Octomore 2010 A Dream of Scotland 11 yo

 

 

 

56,2° 

Distillery : Bruichladdich - Islay

Pauillac Red Wine Cask Finish

Independent Bottling 

By Brühler Whiskyhaus

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2021

Unchillfiltered, Cask Strength

Heavily Peated

This Octomore spent 8 years in a barrel of something we don't know, but it's certainly a good big Bourbon one. Then it was placed for three years in a barrel of French wine from Pauillac, renowned for its power and aromatic complexity. 268 bottles came out of this process. They were gathered together in the A Dream of Scotland range, but also in the Bad Santa 3 batch, that Brühler Whiskyhaus sometimes made around Christmas.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Intense and relatively dry smoke, even vegetal. The wine barrel asserts itself slowly, first with slightly grimy liquorice, then with red fruits coated in soot. A grain of red cranberry. Blueberries cooked in the oven. Hot bread. It becomes a little acidic after a while. It's sparkling on the palate, still fruity, redcurrant tart, raspberry coulis. Intense but rich spices, cloves, black pepper. Long, barely violent finish, more blackcurrant and black wood. Damp earth, melting chocolate. Toffee cannelés.

 

In Short, 

As always, this is Octomore, so it's very peaty, it's intense, it's violent. And as is often the case, the maturation is daring, but here it's not totally successful in my opinion, the red wine gives a few acid notes that bothered me a little. Nonetheless, this is a good Octomore, rich and powerful, very pleasant to drink. If you find one, let me know, but it will depend on the price.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Seven Spires - Almosttown

Longmon 25 yo The Tasteful 8 A Dream of Scotland

 

 

 

50,6°

Distillery : Longmorn - Speyside

2 Bourbon Hogsheads

Independent Bottling 

By Brühler Whiskyhaus

Limited Edition 

Single Malt

Bottled in 2022

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated 

 

 

 

In 2022, Brühler Whiskyhaus released this series of 8 bottlings entitled The Tasteful 8, in reference to the Quentin Tarantino film (and if you don't know which one it is, it's time to study a little), and incorporated it into its wider range, A Dream of Scotland, which brings together all its Scottish bottlings. Among these 8 beauties, this 25-year-old Longmorn is a blend of 2 Bourbon Hogsheads, resulting in 307 bottles. It says on the label that it's Bourbon, but given the colour and flavour profile of this beauty, I think there must be a few staves of Sherry added to the Hogsheads, which wouldn't be surprising coming from a bottler with a reputation for producing very cask-driven whiskies, gorged with Sherry or wine, or even more intriguing stuff, or repulsive, depending on your taste.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Luscious nose, clementine, blood orange, red fruits, raspberries, gooseberries, slightly malty and woody, warm caramel, earthy hints in the background. Fresh tomatoes, dried figs and dates, truffle crumbs. On the palate it's more tannic, but still quite syrupy, gingerbread, pan-fried fruits, a zest of lemon and various citrus, meat sauce, maple syrup, a big nutmeg as a spice. Deep finish, damp bark, humus, cooked mushrooms, black earth, forest undergrowth, oak leaf.

 

In Short, 

A surprising product, where the Bourbon doesn't make itself felt very much, for me and for the friends who have tasted it with me, it's very Sherry. It's not annoying at all, it's a good Sherry, not too strong or sickening. The whole thing is well done, very varied and intense, I'm not sure it reflects the distillery's profile but it doesn't matter. It's not what we came here for. The release price was more than fair, but now that it's sold out everywhere, the price has gone way up and it's no longer really worth it.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           No-Man - Things Change

Caol Ila 13 yo Restaurant Bahnsteig 1

 

 

 

55,4°

Distillery : Caol Ila - Islay 

1st Fill Madeira Cask Finish

Independent Bottling 

By Brühler Whiskyhaus

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2021

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 35 ppm

 

 

 

Unlike most Brühler Whiskyhaus' bottlings from Scotland, this one does not belong to the A Dream of Scotland range. This is a Charity Bottling for the benefit of Restaurant Bahnsteig 1 located in Mayschoss in Germany, which serves traditional German food. It's a 1st Fill Madeira Cask Finish, but we don't know which was the first maturation, Bourbon certainly. 354 bottles were crafted, undoubtedly from a Single Cask, since it is written without the plural on the label.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Salty freshness typical of the distillery, barley sugar, beautiful ashy smoke. We are in familiar territory. It's very sweet, molasses, marzipan, chestnut cream. Mirabelles and greengages. Blackberries, cherries, which become prominent on the palate, with a nice woodiness, then spices, nutmeg, cumin, cardamom. Dates, chocolate. Undergrowth, heather. Fairly long finish, where the nutmeg stands out, a bit of honey, soft caramel, soy milk. Nut.

 

In Short, 

Madeira is heavier than wine, but less than Port. Less sweet too. The result is pleasant, without hiding the distillery's hallmarks. Unfortunately, this little thing is sold out, and the price on the secondary market is excessive.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Alex G - Salt

Caol Ila 2012 A Dream of Scotland 10 yo

 

 

 

54,7°

Distillery : Caol Ila - Islay

Italian Red Wine Casks Finish

Independent Bottling 

By Brühler Whiskyhaus

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2022

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 35 ppm

 

 

 

In the small town of Brühl in Germany is the Whiskyhaus, a whisky store that many dream of visiting. And for the past few years, its owner, Marco Bonn, has been delighting us with more and more independent bottlings. Most are released under the A Dream of Scotland banner, since these are Single Malts from Scotland. The label is adorned with a pretty design, and the maturations are often original, such as this Caol Ila which has been finished in Italian wine barrels. On the other hand, no indication on the first ageing, but it must be Bourbon barrels. It gave 472 bottles which were quickly sold.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

It's the beautiful Caol Ila ashes, Very black smoke and soot, we're in front of a bonfire, the logs are charred, still burning. After a while, it becomes fruity, blackberries and blackcurrants, it goes very well together. At the end, slightly acidic, with lingonberries and red currants. The smoke intensifies. Much more fruity on the palate, raspberry and pomegranate, we barely feel the peat, some spices, pepper, tinder, nutmeg. Nice fullness in the mouth. Beautiful finish, not extraordinary, with a return of coal. It's quite long though. Varnished wood, warm chestnuts, damp earth.

 

In Short, 

It's a good one, the Italian wine gives a slightly acidic fruity touch which is very nice, and the ashy smoke is particularly intense. Only the finish is a bit below, but in any case this bottler is to be followed closely. The prices are high, but it could be worse, given the rush every time a new bottle comes out. They dren't available for long.

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

                                            Chaoseum - First Step to Hell