Ben Nevis 1997 S Spirits Shop' Selection c. 698

 

 

 

47,6°

Distillery : Ben Nevis - Highlands

Hogshead

Independent Bottling 

By Spirits Shop' Selection

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Almost Unpeated

 

 

 

I don't know how they do it, but the people at Spirits Shop have lots of casks of Ben Nevis, including some exceptional ones distilled in 1996. This one was made in 1997, and is the only one with this vintage. It is included in the Dong Fang Ming Series, named after the founder of the company. The maturation is very straightforward, which promises an intense distillate. 252 bottles are put on sale.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Light smoke, apple compote, vanilla crumble, braised pineapple, juicy plums, warm brioche. A twist of lime. Baked pears, a drizzle of milk chocolate, a few drops of beeswax. Copper highlights, liquid honey. It's smooth on the palate, honey cakes, zlabia, candied grapefruit, almond paste, then the spices rise slowly, white pepper. Hazelnuts. Very long finish, quite powerful given the low alcohol content, syrupy caramel, waxed tinder, olive oil, peanuts, fresh dates. Liquorice stick.

 

In Short, 

A Ben Nevis that's a little unusual, but superbly good, that can be enjoyed until the end of the night. The only major flaw is a regrettable lack of strength, except in the finish. You really have to drink it first to get the full flavour. Launched nearly two years ago, it can still be found on several online sites. The price is high, but it's worth it.

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           TTSSFU - I Hope You Die

Ledaig 2005 S Spirits Shop' Selection 17 yo

 

 

 

55,3°

Distillery : Tobermory - Islands

Hogsheads

Independent Bottling 

By Spirits Shop' Selection 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 37 ppm 

A properly peated Ledaig, this is the kind of stuff I like. 293 bottles are ready to be sold. Taiwanese company Spirits Shop' Selection founded in 2014 is responsible for this package. Unfortunately, we have very little information about this bottling, the photo below is the only one I have, taken by me it doesn't allow you to read the cask number, but apparently it's a blending of two Hogsheads.

Let's Taste It : 

Grainy peat, thick smoke, tin, burnt plastic, medicinal touch, ether, gas oil, gravel, mineral character, quartz, silica, a few fruits behind, chasselas grapes, Conference pear, a dash of vanilla, a zest of lemon. On the palate, a good layer of peat and dust, which blends well with the white and even exotic fruits, lychee, banana, but there are already shards of charcoal, lively spices, and then comes the finish, full of soot and pudding, fig, dark chocolate, coffee, tar, black earth, mud puddles.

In Short, 

A Ledaig equal to itself, a little more mineral than usual, where the fruit shaves the walls alongside much bolder fragrances, coal, tar, dirty peat and others. Only fans of the profile can appreciate this blend, and so much the better, as there will be more for anyone who dares to drink it. The problem is that this bottle is nowhere to be found.

Score : 90

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Sinclair Noire - Bone Orchard

Bunnahabhain 1991 S Spirits Shop' Selection 31 yo c. 5385

 

 

 

50,4°

Distillery : Bunnahabhain - Islay

Hogshead

Independent Bottling 

By Spirits Shop' Selection

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Almost Unpeated

 

 

 

This Bunnahabhain is at least 31 years old and has spent all this time in a simple Hogshead, allowing the distillate to find its full expression. 169 bottles were made, much to our delight. Spirits Shop' Selection is a Taiwanese company founded in 2014 by Dong Fang Ming, and until recently they were distributed in Europe by Sansibar.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

A fresh and salty breeze, a few notes of iodine, and the fruits are behind, vanilla, mirabelle, banana, white plum, lychee, brioche bread, speculoos, buttered toast, with semi-salted butter of course. Crushed walnuts, shortbread biscuits, sultanas and figs. It's well-crafted on the palate, where fruit has pride of place, apricot purée, dates, quinces, medlars, noble old wood with a fine layer of varnish, touches of pastry, vergeoise, fresh cream, nougatine. The spices are rather discreet, but rise slowly. The finish is long and violent, ginger, cardamom, before plunging into earth with an ounce of chocolate and caramel, black tea, charcoal.

 

In Short, 

An excellent Bunnahabhain dominated by Bourbon doesn't come along very often, and you should make the most of it when you find one. Bunnahabhain is more often in Sherry casks, so here, as well as originality, we have the real character of the distillery, which is mostly altered by Sherry. And it's magnificent in my opinion, very fruity with a maritime touch, but also earthy, pastry and chocolate hints. Unfortunately, there's no indication of how to find this bottle, or what price to pay.

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                          To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           The Black Heart Procession - A Cry for Love

Jura 1989 S Spirits Shop' Selection 34 yo

 

 

 

47°

Distillery : Isle of Jura - Islands

Hogshead

Independent Bottling 

By Spirits Shop' Selection 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

This offspring of the Isle of Jura distillery spent at least 33 years in a Hogshead before being released to the public. 259 bottles were filled. Spirits Shop' Selection is a Taiwanese company founded in 2014, looking for a new distributor in Europe after parting ways with Sansibar.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Salty nose, light dash of vanilla, sea breeze, breadcrumbs, candied apricots, white peach. Evanescent cereals, floral touches, sesame, puffed rice, toasted wheat, lilac. Toasted walnuts. On the palate, the cereals are more present, muesli, buttered bread, treacle, pho soup. Very light and varied spices. Very long, sparkling finish, an ounce of charcoal, a pinch of pepper, baked apples, not quite ripe pear, shortbread biscuits, raw chestnuts, millet. And the salt comes back at the very end.

 

In Short, 

An excellent Jura, without doubt one of the best I've drunk, if not the best. The maritime character is very noticeable, with a nice balance of yellow and orange fruits, cereals and nuts. I think it's the best this distillery has to offer. It is extremely regrettable that there is no way of getting hold of this bottle, nor of getting an idea of the price.

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Lea Thomas - We Must Be In Love

Blended Scotch Whisky 1969 S Spirits Shop' Selection Bonnington Scotch Whisky

 

 

 

41°

Distilleries Officially Unknown - Scotland

Bourbon Cask 

Independent Bottling 

By Spirits Shop' Selection

Limited Edition 

Blended Whisky

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated 

A great deal of mystery surrounds this Blended Whisky distilled in 1969. It is subtitled Bonnington Scotch Whisky, which is rather curious, as no distillery named Bonnington was operating in 1969. There is one today, but it began operations in 2020. There was another in the 19th century, famous for being the first to use a Coffey Still, but it closed in 1853. That said, the premises of the former Bonnington distillery are still used today as warehouses. This is probably where the cask of Blended Whisky was found. That's what the demonstrator said, but she didn't specify that it was the Bonnington warehouses. Since these warehouses belong to Diageo, it's logical to assume that the distilleries used in this Blended also belong to Diageo. But that's all we know. 219 bottles were put up for sale.

Let's Taste It : 

Once again, it's very old school, but with some original fragrances, crushed almonds, liquid honey, cereal bar, white fruit and vanilla, with a few floral and petrol notes. Buttered bread, exotic fruits, pineapple, banana. It's very balanced, but with a slight tension. On the palate, woody fruit, exotic wood, heart of palm, apricots, quinces, medlars, sultanas. Candied figs, very discreet spices, black tea. Very long but not very deep finish, frangipane, crème pâtissière, brown sugar, nougatine, another dash of vanilla. Shortbread biscuits.

In Short, 

The nose is exceptional, but the palate is less interesting, and the finish is very good, but nothing more. In any case, it was a fine experience, which I would have liked to explore a little further. It's not every day you come across a juice that's at least 53 years old. Especially as this one is nowhere to be found, and I have no idea what the price is, which must be very high.

Score : 89

                                            To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Boz Scaggs - Lowdown

Blended Malt Scotch Whisky 1965 S Spirits Shop' Selection c. 57

 

 

 

45,1°

Distilleries Officially Unknown - Scotland

Sherry Cask 

Independent Bottling 

By Spirits Shop' Selection

Limited Edition

Blended Malt 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

A piece of antiquity this monster of nobility, released by the Taiwanese company founded in 2014. Where did they find this cask? It's a mystery. In any case, the angels had enough left over to fill 80 bottles. So the age is at least 57 years, and, although it's a Blended Malt, the blend was aged in a single Sherry cask. It's the oldest whisky I've ever drunk. I specify the cask number, because there's another one, the 58, which produced 76 bottles, distilled in the same year, but I didn't have access to that one.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

It's very old school, with a rustic balance, but also fragrances that reflect the age of the beast, naphthalene, ether, old parchment. Then the fruits make their way through, and it's a festival, the Sherry is perfectly integrated, blueberry tart, morello cherries, fermented prunes. On the palate, it's still very fruity, blackberries, bilberries and a few redcurrants, with noble old wood and venerable spices. The finish is magnificent, never-ending, almonds, solid honey, egg yolk, woody charcoal, dry earth, hot chestnuts.

 

In Short, 

This is a whisky marked by time, old-fashioned, but also very expressive. The nose is marvellous, and the finish magnificent, despite the low alcohol content. It's a real blessing to be able to taste this kind of pinnacle of human gastronomy. I wish I could have enjoyed it a little more. But this stuff is nowhere to be found, and the price would have been devastating anyway.

Score : 91

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Mel Powell All-Stars - After You've Gone

Tomatin 2008 S Spirits Shop' Selection 15 yo

 

 

 

63,8°

Distillery : Tomatin - Highlands

Sherry Butt

Independent Bottling 

By Spirits Shop' Selection

Limited Edition

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

This bottle is very mysterious because, apart from the photo I took myself, I have no indication of its existence. Unfortunately, the photo is of poor quality, and the cask number is illegible. But it's a Sherry Butt, which yielded 620 bottles. What happened to them? I don't know, and it's a shame, because a 15-year-old Sherry Butt Tomatin is always interesting.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The nose is marked by Sherry, with a slight lack of balance. More fresh than dried fruits, yellow plum, custard, thick honey, raw egg yolk, not too ripe banana. Some exotic fruits, but very discreet, pineapple and papaya. A fresh iodine note adds a little fullness. On the palate, the fruit becomes woody and a little drier, with dates, quinces and fermented plums. Not very remarkable spices. The finish is quite powerful and long, but not as violent as I'd expected, it's quite well integrated. Shortbread biscuits, leather, light tobacco. Tinder leaf.

 

In Short, 

It's not quite successful, but it's still very good. The profile of the distillery is not very recognisable, well, I'm not an expert on this distillery either. The palate is good, and the finish is excellent. This is a quite remarkable bottling, and I'd like to know where all these bottles went. 

Score : 89

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

                                           Erika Lewis & The Lonesome Dolls - Running Wild

Strathisla 1989 S Spirits Shop' Selection c. 5952

 

 

 

53,8°

Distillery : Strathisla - Speyside

Hogshead

Independent Bottling 

By Spirits Shop' Selection

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

We're still discovering this Taiwanese company founded in 2014, and which is currently looking to make its mark on the European market, having shed the tutelage of Sansibar, who previously distributed them. Here we have a Strathisla at least 33 years old, aged in a single Hogshead, and which yielded 239 bottles. Strathisla is often matured in Sherry casks, as it goes very well with it, but that won't be the case here.

Let's Taste It : 

The nose is light, but very well handled, with sweet fruit, soft caramel, maple syrup, varnished wood, fermented prunes, candied plums, mashed bananas, orchard fruit, yellow apples, Comices pears and white peaches. It's smooth on the palate, the fruit subdued by a layer of varnish, apricots, sultanas, figs and dates. Very discreet spices: nutmeg and cardamom. Mint leaf. Very long finish, with a measured explosiveness, green tea, a touch of liquorice, old wood, almonds and other groundnuts.

 

In Short, 

It's excellent, of course. It's a distillery I don't know that well, especially as it often matures in Sherry, and I'm still finding it hard to define its profile. But it seems to me that here it appears with all its character, that distinctive varnish, discreet fruit and a few menthol notes. A must-have for lovers of the profile, but it will be no easy task, as it's not on sale anywhere, and the price would undoubtedly be very high.

Score : 90

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

                                            Pat Martino Trio - Blue in Green

Ben Nevis 1998 S Spirits Shop' Selection c. 1483

 

 

 

41,9°

Distillery : Ben Nevis - Highlands

Hogshead

Independent Bottling 

By Spirits Shop' Selection

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Almost Unpeated

 

 

 

And this is a third Ben Nevis brought to us by The Spirits Shop' Selection, a company founded in Taiwan in 2014. This time, it is distilled in 1998, but the maturation is as minimalist as ever, much to our delight. 120 bottles have been made available.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Pastry vanilla, chestnut cream, with a light saline breeze, the mineral notes become dirtier. The exotic fruits are more discreet, replaced by citrus fruits, blood orange, pineapple and grapefruit. On the palate, the fruit is more jammy, the vanilla combines with hay and warm wax. Discreet spices, nutmeg, white pepper. The finish is very long and earthy, with shortbread biscuits dipped in milk, charcoal chips or chocolate, crushed peanuts and cream.

 

In Short, 

It's dirtier than the previous two, the exotic fruits are much less present, there's more minerality and hay, with citrus and vanilla forming a fine balance. I find it a little less successful than the first two, but I'd recommend buying it if I knew where to find it, and at what price.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Frank Kinsel - If It Wasn't for you

Ben Nevis 1996 S Spirits Shop' Selection c. 1602

 

 

 

46,8°

Distillery : Ben Nevis - Highlands 

Hogshead

Independent Bottling 

By Spirits Shop' Selection 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Almost Unpeated

 

 

 

And this is the sister cask of the previous one, distilled in the same year, same age, same maturation, only the cask number has changed. 157 bottles are on sale. The Taiwanese company founded in 2014 is striking hard with this series of Ben Nevis.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The honey is a little more marbled, woody, but the exotic fruits are still there, pineapple, mango, kiwi, papaya, with hints of apricot and banana, but it's lighter, more balanced, smoother. Buttered bread, beeswax, whipped cream, with a mineral character typical of the distillery. On the palate, it moves towards passion fruit, maple syrup and peach. It's well-tempered, with discreet spices and a delicate woodiness that balances it all out. It's creamy, milky. The finish is again very long, fruity, wood and resin, soft caramel, shortbread biscuits, bark, chestnuts.

 

In Short, 

The profile is very similar to that of the sister cask, dominated by exotic fruits and wax, an excellent Ben Nevis, just like we all dream of. Only this one is a little less exuberant, a little more influenced by the wood, which tempers the ardour of the distillate. On the other hand, it is more balanced, more elegant. In either case, I'd like to be able to recommend a purchase, but it's nowhere to be found, and I have no idea how much it will cost.

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Randy Newman - My Country

Ben Nevis 1996 S Spirits Shop' Selection c. 1428

 

 

 

46,1°

Distillery : Ben Nevis - Highlands 

Hogshead

Independent Bottling 

By Spirits Shop' Selection

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Almost Unpeated

 

 

 

Spirits Shop' Selection was founded in 2014 by Eric Huang in Taiwan. At first, they were getting help from Sansibar to distribute their products in Europe, but now they're flying on their own. They have some treasures in their warehouses, like this Ben Nevis at least 26 years old, distilled in the mythical year 1996. It was matured in a simple Hogshead, which is ideal. Only 133 bottles went on sale. 

Let's Taste It : 

This is pure Ben Nevis, fleshy honey, exotic fruit, pineapple, crushed banana, yellow fruit, plums and mirabelles, and that little mineral touch of limestone and slate. Light vanilla, but which goes very well with mango and passion fruit. Touches of liquid wax, melted butter, royal jelly. On the palate, it's still very fruity, with sponge cake and custard, very discreet spices, marzipan, papaya and all the other fruits I've already mentioned. The finish is long, deep and even explosive, with a hint of charcoal and earth, followed by exotic and candied fruits, shortbread biscuits, breadcrumbs, crushed chestnuts.

In Short, 

A superb Ben Nevis, deliciously classic, the distillate in all its splendour, drowned in exotic fruits and a discreet indulgence. It's truly magnificent, but very simple indeed. The only problem is that this bottle is extremely hard to find, available nowhere, and I imagine the price would make you sweat.

Score : 90

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Ry Cooder - The Prodigal Son