Ben Nevis 1996 Les Fûts oubliés 26 yo

 

 

 

46,5°

Distillery : Ben Nevis - Highlands 

Hogshead

Independent Bottling 

By Celtic Whisky Distilleries

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength 

Almost Unpeated 

 

 

 

This is the second release of independent bottlings from Celtic Whisky Distillery, these come from a batch of casks that were supposedly forgotten in the back of the distillery’s warehouses. Among others, this Ben Nevis was distilled in 1996 and released 26 years later in a limited run of 209 bottles. Since the casks were aged at the distillery itself in Brittany, it is not officially a Scotch whisky, which is why it is less expensive. The label was designed by the artist Averi. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

A lovely and fresh cereal-like aroma, fields of freshly harvested wheat, honey and molasses, slightly fermented white fruits, citrus, it’s vaguely effervescent, mellow, pear tart, peach melba, nougat, very light hint of minerality and limestone. On the palate, it’s smoother, lighter, very supple, subtle oak, egg custard, a dash of vanilla, dried pineapple, subtle spices, sun-kissed herbs. Very long finish, full of almonds, cooked pears, a touch of exoticism, and even tropical notes, banana split, papaya, cheesecake, chives. 

 

In Short, 

I’ll be very clear, this is a far cry from the usual 1996 Ben Nevis whiskies, the fruit is less pronounced, the exotic notes are almost exclusively present in the finish, and the alcohol content feels a bit low on the palate. It’s still a very good whiskey, though, with a highly complex nose and a superb finish. It used to be available at a really attractive price exclusively at Le Comptoir Irlandais, a French retail chain, but now it’s completely sold out, which is hardly surprising. 

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                      To Be Listened While Sipping : 

                                                      Steven Wilson - On Chapel Slope

Craigellachie 1997 Les Fûts oubliés 25 yo

 

 

 

50,5°

Distillery : Craigellachie - Speyside

Hogshead

Independent Bottling 

By Celtic Whisky Distillerie

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated 

 

 

 

Celtic Whisky Distillerie is a French distillery founded in 1997, but it is also an independent bottler that purchased a few casks a long time ago. These few casks are now bottled and ready for sale, now that the distillery and all its stock has been sold to Maison Villevert. Five have been released so far, and 17 are planned. This one is a 25-year-old Craigellachie, aged in a single hogshead for 25 years, 10 months and 25 days. As the cask was stored in the cellars of the Breton distillery, it does not have the Scotch Whisky designation. However, it is indeed a Single Cask and only 289 bottles are available, exclusively at Le Comptoir Irlandais in France. The label is the work of the visual artist Erika Raio. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Malty and honeyed notes, very subtle with wax and varnish, stewed fruit and soft wood, caressing spices, a whiff of smoke. Soft caramel, chestnut cream, candied apricots, juicy greengages, delicate floral scents, mirabelle plums. On the palate, Comice pears, lychees, it's soft and velvety, vanilla and grated coconut, raisins and dried figs, a pinch of cinnamon, oak bark. Fairly long, explosive finish, chocolatey, cereal, hummus, a drop of olive oil, a few crunchy nuts, green tea. 

 

In Short, 

It's not much like the usual Craigellachies, it's not as robust and there's less character, but on the other hand it's very subtle and honeyed, the wood is particularly well balanced, I really liked it. With this expression, you're totally in Speyside, whereas Craigellachie often has a Highlands feel to it, and honestly I prefer it that way. What's more, the price is incredibly low, perhaps because it doesn't have the Scotch Whisky designation. Definitely an opportunity not to be missed. 

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           SpaceAcre - Say

Kornog 2011 Ex-Libris Une Île en terre 12 yo

 

 

 

58,2°

Distillery : Celtic Whisky Distillerie - France

1st Fill Bourbon Barrel

Independent Bottling 

By La Maison du Whisky 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 50 ppm

 

 

 

Last expression in this new series inaugurated by Ex-Libris, the highly selective range launched by La Maison du Whisky in 2021, this Kornog has been aged for 12 years in a first-fill Bourbon cask. Its name comes from a collection of poems by Yvon Le Men. The number of bottles produced remains a mystery.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The nose is more iodine-based, fairly full-bodied, with a nice breadth, and it moves towards cereals, with cracked wheat, porridge, vanilla and white fruits. Peat in the background, rather discreet but pleasantly subtle. Pastry cream, sea air and a touch of salt. On the palate, the salt takes on greater importance, coating the fruits and with milk chocolate. The spices are powerful. Slightly acidic candy, it's a little syrupy. Successful finish, suitably long, woody, coffee, slightly bitter cocoa, muddy earth. Chestnut cream, pan-fried mushrooms. Parsley.

 

In Short, 

It's obviously more mature and well-balanced, but I preferred the youngest of the three, which showed a lot of character and a purer expression of the distillate. Especially as the difference isn't huge, only 4 years between the three. This one goes off a bit in all directions, with pastry elements, sweets, cereals, iodine and, of course, peat. I don't find it the most interesting. And the price is the highest, as if it were a 25 year old, it's really disproportionate.

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Zaho de Sagazan - Dis-moi que tu m'aimes

Kornog 2012 Ex-Libris Le Poids d'un nuage 10 yo

 

 

 

58,5°

Distillery : Celtic Whisky Distillerie - France

2d Fill Bourbon Barrel 

Independent Bottling 

By La Maison du Whisky 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 50 ppm

 

 

 

Second volume in this trio of French whiskies honoured by La Maison du Whisky through its Ex-Libris range inaugurated in 2021, this Kornog underwent a very simple maturation in a Refill Bourbon cask. It is not known how many bottles were produced. The name of the bottle comes from a collection of poems by Yvon Le Men.

Let's Taste It : 

The nose is more mature, tamer, pastry-like, but still astringent. Very cerealy, with malted barley, toasted wheat, muesli, millet, rye. I still find some glue, but to a lesser extent. Aniseed, liquorice. Grainy smoke, fairly well mastered. Very round, balanced palate, light layer of ash, white fruits, juicy lemon. Various spices, nutmeg, cloves, cumin, pepper. The finish is long, very successful, on chestnuts and charcoal, with a few more cereals, dates and prunes.

In Short, 

A little calmer than its little brother, more balanced, fruity and pastry-like. It's better made, but lacks the intense personality of the 8yo, which I preferred. The price is as crazy as ever, but absolute fans will be able to afford it.

Score : 89

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Superbus - Butterfly

Kornog 2015 Ex-Libris Quelque part dans le ciel 8 yo

 

 

 

57,9°

Distillery : Celtic Whisky Distillerie - France

1st Fill Bourbon Barrel

Independent Bottling 

By La Maison du Whisky 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 50 ppm

 

 

 

La Maison du Whisky is launching the Ex-Libris range in 2021. Initially, the aim was to showcase two distilleries, one Irish, Knappogue Castle, the other Canadian, J.P. Wiser's. But this year, the sub-range has set its sights on the Kornog brand. A peated version of the production of the Celtic Whisky Distillerie from Brittany, this brand is undoubtedly the most highly regarded in France. The result is a trio of bottlings, of which this is the youngest, named Quelque part dans le ciel, after a collection of poems by Yvon Le Men. Each is matured in a single Bourbon cask. The number of bottles produced is unknown.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

On the nose, liquid glue and almonds, it's airy and cereal-like. Toasted barley and wheat, strong windy peat. Slight saltiness. Burnt plastic, fresh iodine, a few patches of limestone. Creamy at the end, with a bit of vanilla and a drop of lemon. On the palate, still gluey, frangipane and dates, porridge, white fruits, caramel. Strong spices, cumin, nutmeg, white pepper. Braised chestnuts. Powerful, long finish, quite successful, sandy, with a nice thickness of ash. Black earth, truffles. Charcoal.

 

In Short,  

It's powerful, impetuous, slightly salty, but also earthy, which I like. It's a really radical product, with bold fragrances. Currently sold exclusively by La Maison du Whisky, the price is prohibitive, which is a shame.

Score : 89

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

                                            En Attendant Ana - I'm a Man You Don't Meet Every Day

Kornog 2006 Single Cask Berry Bros. & Rudd

 

 

 

50,9°

Distillery : Celtic Whisky Distillerie - France

Bourbon Barrel

Independent Bottling 

By Berry Bros. & Rudd

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2022

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 50 ppm 

The prestigious and venerable Berry Bros. & Rudd deigns to take an interest in a vulgar French wihsky, from a recent distillery founded in 1999 and which has only been producing peated juice since 2009 under the name of Kornog. For the creator of the distillery, Jean Donnay, it is the consecration. Perhaps being acquired by Maison Villevert in 2020 has something to do with this great news for French whisky. This company with a capital of 75 million euros certainly has a perfectly oiled marketing department. Whatever, it is deserved, and for the occasion the distillery provided its oldest cask to date, 16 years old, matured in a single Bourbon barrel, which gave only 152 copies. The age of the product is not mentioned on the bottle, but it is indicated 16 yo on several respectable sales sites.

 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

A soft peat but nonetheless quite present, some grassy hints, well integrated iodine, I would swear to be on Islay. But I'm not, and it's really well done, because it's quite fruity by the way, very balanced. But it's not a monster of complexity either. On the palate, beautiful vanilla sweetness, a little bit sweetness, soft spices, towards a relatively robust but not quite long finish. Burnt wood, liquorice, undergrowth, chestnut leaves. It's quite smooth despite the peat, it goes down very well, drizzle of vanilla, pineapple and citrus, but without bitterness, discreet spices, cloves, ginger, long and fairly robust finish, damp earth, martime notes, lemony touches. Discreet smoke. Almonds, cashews.

 

In Short, 

It is undoubtedly among the best in France under the name of Whisky. And that's not bad at all, actually. It competes with some very good Islay. The official peat level is 50 ppm, but this was at the time of distillation, and after 16 years it has become more subtle, the equivalent of around 30 ppm. So it's well balanced, because the fruits are there. I think of a good Bowmore, a less peated Bunnahabhain, or a Kilkerran. These are compliments for me because these are distilleries that I particularly like. On the other hand, with exceptional bottling, exceptional price, and there I must say that it is too expensive for what it is, a bit like everything that is good in French whisky. I know that the crafting prices are not the same in France and in Scotland, but the quality-price ratio is not there, it is regrettable.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Hubert-Félix Thiéfaine - Annihilation