Kilchoman 2014 Loch Gorm 2024 Edition 9 yo

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : Kilchoman - Islay

1st Fill and 2d Fill Oloroso Sherry Butts

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 50 ppm

 

 

 

Like every year since 2013, Kilchoman is bringing us a new version of the peat and Sherry combination. This one is the 12th, it's 9 years old, and is the fruit of 23 Butts of Oloroso Sherry from Bodega José y Miguel Martin, 17 of which are first-fill and 6 second-fill. It was released with a total of 18,000 bottles. Loch Gotm is close to the distillery, where it draws its water. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Liquorice and damsons, muscat grapes. The peat is not too strong, quite earthy. It gives a fine balance. Chocolate filled with dried fruits, bark dipped in caramel, a few drops of diesel and gas oil. Fig, thick smoke, hints of honey. Blueberry jam, peach pit. Dark chocolate mousse. Velvety on the palate, a good reflection of the nose, melted chocolate, flowing over fresh pear, red fruits, cinnamon, whiffs of smoke. The spices are barely perceptible, just a bit of nutmeg. Long finish, fairly smoky, not very explosive. Wood dripping with treacle, amber tobacco, beer yeast, cereal notes.

 

In Short, 

I found that this one insisted a lot on liquorice, and I didn't entirely like that. All in all, it's still a very nice bottling, but not the best Loch Gorm I've ever tasted. Still, it's up there with the rest of the series. The price, on the other hand, is again too high in my opinion.

Score : 88  

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Alcest - L'Envol

Kilchoman Batch Strength

 

 

 

57°

Distillery : Kilchoman - Islay

Recharred Red Wine, Oloroso Sherry and Bourbon Casks

Original Bottling

Core Range 

Single Malt

Launched in 2024 

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 50 ppm

This is the new expression included in Kilchoman's Core Range. Reduced to 57°, ageless, with triple maturation. It makes you curious. With a peat content of 50 ppm, it looks like a Peat Bomb.

Let's Taste It : 

Good thick peat, full of smoke, but we don't get the mineral character typical of Kilchoman, it's more about young wood, very green, with rosemary, angelica, and leaves full of sap. Parsley, resin, a touch of vanilla, and a nice fullness thanks to the peat. On the palate, there's a lovely sweetness, but it's immediately invaded by very strong spices, pepper and cumin, and then the finish is of course explosive, powerful, but not extremely long, oily earth, bark, dry tobacco, some white fruits.

 

In Short, 

A little disappointing. It's still very young and doesn't quite have the Kilchoman profile. It doesn't offer the usual lovely mineral peat, it's more heavily smoky and very green. That said, it's still a good product, and the price isn't outrageous, so enthusiasts can treat themselves. But it won't be for me. I prefer Machir Bay Cask Strength.

Score : 87

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Gary Harvey - Luv Game

Bunnahabhain 2012 Small Batch #7 11 yo

 

 

 

48,2°

Distillery : Bunnahabhain - Islay

Oloroso Sherry Casks

Independent Bottling 

By Signatory Vintage

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2024

Undhillfiltered, Uncoloured

Almost Unpeated 

With the Small Batch range, Signatory Vintage offers relatively young bottlings aged in small Sherry casks. There are two Small Batch series, the first was released between 2018 and 2022, with a total of 12 expressions numbered from 1 to 12; the second was released between 2023 and 2024, again with a total of 12 expressions numbered from 1 to 12, all reduced to 48.2°. This Bunnahabhain is number 7 in the second series. It is a special bottling for the German distributor Kirsch Whisky Serviice Gmbh, but can apparently be found throughout Western Europe. No details are available on the number of bottles produced or the number of casks used.  

Let's Taste It : 

First of all, quite pronounced maritime fragrances of iodine, sea spray, seaweed and kelp. Then there's the typical smoothness of Oloroso, with red fruit coulis, soft caramel, dark chocolate, tobacco and spices. It's well done, but lacks a little complexity. On the palate, it's unctuous, fondant with caramel, liquid honey, a hint of vanilla, some blackberries and gooseberries, light spices. The finish is fairly long but not very explosive, with light tobacco, coffee and dark chocolate pralines, truffles and cloves.

 

In Short, 

The Sherry is very present, but does not hide the identity of the distillery. So it's a success, it's just a shame it's reduced. The price is right if you go to the right shops, a purchase would be wise for enthusiasts.

Score : 87

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Luther 'Badman' Keith - Cream in your Coffee

Caol Ila 2007 Les Grands Alambics 13 yo

 

 

 

51°

Distillery : Caol Ila - Islay

Bourbon Hogshead

Independent Bottling

By Les Grands Alambics

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2021

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 35 ppm 

 

 

 

Les Grands Alambics is a highly reputed spirit merchant based in Chambéry, France. They also make their own bottlings, like this one, produced in 2021 in an edition of 126. It's part of the Birds series, and therefore features a beautiful bird on the label.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Fresh, light and iodised nose. You can smell the tide and seaweed, kelp and sea air. The peat is barely perceptible, very well integrated into a rather well-crafted ensemble of honey, icing sugar and creamy vanilla. Juicy white grapes, light hints of pineapple and papaya. The palate is again light and delicate, with white fruits, vanilla and a slight peatiness, followed by measured spices that add just the right amount of funk. Exotic fruits again, a few drops of grapefruit. The finish is long and beautiful, developing slowly without exploding. Lemony sea spray, fresh iodine, yellow plum.

 

In Short, 

I can see that this bottler's reputation has not been usurped. I'm a fan of Caol Ila and I recognise that this bottling is above average for its age and Bourbon cask ageing. What's more, the distillery's character is clearly recognisable, as strong as ever despite the age, which adds a nice complexity. However, 126 bottles is a very small number, and it sold out very quickly. I'd love to recommend buying it, but it still has to be possible.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Crowheart - Apotheosis

The Marketing Malt 2008 Whisky Sponge Edition N°88 15 yo

 

 

 

57,1° (100° Proof)

Distillery Officially Unknown - Speyside

Sherry Cask

Independent Bottling 

By Decadent Drinks 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

The 88th expression in the Whisky Sponge range comes from an undisclosed distillery, and is a 15-year-old heavily marked by a Sherry cask that produced 228 bottles. The distillery is secret, but according to the note on the Decadent Drinks website, it no longer exists, and this is a tribute to it, with this bottling reduced to 100° Proof, in the old-fashioned way. The distillery in question is Macallan, which closed in 2014, and whose new site opened in 2017. Like Clynelish in the 1960s, the old distillery was mothballed to open a new one next door, which produced more, and was given the same name. The bottle we have here is therefore a reminder of a bygone era, as it is impossible to produce exactly the same malt on another site. For Whisky Sponge, the new site is a ‘lifesize version of Teletubby land’, needless to say that for them, as for many connoisseurs, the current Macallan is no more than a vague imitation of what the old distillery used to offer.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Very rich sherry, with a hint of rancio. Crushed grapes, blackberry juice and raspberry jam, plums, damsons, prunes. Some earthy notes. Well-balanced. Woody-smoky amadou, dead leaves, Aosta ham, with a gooseberry on the top. Oak bark. On the palate, it's bright, silky, honeyed, cranberry jam and fairly strong but restrained spices, pepper and nutmeg. Drops of pear juice, green tea. The finish is long, powerful just as it should be, still green tea, this time accompanied by melted liquorice. Forest undergrowth, brown tobacco. Caramel lollipop, varnished wood, a pinch of salt, milk chocolate.

 

In Short, 

The Sherry Bomb in its purest form, the quintessential Sherry. It's exactly as it should be, with a cascade of crushed fruits, tobacco, caramel, a few dried fruits and a few meaty notes. For me, it's perfect. As is so often the case with Whisky Sponge, the bottling was sold out within hours or even minutes of its release, the price was a little high but acceptable, today you can still find it on the second market, but it's more expensive.

Score : 91

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           JMSN - Don't Make Me Change

Grant's The Family Reserve

 

 

 

40°

Around 25 different Distilleries, but mostly Girvan and Glenfiddich - Lowlands & Speyside

Bourbon and Sherry Casks

Original Bottling 

By William Grant & Sons

Core Range 

Blended Scotch Whisky

Launched in 1898

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

In 1898, William Grant, founder of the Glenfiddich distillery, took advantage of the bankruptcy of a competitor to launch his own Blend. As he was very proud of his offspring, 7 boys and 2 girls, he chose to call it The Family Reserve. The source of this Blend was Glenfiddich of course, but for the grain whisky, which made up the majority of the juice, Grant bought it from Distillers Company Limited, one of the forerunners of Diageo, which owned the Cameronbridge grain distillery. But in 1962, Distillers Company Limited stopped supplying the company, following a dispute. However, within 9 months it had the Girvan grain distillery built, which is now the source of most of the Blend. The Family Reserve was the 3rd best-selling Blend in the world, but its prestigious name was dropped in 2018, after 120 years of existence. The descendants of William Grant, who still own the group, decided to change the Blend recipe slightly, and renamed it Triple Wood. The end of a centuries-old tradition.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The nose is well-crafted, but sorely lacking in fullness. Grainy cereals, warm wood, melting caramel. Some forest berries, bark, spices, liquorice, a zest of lemon, a dash of vanilla. Dried fruits, figs, dates, apricots. The palate is a little insignificant, but not bad, pepper and alcohol. A touch of treacle. The spices rise. Green apple. The finish is short but quite pleasant, cola, liquorice and tinder, Armenian paper. Peanuts. The aftertaste is pastry-like, almost creamy.

 

In Short, 

For a Blend, it's not bad, in fact it's almost drinkable. What bothers me is that the nose is really very light. But it really is one of the best supermarket blends I've ever had. The Monkey Shoulder, which belongs to the same group, is better, because it has Balvenie in it. Even though production was discontinued 6 years ago, it's still quite easy to find here and there, as stocks are so high. It's good value for money, but if it's only to drink this, you might as well give up alcohol.

Score : 77

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Helmut Fritz - Ca m'énerve

Ballechin 2003 Conquête 18 yo

 

 

 

54°

Distillery : Edradour - Highlands

1st Fill Sherry Butt Finish

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2021

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 50 ppm

 

 

 

This Ballechin was released to celebrate the 65th anniversary of La Maison du Whisky. Finished in a first-fill Sherry Butt, it is exactly 18 years and 3 months old. Distributed in France, the Batch consists of 718 bottles.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Gritty, smoky peat, gravel, hot ashes, burning coal, fuel oil. A touch of stewed fruits, quinces and medlars, soft caramel, dark chocolate. Slight woodiness. Pencil lead, basalt. Malty on the palate, a little suave, red fruits with a dash of gas oil, light spices. A thick layer of peat in the background. Between liquorice and charcoal. The finish is just the way I like it, long, with a big whiff of smoke and brown coal, earth full of quartz, slate, stuffed fig, cola, pipe tobacco.

 

In Short, 

I didn't smell much Sherry. It's there however, but in the background, it doesn't add much complexity. On the other hand, what a great personality! Beautiful intensity of smoke, with mineral notes of graphite and slate. But also earth and charcoal. A fine bottling. Only the price is exaggerated, which explains why, three years later, La Maison du Whisky is still struggling to get rid of it.

Score : 89

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Pallbearer - Endless Place

Bunnahabhain 2001 Cask Strength Collection Symington's Choice 22 yo

 

 

 

56,5°

Distillery : Bunnahabhain - Islay

Oloroso Sherry Butt

Independent Bottling 

By Signatory Vintage

Limired Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Almost Unpeated

 

 

 

This one is a brand new addition to the recent Symington's Choice range, which brings together the finest productions of Signatory Vintage, Single Casks at least 21 years old. We're still in the Cask Strength Collection series, but this is the next level. 427 bottles have been released for sale.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Very delicate nose, yellow plum pulp coated in chocolate, candied fruits, muscat grapes, a touch of gooseberry. Salted butter caramel, melted butter with a drop of sweet white wine, toasted almonds. It's deep and racy, brown tobacco, thick acacia honey, all in fine balance. Banana and mother-of-pearl. On the palate, it's lighter, simpler, but very smooth, white chocolate mousse, vanilla éclair, then fairly powerful spices lead to a long, explosive finish, where the tobacco and dark chocolate stand out, clove, it's almost smoky, but more on the stuffed fig in fact. Braised mushrooms with cream, cachou. 

 

In Short, 

This is an excellent Bunnahabhain, very well married to the Sherry, as is often the case. However, the palate is just a little below the finish and the nose, which are frankly perfect, complex and bewitching. On the other hand, the distillery's costal profile is not present. The price isn't that high, and to be honest, the idea of buying it has crossed my mind, it wouldn't be a waste in any case.

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Dede Priest - What it is ain't what it ain't