An Orkney Distillery 2005 The Dava Way 17 yo

 

 

 

60,3°

Distillery : Highland Park - Islands

Hogshead

Independent Bottling 

By The Dava Way 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2022

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 20 ppm

 

 

 

The Dava Way is a 38 km (24 miles) long-distance path that mostly follows the route of the former Highland Railway between Grantown and Forres. It is also the name of this Scottish independent bottler which was created in 2022. To date, they have produced around fifteen bottlings, including this 17-year-old Orkney, which is actually a Highland Park, with an easily recognisable profile. Drawn from a single Hogshead, 300 bottles were filled. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

On the nose, light and grainy peat, citrus fruits rubbed with butter, beeswax, egg yolk, pineapple, lemon, mirabelle plums, wildflower honey. It is mellow, brioche, vanilla, and even coconut, lychee, almond paste, and a few very subtle mineral notes. Iodine freshness. On the palate, the honey is more intense, it's floral, gourmand, then peppery, warm, woody, liquorice, macerated grapes, cherries in brandy. Very long and powerful finish, melon, prickly pear, orange zest, olive oil. A pinch of salt. Sweet smoothness at the very end.

In Short, 

I was impressed by the nose, with its distinctive, buttery, honeyed character, which is very pleasant. The rest is very good, especially the finish, which seems to go on forever. This is a very good whisky that all Highland Park enthusiasts should get their hands on. Unfortunately, it is not available in France, and even elsewhere, it is almost impossible to find. 

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Ora Cogan - Division

Caol Ila 2009 The Dava Way 13 yo

 

 

 

55,2°

Distillery : Caol Ila - Islay 

Bourbon Hogshead

Independent Bottling 

By The Dava Way 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 35 ppm 

The Dava Way Project is the trading company founded by Dariusz Plazewski, the owner of the Bimber distillery. It refers to the 24 miles road between the Speyside towns of Granton on Spey and Forres. But that doesn't prevent from reserving casks from other regions of Scotland, like Islay here, with this 13-year-old Caol Ila, which is a perfect replica of a 12-year-old from the same brand and same vintage that has undergone the same maturation process. Only this one was selected by La Maison du Whisky for an exclusive sale in France, as part of the New Vibrations Collection, and the 12-year-old was not. 310 bottles were offered for sale.

Let's Taste It : 

This is the typical Caol Ila maritime nose, intense, fresh iodine, kelp and foam, semi-salted butter, a light drizzle of fairly dry vanilla, sea breeze, seaweed, thick, ashy peat, nice fullness, a hint of liquorice. The palate is a bit light, but the vanilla and white fruits are pleasant, a good layer of peat, silt, nice spices, sea spray. The finish is long and powerful, with cloves, liquorice, white chocolate, ginger, nuts, blond tobacco, malty notes and a zest of orange.

In Short, 

Nothing particularly original, but it's very well done. A classic Caol Ila, slightly medicinal and deeply marine, with some fruity nuances. It always works. The price, on the other hand, doesn't really work, it's far too high for my taste, which is a shame.

Score : 89

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

                                           MJ Lenderman - You are Every Girl to Me