1st Fill Oloroso Sherry Butts and Bourbon Barrels

Independent Bottling 

By Signatory Vintage

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

This is the third time that this famous Speyside distillery has been featured in the 100 Proof range launched by Signatory Vintage in January 2024, and it’s the first time I’ve tasted a sample from it. It’s actually a distillery I’m quite fond of, but I’ve never had the chance to try it before. Here, we have a blend of first-fill Oloroso sherry butts and bourbon barrels, so I’m hoping there’ll be a lovely balance.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Pleasant woodiness, prunes, shiitake mushrooms, cigar box. Cream of chestnut soup, walnut cake, dates and figs. Cooked vegetables, a hint of red berries, molasses and soft caramel, varnish. A slight meaty smokiness. It's very spicy on the palate, cumin, horseradish, fresh fruit, olive oil, chocolate and coffee, lychees, a drizzle of vanilla. A very violent finish, quite long, charred and oaky, green apples, cut hay, succulent leaves, solvent, macerated bark, vines, brown sugar. Very slight bitterness.

 

In Short, 

The nose and finish are good, but once again, the influence of the cask is too strong and detracts from the quality of the palate, which is too spicy. Once again, this is no doubt a flaw that will mellow with time, but I still find it a shame. I’m still giving it a fairly good mark, however, as it has other qualities and a lovely power that make up for some of the flaws, but on the palate, it isn’t quite good enough to make it worth buying, in my view. 

Score : 86

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                    To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                                  Nueve Tuercas - Caleidoscopio

Springbank 2014 Amontillado Cask Matured 10 yo

 

 

 

55°

Distillery : Springbank - Campbeltown

Refill Bourbon Casks and Amontillado Sherry Finish

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 12 ppm

 

 

 

Before the release of the fifth (and final) issue in the Sherry Wood series, a series launched in 2022 with the Pedro Ximénez Cask Matured, I decided to devote some time to it and explore this one first. Released nearly two years ago now, this whiskey spent five years in refill bourbon casks, followed by five years in Amontillado sherry casks. A very long finish, then, before being split evenly among 9,900 bottles, which flooded the market very quickly, only to disappear even faster.

   

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

A warm, rich and oaky sherry, liquorice and Reine-Claude plum jam, dried figs, treacle, melting caramel, a coastal freshness that lends lovely fullness, dates, a campfire with a slight sticky, charred smokiness, black grapes, bacon. On the palate, it is silky, lychees, Turkish delight, powerful spices, nutmeg, black pepper, vanilla and red fruit jelly, two drops of honey. A powerful yet long finish, toasted wood, chocolate toffee, coffee grounds, a few redcurrants, herbaceous notes, parsley, thistle, mint leaves, roots. 

 

In Short, 

What I really liked about this one is that it retains a bit of the Springbank DNA, with welcome hints of iodine and a robust body. It’s a bit ‘dirty’, a bit coastal, and the sherry pairs very well with that. Well, to be honest, I preferred the Palo Cortado, which is a cut above, but this one has its own merits that are certainly worth noting. The price is very high, however; whilst the initial release price was reasonable, it sold out very quickly, and now you can only find it for exorbitant sums. It’s a real shame. 

Score : 90 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                              To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                              Stupid Lucky - At My Big Age