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

Springbank 1996 Whisky Sponge A Special Edition 26 yo

 

 

 

53,5°

Distillery : Springbank - Campbeltown

1st Fill Sherry Butt

Independent Bottling 

By Decadent Drinks 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 12 ppm

 

 

 

This bottling has already caused a lot of fuss among enlightened enthusiasts, and I bet that it will be one of the best whiskies of the year. Whisky Sponge hit hard with this Springbank totally infused in Sherry for 26 years and released into the wild in the form of 365 bottles. These were sold out within hours (minutes?) despite the prohibitive price.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Incredible richness of Sherry. At first, the nose is very sweet, on candied fruits, apricots, cherries, clementines, kumquats, elegant oak, with a hint of molasses, charcoal and light peat, like a cloud, then it gradually balances out, on fruit paste, leather, cranberries, marrons glacés. On the palate, it's more red fruits, from raspberry to blueberry, forest returns, undergrowth and leaves, the spices rise, cloves, cardamom, cumin, until a finish that breaks everything, but gently, without aggressiveness, a bit syrupy, mostly woody, with hazelnuts and acorns, plum jam, pinecone. Nutmeg. It's very long, it settles slowly. Black tea at the end.

 

In Short, 

The power and robustness of the Springbank profile blends perfectly with a very intense Sherry. Admittedly, it is difficult to find the distiller's hallmarks, but it is so excellent that I didn't pay attention to that. It is a unique piece, a work of art. To purchase absolutely if you can afford it, beware the prices on the second market are devastating, but after all, does your wife really need her car?

Score : 92

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Cymande - Dove

Caol Ila 2013 AK Scotch Whisky Collection Feuillettes

 

 

 

49°

Distillery : Caol Ila - Islay 

Hogshead and "Feuillettes" Finish

Independent Bottling 

By Naguelann 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2021

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 35 ppm

 

 

 

In Saint-Malo, Brittany, Lenaïck Lemaître created Naguelann, his own distillery. At the same time, he began bottling Scotch whiskies by himself, which he left to marinate in casks he made himself too. Here are barrels that he named Feuillettes, tiny ones which contain no more than 100 liters. This Caol Ila distillate stayed there for some time after undergoing a first maturation in a Hogshead.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Ashes and coal, the casks have been so toasted that they somewhat mask the peat. Soot, but also liquorice, forest berries, ferns. Wet wood. And after a while, if you search carefully, some tasty white fruits, vanilla hints. Honey and corn. On the palate, the peat comes back, thick, heather, dark chocolate, various and intense spices, nutmeg, cardamom. Dried bananas, dates. Fairly good, long finish, on chestnut cream, crushed almonds, undergrowth. A few nuts, more charcoal, earth, well-hidden red fruits.

 

In Short, 

Interesting experience, which offers various flavours, on chocolate, dried fruits, red fruits, and some forest fragrances. But I found the influence of the cask too strong, not allowing the distillate to express itself. Anyway, this bottling seems to have been sold out for a while, and I have no idea how much it cost.

Score : 86

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Chet Faker - No Diggity

Caol Ila 13 yo Restaurant Bahnsteig 1

 

 

 

55,4°

Distillery : Caol Ila - Islay 

1st Fill Madeira Cask Finish

Independent Bottling 

By Brühler Whiskyhaus

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2021

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 35 ppm

 

 

 

Unlike most Brühler Whiskyhaus' bottlings from Scotland, this one does not belong to the A Dream of Scotland range. This is a Charity Bottling for the benefit of Restaurant Bahnsteig 1 located in Mayschoss in Germany, which serves traditional German food. It's a 1st Fill Madeira Cask Finish, but we don't know which was the first maturation, Bourbon certainly. 354 bottles were crafted, undoubtedly from a Single Cask, since it is written without the plural on the label.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Salty freshness typical of the distillery, barley sugar, beautiful ashy smoke. We are in familiar territory. It's very sweet, molasses, marzipan, chestnut cream. Mirabelles and greengages. Blackberries, cherries, which become prominent on the palate, with a nice woodiness, then spices, nutmeg, cumin, cardamom. Dates, chocolate. Undergrowth, heather. Fairly long finish, where the nutmeg stands out, a bit of honey, soft caramel, soy milk. Nut.

 

In Short, 

Madeira is heavier than wine, but less than Port. Less sweet too. The result is pleasant, without hiding the distillery's hallmarks. Unfortunately, this little thing is sold out, and the price on the secondary market is excessive.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Alex G - Salt

Caol Ila 2009 Vulcan 12 yo

 

 

 

56,6°

Distillery : Caol Ila - Islay

Bourbon Cask

Independent Bottling 

By Platinum Cask

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2021

Cask Strength

Peated around 35 ppm

 

 

 

Platinum Cask is an English trading company that seems particularly interested in Greek mythology. After a Mythical Creatures series, they are launching The Olympians, a range of 12 Single Cask bottlings, each of which represents a Greek god. This one is a 12-year-old Caol Ila distilled in 2009, evoking Vulcan. The cask type is not revealed, but it can only be a Bourbon. 333 bottles are on sale, all in Cask Strength, however we do not know if there was chill filtration or if dyes were added, but it is unlikely. The bottle is illustrated with a depiction of Vulcan by Susan Haseman.

Let's Taste It : 

Quite mild, very pleasant iodine, combined with lemon. Thick, hazy smoke. Orchard fruits, apples and pears, but far behind. It gradually opens to grapefruit, white grapes. Maybe some exotic fruits, barely noticeable. On the palate, rather vanilla, white chocolate, good piles of peat of course. Spices not too strong, nutmeg, cloves, slight woody bitterness. Fairly long, powerful, mineral finish, on crushed almonds, hazelnuts. Peanuts, and a pinch of salt. Shortbread.

 

In Short, 

A fairly simple Caol Ila aged in a Bourbon cask, but well crafted, with nice thick smoke, and some discreet fruits. To be reserved for fans, including myself, especially since the price is attractive.

Score :88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

                                           Violent Femmes - Add it up

Black Friday 2006 16 yo Bottled 2022

 

 

 

53,2°

Distillery : Caol Ila - Islay

Oak Casks

Independent Bottling 

By Elixir Distillers

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2022

Cask Strength

Peated around 35 ppm

 

 

 

Every year since 2017 Elixir Distillers launches a special bottling for Black Friday, available only on their site The Whisky Exchange, which no longer delivers to France unfortunately (sob). This year, it is written on the back label that it is a 16 year old Caol Ila, and the number of bottles is 2000. The Whisky Exchange blog informs us that it is a Cask Strength distilled in 2006, but nothing on the origin of the casks (I suspect Bourbon), nothing about cold filtration or dyes either. It is true that I have never seen a whisky from Elixir Distillers cold filtered and coloured, but I would have preferred more transparency.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Nice ashy smoke, sticky, with coal and soot. Mineral chips, quartz, granite and slate. In the background, fruits give mellowness to the whole. Syrupy caramel, peach juice, clementine, green apple. Nice refreshing iodine. Adding water brings out the liquorice. Creamy vanilla. On the palate, peat and iodine with honey, and then spices, cumin, nutmeg, cloves. Damp wood, mustard, grilled meat. Long and quite powerful finish, at the same time very peaty, mineral, a bit metallic, bark, resin, charcoal, heather, rich soil. Roasted chestnuts.

 

In Short, 

This is a very good Caol Ila, the distillate is hardly disturbed by the influence of the cask, which gives a nice fruitiness. Both mellow and well peated, it made me think of a Port Askaig, but older, wiser. The release price was right, now that it's sold out it's obviously more complicated.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Om - State of No Return

Springbank 11 yo Cadenhead Original Collection

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : Springbank - Campbeltown

Bourbon Casks

Independent Bottling 

By William Cadenhead Limited 

Limited Edition

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 12 ppm

 

 

 

 

The Mitchell family owning the trading company William Cadenhead Limited since 1972, we cannot say that this bottling is really independent. It makes me wonder why the people at the distillery chose to release it via Cadenhead, and not as an Original Bottling. One more year and that could be the new Batch of the 12 yo Cask Strength. It's not as if Springbank had plenty of casks not to know what to do with. For this one in any case, the maturation is totally in Bourbon barrels, which number we do not know, and neither the number of bottles filled.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

I immediately feel the influence of Bourbon, with buttered bread, lemon cream, white fruits, mirabelles, greengages, even exotic, mashed banana, passion fruit. It's woody, vanilla, applesauce, pastry cream. On the palate, more cereal, wheat and barley, rye, but still with a sweet touch, genoise and mille-feuilles. The spices are there, very pleasant, until the finish, quite long, but not extremely powerful, vanilla and beaten butter, liquorice juice, charcoal and earth.

 

In Short, 

It is important to say that I tasted it blind, and I had a hard time recognizing the distillery. I found it very good nonetheless. But when you know it's a Springbank, it's disappointing, because the markers are very discreet, to say the least. This is perhaps the reason why they preferred to release it via Cadenhead, the influence of Bourbon was beginning to stifle the distillate, it was necessary to bottle it as soon as possible. That said, let's be clear, a disappointing Springbank, it's still better than the majority of Single Malts today. It's pastry, fruity, with a very slight hint of smoke. But then, even at the outlet price, it's too expensive for a Springbank that doesn't look like a Springbank.

Score : 87

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Julie Byrne - Summer Glass

Springbank 2011 Local Barley 11 yo

 

 

 

55,1°

Distillery : Springbank - Campbeltown 

55% Sherry, 35% Bourbon and 10% Rum Casks

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2022

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 12 ppm

 

 

 

This is already the eighth edition of Springbank Local Barley, if we forget the very old ones that came out in the 1990s, and until 2001. It is now a classic that is unleashing the market and driving fans crazy. For this one, Belgravia barley was used, grown on the Glencraigs farm, located 4 km from the distillery. Then the distillation took place following traditional methods in May 2011, and the bottling in December 2022, 11 years and 7 months later. This time, a few barrels of Rum were used, it's the first time I think. 15,000 bottles were produced, and sold from February 2023 all over the world.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Very creamy, on buttered bread, peanut butter, knob of butter, frangipane. Then it's the farm, the hay, the stable, the whitewash. Rain on dry land that has just been plowed. Vanilla, mirabelle. Maple syrup. Grilled corn. Adding water makes it more crowdable, and I don't know if that's a good thing. Cut straw. Some medicinal touches, on turpentine. Chopped flowers. Smoke from a campfire in the distance. Pumpkin, butternut. Smell of frightened cattle. On the palate, it is first very delicate, and the lemon stands out, then quite strong but suitable spices, cumin, nutmeg, thyme. We feel the sweetness of rum, rose water, loukoum Finally the straw comes back with beaten butter and some almonds. Slightly bitter oak. Long and violent finish, earthy, an ounce of charcoal, cane syrup, pastry cream. Chantilly. Egg yolk. Acacia honey.

 

In Short, 

What can we say about it that hasn't already been told? It's not only very good, it's totally original, it's also shaking up the world of whisky. The notions of terroir, of local production, are revolutionary in an increasingly globalized industry. Therefore, it is something unique. It's not extremely complex, but it's incredibly radical. You have to try to get it at the outlet price, even if it's very difficult. On the second market, the prices are just crazy, it has become an object of speculation for people who are not at all interested in whisky.

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Lankum - Go Dig My Grave