Benrinnes 1996 Artist Collective #3.1 22 yo

 

 

 

51,4°

Distillery : Benrinnes - Speyside

3 Hogsheads

Independent Bottling 

By La Maison du Whisky

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2019

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

In the early days of the Artist Collective range, which was born in 2017, you could find these sorts of suitably aged gems. Here we have a blend of 3 Hogsheads that have marinated for at least 22 years, and the number of bottles produced is not known. The label features an art work by David Crunelle entitled Intarsia (what does it mean?)

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Creamy honey, accompanied by a minty freshness. Some sprigs of straw. Ethereal vanilla, quartz crystals. Yellow plum pulp, melon, mashed banana, grapefruit. Greedy cereals, it's floral, jasmine, primrose, courgette flower. Light but robust wood in the background, a hint of smoke. On the palate, lemon zest, creamy flan, tarte Tatin, candied lychees, coconut. Toasted wheat, untreated wood, sawdust. Long finish, not too violent, but very well managed. Green tea, fir resin, maple syrup. Fried mushrooms with a knob of butter, slight touch of bitterness. Asparagus. Artichoke hearts.

 

In Short, 

Benrinnes is a distillery I appreciate, but this one is truly impressive. The floral notes add complexity to a totally balanced nose, the palate is perfectly intense, and the finish is as long as a goods train. It's an excellent bottling, albeit a little expensive, but for connoisseurs it's worth the sacrifice.

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Sea Lemon - Crystals

Glasgow 1770 2020 Small Batch Series Constantia Wine Cask Batch N°1 5 yo

 

 

 

56,6°

Distillery : The Glasgow Distillery - Lowlands

1st Fill Bourbon Casks, South African Constantia Wine Finish

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated 

 

 

 

The Glasgow Distillery was founded in 2012, and makes whisky, gin, rum and even vodka. Its whisky is sold under the Glasgow 1770 brand, and here we have the first batch in a new series, which brings together very limited edition bottlings, this one is the fruit of three casks, first aged in 1st Fill Bourbon Casks, then having followed a finish in Constantia Wine barrels for 1 year and ten months. Constantia Wine is a very sweet South African dessert wine. 980 bottles were produced, available mainly in the UK.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Luscious nose, lovely sweetness, candied apricots, crunchy cherries, egg custard. A pinch of icing sugar, crushed almonds, blood oranges. English custard, shortbread biscuits, papaya. On the palate, the orange is more intense, but also peaches, clementines and lychees, thick honey, chocolate chips, generous spices, nutmeg, cloves. A rather long finish that takes you by the hand, shortbread dough with fresh butter and almonds, persimmon, melon, pink grapefruit. Fine sand.

 

In Short, 

It's very surprising, very syrupy and fruity, but not bad at all. That's what I like about whisky too, its extreme variety, which allows it to identify with all sorts of products. Here, I have the impression that this is a whisky that is unique in the world. It's still available and if you like curiosities, especially if it's good, I recommend it. All the more so as the price is affordable.

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Apparat - Goodbye

Loch Lomond 2016 Distillery Edition 6 8 yo

 

 

 

56,9°

Distillery : Loch Lomond - Highlands

Ex-Bourbon American Oak Casks

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Blended Grain

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

In addition to their plethora of editions, the gentlemen of Loch Lomond produce bottlings only available at or near the distillery, aptly named Distillery Editions. This one is the 6th, a blend of two types of whisky, one an 8-year-old Single Malt, distilled in Straight Neck stills, the other a 14-year-old Single Grain, distilled in Cooper Column stills. Both are made from 100% malted barley, so if I've understood correctly, it's the distillation method that means it's not considered as a single malt. Maturation enhances the distillate, and exactly 400 bottles are produced.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It :  

It's very well-balanced, with notes of woody wax, lemon zest, creamy vanilla, with a lovely airy fullness, quince jam, medlars and greengages, toasted cereals, hay. A hint of milk chocolate. It's delicately floral. On the palate, it's well-crafted, with oily honey, citrus fruit, grapefruit, peaches, soft bananas, muesli and lively spices. The finish is quite long and deep, with chocolate turning dark, drier fruits, figs, dates, wood varnish, one or two coffee beans. Malted cereals, candied ginger.

 

In Short, 

It's very interesting, the influence of the grain is discreet but very present, and there's a lot of fruit. It's really not expensive, but you have to travel all the way to Scotland to find it, that's the problem. Otherwise, everyone would have flocked to it, because the value for money is incredible.

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Lettuce - Rising to the Top

Deanston 2012 Icons of WTF Utrecht 10 yo

 

 

 

51°

Distillery : Deanston - Highlands

2d Fill Oloroso Sherry Ex-Ben Nevis Hogshead 

Independent Bottling 

By WTF Utrecht

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured 

Totally Unpeated 

 

 

 

The Whisky Tasting Festival in Utrecht has been going for ten years or so and has an excellent reputation. Maybe I should visit it. And the organisers of this festival occasionally bottle a little something from time to time, but it's Bourbon most of the time. I think this is the only Scotch Whisky they have on sale. Deanston is often an underrated distillery, here we have 309 bottles, the cask used is formerly Oloroso, and it then held Ben Nevis whisky, before being filled with this Deanston.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Lots of varied fruits, a lemony freshness but also honey and dates due to the influence of the cask. Oily beeswax, cereals galore, melted butter, light wood. Ripe apples and pears, Chasselas grapes, pineapple. Salted butter caramel, cooked bananas. It's tasty on the palate, like candied chestnuts, quince jam, a dash of vanilla, white melon, quite a lot of spice, black pepper, cloves. The finish is quite successful, long enough, explosive, roasted grain, torched wood, ginger, orange peel, dried figs. Sliced lime.

 

In Short, 

Some people have talked about its waxy and cereal profile, but I find that it's above all very fruity, with a lovely pulp that stands out. Given the age of the product, it's truly extraordinary. What's more, the price is very attractive, and of course, in these conditions, it's been sold out for a long time, that's not surprising. 

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Ida - Maybelle

Jura Distillery 1991 Artist #11 30 yo

 

 

 

54,1°

Distillery : Isle of Jura - Islands

Bourbon Barrel

Independent Bottling 

By La Maison du Whisky

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2021

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated 

 

 

 

As part of the 11th Batch in the Artist range launched each year by La Maison du Whisky to coincide with the Whisky Live Paris event, this Jura has reached a very interesting age. The maturation process is very straightforward, and only 110 bottles are on sale, which is bound to attract connoisseurs of this highly underrated distillery. The label features the work of art Cinnamon Sugar by artist Catherine Ludeau.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Whiffs of yellow tea, vinous touches, sweet wine, quince and medlars, fluffy sand, a pinch of sea salt, ethereal vanilla, hints of camphor, lemon tart. Sesame seeds with walnuts and chickpeas, bubbles of liquid honey, crème caramel, marrons glacés. On the palate, orange marmalade, dashes of curry, cinnamon, coriander, cardamom. Chicken stock, cedar resin, dried raisins. Quite a powerful finish, but very well controlled, charcoal chips, soy sauce, macerated wheat, crème brûlée. Well-salted cashew nuts.

 

In Short, 

It's truly excellent, and I'm very close to classifying it as a classic. It's certainly the best Jura I've ever drunk, and in my opinion there aren't many that do it better. The price is obviously excessive, but given its age and the limited number of bottles produced, that's to be expected. To be reserved for those who are crazy about this distillery.

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Yamma Ensemble - Apple of My Eye

Glen Toon 2012 Whisky Sponge Special Edition for the Campbeltown Malts Festival 11 yo

 

 

 

53°

Distillery : Glen Scotia - Campbeltown

1st Fill Bourbon Hogshead

Independent Bottling 

By Decadent Drinks  

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

I don't know how many Special Editions of Whisky Sponge there are. Its founder, Angus McRaild, promised to stop the series at 100 bottlings, but he's cheating a bit with all these Special Editions. So much the better, because they are generally very good. Here we have a Glen Toon, an affectionate expression generally given to Glen Scotia, specially prepared for the 2024 Campbeltown Malts Festival. Only 225 bottles are produced.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

On the nose, coppery, woody notes, with some fruit and pastry cream. Dates, red plums, ripe apricots, hints of vanilla, fried bacon. Wax and melted butter, citrus. Toasted hazelnuts, along with a few cereals. On the palate, the fruit becomes more intense, mirabelle plums, reines-claudes, white grapes. A bit of honey to bind it all together, wood resin, not much spice, but it comes through in the finish, with a lovely explosiveness, groundnuts, cashew, peanut butter. Lastly, a very slight saltiness at the very end.

 

In Short, 

Really interesting and original, but not really representative of the distillery. That's what makes this bottling unique, but you shouldn't look for the typical Glen Scotia character in it. As is often the case with this bottler, it's a little too expensive to dare buy, but it's remarkable at the very least.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Conception - Feather Moves

Ben Nevis 1997 S Spirits Shop' Selection c. 698

 

 

 

47,6°

Distillery : Ben Nevis - Highlands

Hogshead

Independent Bottling 

By Spirits Shop' Selection

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Almost Unpeated

 

 

 

I don't know how they do it, but the people at Spirits Shop have lots of casks of Ben Nevis, including some exceptional ones distilled in 1996. This one was made in 1997, and is the only one with this vintage. It is included in the Dong Fang Ming Series, named after the founder of the company. The maturation is very straightforward, which promises an intense distillate. 252 bottles are put on sale.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Light smoke, apple compote, vanilla crumble, braised pineapple, juicy plums, warm brioche. A twist of lime. Baked pears, a drizzle of milk chocolate, a few drops of beeswax. Copper highlights, liquid honey. It's smooth on the palate, honey cakes, zlabia, candied grapefruit, almond paste, then the spices rise slowly, white pepper. Hazelnuts. Very long finish, quite powerful given the low alcohol content, syrupy caramel, waxed tinder, olive oil, peanuts, fresh dates. Liquorice stick.

 

In Short, 

A Ben Nevis that's a little unusual, but superbly good, that can be enjoyed until the end of the night. The only major flaw is a regrettable lack of strength, except in the finish. You really have to drink it first to get the full flavour. Launched nearly two years ago, it can still be found on several online sites. The price is high, but it's worth it.

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           TTSSFU - I Hope You Die

Clynelish 1996 Sansibar 10th Anniversary 24 yo

 

 

 

54,8°

Distillery : Clynelish - Highlands 

Bourbon Hogshead 

Independent Bottling 

By Sansibar

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2020

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 8 ppm

 

 

 

Sansibar released half a dozen Clynelish with the same age in 2020, but this one is special, launched to celebrate the German bottler's 10th anniversary. Only 283 bottles have been put on sale. The label features a black and white drawing of the distillery, as it belongs to the Black White Art series, a set of 5 bottlings from different distilleries, each adorned with the same drawing of its place of origin.

 

Let's Taste It :  

Nice waxy fullness, beeswax and floor wax, candied lemon, sliced lime, a maritime touch, sea air, sea spray, discreet peat, exotic fruit and citrus, grapefruit and pineapple, maybe even mango. The whole remains very airy. Concentrated vanilla. It's very delicate and silky on the palate, with mirabelle plums and greengages, topped with olive oil, prickly pears, shortbread biscuits, very well-controlled spices. Very long and explosive finish, hazelnuts, syrupy honey, churned butter, wood varnish, chocolate chips, lovely power, incredible length, beer yeast, very ripe apricots, yellow peaches, bananas. Some cereals at the end, crunchy and greedy. A hint of bitterness, cola.

 

In Short, 

Pure Clynelish, an explosion of pleasure and complexity. We're approaching the very best that this distillery can give us here, with a very simple maturation process. A must-have if you're a fan, but the price is astronomical and it's practically sold out everywhere.

Score : 91

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Irfan - More Ta Nali