Springbank 21 yo 2013 Batch 13/491

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : Springbank - Campbeltown 

Bourbon and Sherry Casks

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2013

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Almost Unpeated

 

 

 

Towards the end of the 1980s, Springbank added a 21-year-old to its regular range. It was so successful that they were soon obliged to release it in limited editions, which seems to have been the case since 1998, with an edition aged entirely in sherry casks, which is still legendary today. The influence of the casks was subsequently diversified, while the alcohol content was kept at 46°, much to the regret of connoisseurs. This edition, which dates from 2013, is being sold in a quantity of 2,700, with the kitschy gold case that has been the talk of the town.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Quite rich and sweet, with apple crumble, tart tatin, sprinkled with cinnamon and brown sugar, and not forgetting the scoop of vanilla ice cream. It's obviously very woody. Raw sugar, orange blossom, gênoise, speculoos. Salty iodine, a mineral touch that cements the whole. A lemon zest. Ripe yellow peach, with dripping juice. Mountain honey, slightly spicy. Ethereal smoke, barely a whiff of steam. But it's ashy. Nice balance. Slightly hard greengages.
On the palate, the spices come first. The rest is fairly dry, even acidic, with a hint of lime and a nice fullness, but rather monochrome. It is greedy, though. Very woody and friendly. The finish is the same, citrusy and warm, but not very long. Lemon tart. Chestnut wood, varnished.
 

In Short, 

After a sumptuous nose, I have to admit that I was disappointed by the rest. It's very good, of course, but you'd expect better from such a prestigious distillery. Especially as the price is astronomical. Perhaps there was something wrong with the sample? I'd have to try other versions. 

Note : 89 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                          To Be Listened While Sipping :                                                    

   

                                                    Cream - Sunshine of Your Love 

BenRiach The Smoky Ten 10 yo

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : The BenRiach - Speyside 

Bourbon Barrels, Jamaican Rum and Toasted Virgin Oak Casks

Original Bottling 

Core Range 

Single Malt

Launched in 2020

Unchilllfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated from 20 to 25 ppm

In 2016, the Brown-Forman group, which founded the Jack Daniel's brand, bought three Scottish distilleries: The GlenDronach, Glenglassaugh and The BenRiach. For the third one, it meant a complete overhaul of the regular range, although it would take years for this to come to fruition, thanks to the new Master Blender, Rachel Barrie, recruited in 2017. From a completely new recipe, this Smoky Ten combines the depth of peat with the smoothness of rum casks.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Fairly light country peat, with hints of vanilla, candied lemon and cane sugar. Cooked grapefruit, caramelised on the edges. Zest of blood orange. Artichoke heart. Hay, dried wheat in the background. The whole is earthy, dusty. Evanescent smoke. But it's still very sweet. On the palate, the acidity of lemon, the fruitiness of a yellow plum, mirabelle, and spices. Peanuts, white pepper, cardamom, nutmeg, cinnamon. On the finish, the vanilla lemon comes through very elegantly, quite long, coconut glaze, ripe pineapple. Liquorice stick.

 

In Short, 

Despite being a little light on the palate, this new bottling is encouragingly satisfying. It has a real personality, an original imprint, more marked and better balanced than the Curiositas. You could try buying it to compare with Benromach 10 yo. 

Score : 85

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

  

                                           Huey Lewis & The News - I Want a New Drug

Bowmore 2001 Artist #7 Batch 2 Over 15 yo

 

 

 

56°

Distillery : Bowmore - Islay 

Bourbon Hogshead 

Independent Bottling 

By La Maison du Whisky 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2017

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 25 ppm

 

 

 

In 2011, La Maison du Whisky teamed up with Signatory Vintage to launch the Artist range, an annual selection of 5 to 7 Single casks. For each batch, the label is designed by a renowned artist. In this case, a Bowmore over 15 years old limited to 275 copies, with a label designed by Lino di Vinci. This bottling is the second batch, the first being limited to 86 bottles and quickly sold out.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Light camphor, alcohol, salty freshness. Winey flavours, crushed plum, vanilla custard, orange blossom, with a sea breeze saturated with Iodine. Sand, foam, seaweed. Oysters. Knives. Sea spray on the face. At the same time, a touch of sweetness. Paris-brest, gênoise. Superb balance between iodine, vanilla and peat. Mineral fragrances. Rock, with glued shells. Heavy-scented flowers, lilac, jasmine, crocus, white rose. White grape, crushed mirabelle, menthol. Smoky fog. Lemon zest. Suave, spicy palate, rosewater, fried zucchini flower, icing sugar, spices less pungent than usual, deep, charred, earthy finish, on saffron and honeysuckle. Quite long.

 

In Short, 

Very pleasant and original, this bottling, with floral fragrances, a deep iodine flavour that doesn't detract from the fruits, and a few sweet treats. Of course, it has long since sold out, after reaching rock-bottom prices. To be reserved for the wealthiest connoisseurs.

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

   

                                          Steve Vai - Tender Surrender

Longrow 18 yo 2018

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : Springbank - Campbeltown

Sherry and Bourbon Casks 

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2018

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 50 ppm

 

 

 

The Mitchell family launched their first Longrow 18-year-old in 2008. At the time, it was a small limited edition of 2,100 bottles, which no doubt went unnoticed. It gradually became a success, and from 2011 onwards, new editions were produced annually. The 2018 edition was limited to 4800 bottles. Aged 60% in sherry casks and 40% in bourbon casks, it offers a balance between these two types of maturation.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Yellow fruits with a dash of peat, crushed almonds, honey and icing sugar. Almond paste, flavoured with vanilla. And with that, the smell of fresh bread, wheat under the sun, a touch of dry earth, a drizzle of olive oil. The peat elbows a bit, but barely. Candied lemon, juicy mirabelles, Jura or Burgundy wine. At last, a whiff of farmhouse, it's about time. Straw, hay, stable. We're all familiar with it, and it's a pleasure to rediscover these typical distillery fragrances. Wildflower honey, violets and daffodils. A few plums to finish, and a waxy note, beeswax rather than floor wax. A bit of both, though. Evanescent smoke.
On the palate, it's suave, juicy, vinous, then the spices rise up, pungent, white pepper, cardamom, that grazes the tongue, slightly watery vanilla, a hint of camphor. It's quite heavy, and you can't really taste the fruits. Muffled peat, but almost medicinal. Earthy, with some lime and manure. Good fat earth ready to be ploughed, and varnished wood.
Very long finish, on hazelnut, an ounce of coal, humus, the peat still comes through, very vegetal. Vanilla, orgeat, cane syrup. Elderberry. Slightly dry blackberries. This fades very slowly, gradually.

 

In Short, 

It's as original as it is masterful. I really enjoyed the almond fragrances, the farmhouse peat and the never-ending finish. Unfortunately, due to the high demand, the price went through the roof - what a shame.

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                          To Be Listened While Sipping :

  

                                          Red Hot Chili Peppers - Jam

Caol Ila 1996 Artist #2 Over 15 yo

 

 

 

58,2°

Distillery : Caol Ila - Islay 

Bourbon Hogshead

Independent Bottling 

By La Maison du Whisky

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2012

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 35 ppm

 

 

 

In 2011, La Maison du Whisky teamed up with Signatory Vintage to launch the Artist range, an annual selection of 5 to 7 Single casks. For each batch, the label is designed by a renowned artist. In this case, a Caol Ila over 15 years old limited to 284 copies, with a label designed by Paola Parés. The Artist #2 series, which went on sale in 2012, is based on the theme of bars, which will be the subject of the drawing on the label of each bottle.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The nose is very soft and well-balanced, while at the same time immediately recognisable as Caol Ila iodine, imposing, salty, a fresh, fruity sea breeze, vanilla, citrus, some exotic fruits, passion fruits, mango. Very sweet. All wrapped in delicate smoke. A pinch of icing sugar. Floral honey. Suave on the palate, olive oil, light fruits, yellow apple, Comice pear, then the spices rise, cayenne pepper, ginger. The finish is both very violent and very long, progressive, pinching on the tongue, red pepper, grilled bacon, fresh oysters, unripe pineapple, still some green apple, liquorice stick, cinnamon, melted chocolate. The finish is almost endless. A journey.

 

In Short, 

An unforgettable finish. The rest, however, is not quite as overwhelming. It is still superb, both original with its hints of exotic fruits, and in the straight line with the distillery's character. If you can afford to buy the last few bottles at an agreeable price, don't hesitate.

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

  

                                           Kaleo - Full Session at The Current

Talisker 1985 Maritime Edition 27 yo

 

 

 

56,1° 

Distillery : Talisker - Islands 

Refill American Oak Casks 

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2013

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 22 ppm  

Launched on the occasion of Diageo Special Releases 2013, this little gem was limited to 3,000 bottles. No one knows why it was subtitled Maritime Edition. I mean, what makes it more maritime than any other Talisker?

Let's Taste It : 

Very suave vanilla, with a hint of spice and smoke. A mist of white fruits, plums and grapes. Vanilla custard, cinnamon and orange blossom. Traces of fresh iodine, a very gentle salty sea breeze. Behind, something acrid, wild, heather earth, tree bark, pine cones, nutmeg, saffron. Quince jelly. Genoise, icing sugar. Wild flower honey. Candied ginger, slightly tangy. Baked apples.
Concentrated palate of honey, limoncello, yellow plums. The spices are quite strong, black pepper, mustard, cloves, with holly and laurel. Dark chocolate and fresh earth, dried mushrooms. Raisin cake. Very long finish, where vanilla and white fruits return, rustling on the tongue, dried fig and ginger. Not too ripe apricot, green apple. Slight return of acidity.

 

In Short, 

A Talisker that's a little more fruity and acidic than the 25 Year Old Cask Strength. It's less austere, and so good! Of course, the price is prohibitive. To be reserved for mobsters and traders.

Score : 92

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

  

                                          Manchester Orchestra - The Silence

Bruichladdich 2001 The Fishes of Samoa 18 yo

 

 

 

56,3°

Distillery : Bruichladdich - Islay

1st Fill Sherry Hogshead

Independent Bottling 

By Archives 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2019

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated 

 

 

 

It was the Dutch website Whiskybase.com that launched the Archives range in 2011, when they opened their shop in Rotterdam. Since then, its success and reputation have never been denied. With over a hundred different bottlings, The Fishes of Samoa range features each time a different design of a fish from the archipelago on its label. This limited edition of Bruichladdich is the oldest from this distillery offered by Archives, with only 249 bottles produced.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Woody sherry, red fruits and honeysuckle. Cherry, gooseberry, damsons and vinous hints. At the same time, a gentle iodine breeze. Raspberry, blackberry, cranberry. This sherry is really something. Tannins, blood orange. A whiff of ether, a medicinal and salty note. Pomegranate syrup. Moist rock, some cereals and honey. Floral fragrances, daisy, hyacinth. After a long moment, the balance is struck between the very tasty sherry and this mineral, salty, medicinal iodine character. On the palate, a delight of blackcurrant juice, syrupy at first, then drying out, black radish, candied ginger. The spices rise, pepper, cardamom, nutmeg, bay leaf. Cocoa, earth, Cahors wine. A touch of bitterness. Quite a long finish, once again heavy with ripe and heady fruits. Pumpkin, butternut, dried mango. I'm very impressed. Nuts at the end.

 

In Short, 

It's really very, very good. You can hardly recognise the distillery, but the influence of the sherry gives a magnificent result. Unfortunately, this bottling has been sold out for a long time, and the few still available are prohibitively expensive.

Score : 91

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                            To Be Listened While Sipping : 

                                            Eagles - Hotel California

Octomore Edition 06.2 Scottish Barley 5 yo

 

 

 

58,2°

Distillery : Bruichladdich - Islay 

Ex Eau-de-vie Limousin Oak Casks from Aquitaine

Original Bottling 

Single Malt 

Travel Retail Edition

Bottled in 2013

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 167 ppm

 

 

 

The 2nd version of the 6th Octomore Batch was aged in casks that had previously been filled with Aquitaine brandy. However, these do not appear to be Cognac or Armagnac casks. Instead, they are Limousin oak casks, which are frequently used to make Cognac. 18,000 copies of this edition were produced.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Ginger, baked apple and vanilla. Earthy smoke over it, but very subtle. Ripe white plum, runny on the fingers. Icing sugar. Sugar candy, you can clearly feel the influence of the brandy. Kumquat, lime, lychee. A very well-balanced combination. Almond paste, flavoured with pistachio. Jura yellow wine. Some cereal hints, wheat under the sun, grilled corn. White gooseberry. Stabilises with the addition of water. The palate is suave, pastry-like and lemony, followed by spices. Slightly acid apples, white pepper, tarragon, smoked wood. Light but very long finish, mirabelle and pomegranate, an ounce of iodine and salt, a beach of fine sand, light charcoal, brown sugar, butternut. Pear crumble.

 

In Short, 

Once again, absolutely remarkable. The peat is very discreet, allowing the effects of the complex maturation to shine through. This is a great whisky, the only flaw of which is the price, which is a little discouraging.

Score : 91

                                          To Be Listened While Sipping :

   

                                          Helloween - Halloween