North British 1991 Zn09 Cyberpunk

 

 

 

45,6°

Distillery : North British - Lowlands

1st Fill Bourbon Barrel

Independent Bottling 

By Mava Spirit

Limited Edition 

Single Grain 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

It's been a long time since I've had the pleasure of tasting something from Zero Nine Spirits, a French bottler specialising in rum, but which also produces whisky. This one is a North British, a distillery located in the Gorgie district of Edinburgh, which produces only grain whisky. According to several websites, it has been aged for 32 years, but this is not specified on the label. The label may contain an error, as some show a bottling date of 2023, while others show 2024. A total of 244 bottles were produced.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

At first a bit waxy, the it is incredibly floral with light fruit, liquid honey, ripe white plums, mirabelles, greengages, Frécinette bananas, rose petals, tulips, dahlias, coconut, papaya, melon. It is also airy, with hints of barley sugar and caramel sweets. On the palate, it is smooth and fruity, creamy vanilla, orange zest, guava, a few woody notes, infinitesimal spices. The finish is long, almost explosive, the fruit becomes candied, vanilla icing, cooked parsnips, fennel, very delicate bitterness.

 

In Short, 

You don't recognise Single Grain here, there's no cereal profile or wood glue. It's particularly floral and fruity, very refined, and with a lovely long finish despite the low alcohol content. A total success if you ask me, and at a very attractive price. I'm even considering buying some, even though it's not at all my cup of tea usually. 

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

                                           Phaeleh - The Mist

Rozelieures Zn09 Malt in France

 

 

 

54,1°

Distillery : Grallet-Dupic - France

Independent Bottling 

By Mava Spirit 

Limited Edition

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Delicately Peated

 

 

 

Zn09 launched this bottling on the occasion of Malt in France, the first trade fair dedicated to French whisky, which took place in Rennes. There are no details about the production process, the casks used or the age, just that it comes from the Grallet-Dupic distillery in Lorraine, owners of the Rozelieures brand. They've been producing and selling their own whisky since 2007, and since 2017 they've been a Single Farm Estate, meaning they control absolutely every stage of whisky making, from growing the barley, which is done on their land, to malting, distilling maturing and bottling. I know of only one other distillery that does this, and that's Daftmill in the Lowlands. In any case, this bottling is very limited and it was the talk of Malt in France, so I had to try it.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Very malty, cereal-like, woody, a little alcohol-laden. Rye bread, a touch of iodine and earth, oak bark. Behind, aniseed sweetness, mirabelle plum, green apple. Cookie hot from the oven. On the palate, more rye, pinch of lemon, medlars, quince jam, chestnut cream. It remains quite woody, with discreet spices, but a hint of cumin and cardamom. Dates, banana. Fine, full-bodied finish, developing slowly, chocolate fondant, wholemeal bread crust, dried fig, sultanas. White gooseberry.

 

In Short, 

It's interesting and has personality. On the other hand, there are a few flaws, such as the hint of alcohol on the nose, but it's still a good, relatively complex whisky. To be honest, I was more than a little wary, given that I hadn't liked anything I'd tasted from Rozelieures at all. But I'm reassured. The price of the bottle is quite high, but you have to take into account the rarity of the product.

Score : 87

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Mano Solo - Barbès-Clichy

Armorik 2015 Zn09 Série Cyberpunk

 

 

 

53,5°

Distillerie : Warenghem - France

STR Vinho Diaz Cask 

Independent Bottling 

By Mava Spirit

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

Zero Nine Spirits, a company founded in 2022 by two friends, is releasing here its 2nd whisky, as they mainly make Rum and Armagnac. It's a French whisky, from a renowned distillery, the one that introduced whisky to France in 1983. Indeed, Warenghem is a distillery founded at the end of the 19th century, which distilled the first drops of French whisky. Here we have a single cask from 2015, aged in a Portuguese wine cask, Vinho Diaz. For the occasion, the cask was Shaved, Toasted and Re-charred, in other words sanded, torched and burnt again, in order to enliven its flavours. 202 bottles emerged from this slow process. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Woody and winey notes, figs and prunes, thick caramel. Beautiful forest fullness, pine forest, undergrowth, dry earth and morello cherries, a touch of charcoal, furniture polish. Continues on the palate, with tannins, heather earth, essential oils, damp bark, black fruits, forest berries, a few drops of blackberry, clove and pepper among a variety of spices. The finish is long, powerful, earthy, chestnut trees, walnut and hazelnut, varnished wood, the earth is now almost muddy, chocolate and coffee.

 

In Short, 

It's very interesting, you can feel the influence of the Portuguese wine barrel, which gives it fruit, but the whole is balanced and quite subtle. I found there was a very nice finish that justified the score. As an Unpeated, it's certainly the best French whisky I've ever tasted. I'm still very wary, but I have to admit that the French are not so far behind the Scots. The price is still a bit of a problem, for a 50cl bottle.

Score : 89 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Her - Neighborhood

Penderyn 2010 Zn09 Série Samouraï 12 yo

 

 

 

58,2°

Distillery : Penderyn - Wales

2nd Fill Bourbon Cask 

Independent Bottling 

By Mava Spirit 

Limired Edition 

Single Cask

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated 

 

 

 

Zero Nine Spirits, is a new French bottler, founded in 2022. And this Penderyn is their very first whisky, as they mostly do Armagnac and Rum. It was distilled in a Faraday still, which is a still with a single fractionating column, so that it makes a purer alcohol. Ageing was in a single second-fill Bourbon cask, in order to leave the spotlight to the distillate. Only 120 bottles were produced, almost all sold before bottling, thanks to a well-oiled reservation system. This is the 6th of the Samurai Series, that's why you can see a samouraï drawn on the label.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Very fruity nose at first, on juicy pear, white peach, mirabelle. It's mellow and sweet, vanilla mousse, candied lemon, whipped cream, before the more typical elements of the distillery appear, varnished wood, chestnut bogue, shavings, black earth. On the palate, the fruits return, white plum, apricot and yellow apple, but also cereals, muesli and dried fruits, with very well-managed spices, pepper and ginger. Long finish, just the right amount of explosion, charcoal and terracotta, candied quinces, angelica, cloves.

 

In Short, 

The nose and the finish are really subtle, it's very fruity and a little floral, with a finesse rarely seen in the world of whisky. The price is a bit high, especially for a 50 cl bottle, but it's a must have if you like this distillery even a bit. It can still be found on some french sites, at more or less the same price as the outlet one.

Score: 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Bomba Estéreo - El Alma y el Cuerpo