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

Caol Ila 2009 North Star Cask Series 011 11 yo

 

 

 

58,2°

Distillery : Caol Ila - Islay 

1st Fill Oloroso Sherry Butt

Independent Bottling 

By North Star Spirits 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2020

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 35 ppm

North Star Spirits is a company founded in 2016 by Iain Croucher. About 3 times a year, among other things, they release a Single Cask Range of 4 to 9 bottlings, unchillfiltered, uncoloured and cask strength. Needless to say, these outings are of great interest to enthusiasts. This one comes from the Single Cask Range 11, it is an 11-year-old Caol Ila, distilled in September 2009 and bottled in October 2020. 410 bottles were put on sale and quickly sold out.

 

Let's Taste It : 

Smoke and oil. But it drifts towards liquorice, so it's very nice. Iodine in the background. Apple crumble, cinnamon. A spoonful of honey. Cream of chestnuts, blueberries. Gas oil and fuel oil. In the mouth, the balance is perfect between, on the one hand a heavy and sticky peat, and on the other fruits and chocolate. Raisin and black cherry pudding. Spices are part of the game, nutmeg, cumin, brown pepper. Always that liquorice that could be motor oil, or that motor oil that looks like liquorice. Hot asphalt. Long and deep finish, we dive into a soggy earth, coal, but also cola, heather, humus. Cocoa powder and tobacco. Marzipan.

 

In Short, 

Frankly, it's excellent. I am familiar with the Caol Ila and Sherry combination, and this is one of the best I have tasted. We go very far in the liquorice, the oily, but also the red fruits, I thought of Uigeadail of the best years. In addition, when it was released, the price was really interesting. Now that it's sold out, obviously that's another matter, but I'm going to keep a close eye on this bottler's next releases from now on.

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Deliluh - Amulet