Highland Park 1991 Signatory Vintage 30th Anniversary 27 yo

 

 

 

52°

Distillery : Highland Park - Islands 

1st Fill Palo Cortado Sherry Butt

Independent Bottling 

By Signatory Vintage 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2018

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 20 ppm 

 

 

 

Celebrating 30 years of existence, bottler Signatory Vintage has released some totally indecent treasures, including this 27-year-old Highland Park, matured in a single cask of Palo Cortado Sherry, which is fairly rare. 545 bottles were put on sale, leaving as quickly as they arrived.

Let's Taste It : 

Apple crumble, quince jam with chunks inside, black earth, spruces, fermented gooseberries, dried raspberries, varnished wood and bacon bits sizzling on the stove. Vanilla cream, buttered bread, croutons rubbed with garlic, morello cherries and pineapple. The whole is amplified by an almost crispy iodine and a discreet but deep and earthy peat. Tart Tatin, genoise, chantilly, buckwheat pancakes. The finish is a little smoky, with soot mixed with liquorice and fudge. On the palate, cooked fruit squares, light spices, paprika, cumin, clove, nutmeg, pine needles, brown sugar in a dab of butter, eucalyptus honey, heather. Very slight bitterness from the wood. A drop of olive oil. Pieces of meringue and genoise. Dark chocolate. Long, dizzying finish that makes you see stars. Brown sugar, cola, diluted in tar and wood glue. Encaustic, chestnut cream, soft caramel. Liquorice roll. Pistachio and chestnut macaroons.

 

In Short, 

Sublime is a rather weak word to describe this masterpiece. I found it perfect in every way. Extremely fruity but also smoky, the peat is still present and accompanied by notes of leather and tar. Very full nose, incredible length on the finish, crazy richness on the palate, it's nirvana served in a glass. I would like to say to get one absolutely but not everyone wants to mortgage their house for a bottle.

Score : 92

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Ajeet Kaur - Tonancin

Highland Park 30 yo 2007

 

 

 

48,1°

Distillery : Highland Park - Islands 

2d Fill and Refill Sherry, American Bourbon Casks

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2007

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 8 ppm 

It was apparently in 2005 that the first 30 year old was produced in Highland Park. It is a limited edition which was annual for a few years, before being spaced out in time (the last date from 2019). Very difficult to have indications on the maturation or the number of bottles produced. Still, the last copies are selling at exorbitant prices today.

Let's Taste It : 

A shade of iodine on a layer of plums and quince tart. Evanescent wisp of smoke. Deep, fat, whitish, earthy peat. The peat combines naturally with candied fruits, apricots, rhubarb and gentian. Very nice fruity fullness. Fudge, worm-wood, damp, almost pasty. Dates, dried figs. Honey and jam, with bits inside. Crushed hazelnuts, dried almonds. Shortbread biscuits. Cereal freshness. Iron filings. Iodine comes through at the end. Satiny, silky, iridescent palate. Fine spices, paprika, turmeric, cardamom. Wood liqueur, lychees, mountain honey, fig flesh, argan oil. Marrons glacés, spongy earth, truffle slivers. Dried bananas. Very long, fairly calm, serene finish. Nutmeg, chocolate chips, baked chestnuts. Warm apples. Birch bark. Coffee grounds.

 

In Short, 

An exceptional, subtle and distinguished bottling. What I liked was that the age didn't hide the character of the distillate at all, and barely the smoke. It's really magnificent, there is everything, the famous fudge, a very light delectable peat, shovelfuls of fruits. Everything is perfect. Unfortunately, the price is astronomical, I don't know whether to laugh or cry about it.

Score : 91

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           John Butler - Ocean

Secret Orkney Distillery 2017 Wonders of the World Single Cask Series 1.08 4 yo

 

 

 

59,7°

Distillery : Highland Park - Islands

American Whiskey Cask and Palo Cortado Sherry Finish

Independent Bottling 

By Swell de Spirits

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2021

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 20 ppm

 

 

 

Swell de Spirits is a very young French bottler which is on the rise, they mainly make Rum but also Whisky. This new product is renowned for its extreme youth. Only 4 years, and there is still a double maturation, it's bold. First in an American Whiskey cask, then in a Palo Cortado Sherry cask, a fairly rare white Sherry. The cask used is an Octave, whose particularity is to be small (about 80 liters), which allows more interaction with the wood and faster aging. Only 102 bottles were produced, which of course are already sold out.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Light and vinous nose, sweet red fruits, clafoutis, fruit salad, between papaya, mango, pineapple, kiwi and lychee. Soy sauce, discreet smoke a little charcoal-like. Noble wood, orange and quince marmalade, polish. Liqueur-like and fruity palate, peaches, pears and other orchard fruits, then the spices rise, black pepper, nutmeg, ginger. More wood, a hint of salt and mint, gingerbread. Fairly long and juicy finish, slight bitterness, heather, cola, bark. Brown sugar.

 

In Short, 

When it was released, Serge Valentin and Ruben criticised this bottling for being too young and not to their taste. I find that a tad cruel.  There are certainly some minor flaws: the wood is too intense, so there's a lot of spice, and the palate is a little too fruity, more like eau de vie than whisky. But on the whole, it's not bad at all. It's original and enjoyable. My criticism is that the distillery's hallmarks are somewhat lost, which is a shame. The price is also exaggerated given that it's a 50cl bottle. It's an interesting experience, but I'm not sure it justifies a purchase.

Score : 87

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                          To Be Listened While Sipping :

  

                                          Nils Frahm - Says

Strathisla 2007 Artist #12 Legendary Distilleries Aged 15 yo

 

 

 

62,7°

Distillery : Strathisla - Speyside

1st Fill Sherry Butt 

Independent Bottling 

By La Maison du Whisky 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2022

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated 

 

 

 

I was told that Strathisla was famous for its Sherry bottlings from the 60s, so I am happy to finally taste something from this distillery aged in Sherry casks for 15 years, before being divided into 553 bottles where a very beautiful photo by Mathéo Modol can be seen. This is the 2nd youngest bottling of the Legendary Distilleries range, also referenced in Antipodes and Artist #12.

Let's Taste It : 

On the nose, chestnut cream, light red fruits, varnished wood, brown sugar, blood orange marmalade. Beautiful woody fullness, black earth, whole almonds, pomegranate syrup. Shards of dark chocolate, and at the bottom something tarry, deep. Beautiful, complex, intense on the palate, the red fruits are stronger, the spices are violent, cumin, black pepper, paprika, turmeric, nutmeg. Embers glow by the fireside. Finish that first envelops, to better explode afterwards, good length, but above all great power. Earthy charcoal, chestnuts in their pods, dripping liquorice. A drop of caramel.

 

In Short, 

Now I understand what people say about Strathisla. With Sherry, it's a different story, it's delicious, and it raises its profile. It's frankly magnificent, very well done, and full-bodied with the high alcohol content. The price is still inconceivably high, but I almost tend to forgive them this time.

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Howlin' Wolf - Back Door Man

Strathisla 2002 Artist #12 Legendary Distilleries Aged 20 yo

55,4°

Distillery : Strathisla - Speyside 

1st Fill Bourbon Barrel

Independent Bottling 

By La Maison du Whisky

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2022

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

In the Legendary Distilleries 2022 range, I ask for the 20 year old. Dedicated to the little-known Strathisla distillery, this series of bottlings seeks to do it justice. After two very old expressions where the distillate was allowed to speak, here it is an ageing in a first fill Bourbon barrel. 192 bottles were produced, and adorned with a photo by Mathéo Modol. The whole range has also been awarded the Antipodes label, which means the exclusive selling from La Maison du Whisky, but apparently it is still possible to find it elsewhere abroad.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The nose is so wide that I feel I can detect iodine. But that's just the influence of the cask, I think. Pulpy, citrusy, juicy plums, mirabelles, greengages, lemon drizzle, grapefruit juice, blood oranges. Still with that lovely woodiness and almost sweet varnish. But this time more in the background. On the palate, it's the same story, fruity but not too much so, lemon and vanilla, noble wood. Properly managed spices. The finish is long, deep and earthy, with just a few citrus hints. Sun, cereals, nuts.

 

In Short, 

Very well done, like the previous ones. The Bourbon profile blends very well with the identity of the distillery, it gives a beautiful bottling, rich and woody, fruity. The price seems extravagant to me. I wonder what La Maison du Whisky is trying to do here. In any case, it has nothing to do with the love of whisky.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Albert Collins - If Trouble was Money

Strathisla 1997 Artist #12 Legendary Distilleries Aged 25 yo

 

 

 

50°

Dustillery : Strathisla -Speyside

Refill Bourbon Hogshead

Independent Bottling

By La Maison du Whisky 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask

Bottled in 2022

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

Second oldest bottling within this beautiful Legendary Distilleries range dedicated to Strathisla. This is a 25 year old distilled in 1997 and bottled this year, aged in a Bourbon Refill Hogshead, in order to leave room for the distillate. 269 bottles were put up for sale, with the bonus of a magnificent black and white photo of the distillery by Mathéo Modol

Let's Taste It : 

Once again, the nose is full-bodied and lemony, with a seductive woodiness, a few cereals and that original coating. Wood paint, citrus cloud, cherry wood table. The caress of wood. Lemonade. Grapefruit pulp. Full and intense on the palate, wood juice, on a light layer of vanilla, cream of milk. Green tea, discreet spices. Liquorice stick, some floral fragrances, jasmine, primrose. It's a bit sweet too. Long finish, all restrained modesty, coaly and earthy, chestnuts cooked over a wood fire. Sand and salt.

In Short, 

I found it quite close to the 30 yo, less intense, but sweetier. Very friendly and pleasant, very nuanced. What's less friendly is the price, maybe they're trying to break a record, I don't know.

Score : 89

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Akbert King - Blues Power

Strathisla 1991 Artist #12 Legendary Distilleries Over 30 yo

 

 

 

42,3°

Distillery : Strathisla - Speyside

Refill Bourbon Barrel

Independent Bottling 

By La Maison du Whisky 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2022

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

Strathisla is, according to my modest knowledge, a distillery that is not legendary. It is certainly very old, there is this little anecdote about its change of name in 1949 (it was called Milltown before), and I've heard there are stratospheric independent bottlings from the 60s. Okay, but on a daily basis, it is mainly used for Blends, and the only Single Malt in OB that comes out of its belly is very little known. Let's just say it's a distillery that's both legendary and underrated. Praise to La Maison du Whisky for putting it back in the spotlight thanks to this completely original mini-range released this year within the Artist #12 Legendary Distilleries. This is the very first time that the French bottler has tried this experiment. 5 different bottlings from the same distillery, at different ages and with different maturations. The occasion of a beautiful vertical, which I made upside down, excluding the 10 year old because I met a friend at that time. The oldest edition, the 30 year old, was aged in a Refill Bourbon barrel, in order to leave all the room for the distillate. Only 146 bottles were produced, adorned with a chiaroscuro photograph by Mathéo Modol.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Nose with a nice lemony breadth, candied lemon, lemon peel on the tip of the tongue, icing sugar, meringue, with a nice woody thickness, barley sugar, wood varnish, polish, some discreet white fruits, white plum, mirabelle. On the palate, very citrusy, very nice lemon accompanied by juicy grapefruit and one or two blood oranges, intense cereals, fatty wheat and malted barley, puffed rice and quinoa. Very long finish, cola and dry earth, some charcoal crumbs, but mostly citrus coulis in a woody fade, thick glue and beeswax.

 

In Short, 

Superb nose where the barrel leaves its mark, but without smothering the distillate, more discreet mouth, less impressive but very balanced and soft, beautiful finish extremely well done. It is a magnificent work that deserves to be congratulated. However the price is verging on the grotesque, it's a shame, but if there are people ready to pay this price, why not.

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           John Lee Hooker - Blues Boogie Jam

Bowmore 2001 Artist #12 Over 20 yo

 

 

 

54,8°

Distillery : Bowmore - Islay 

1st Fill Sherry Butt Finish

Independent Bottling 

By La Maison du Whisky 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2022

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 25 ppm 

 

 

 

This new Bowmore produced by La Maison du Whisky echoes the previous ones, Artist #7 but especially Artist #8 which followed a similar maturation. On the other hand, not a word about the first maturation, I guess that it is a Bourbon barrel, but I would have preferred a little transparency. 665 bottles are on sale, adorned with an illustration by Gesine Arps, which gives this range an artistic identity.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Very chiselled nose, between a fairly dry Sherry and a pronounced iodine. Dried fruits, raisins, apricots, cashew nuts, maritime fragrances, sea spray, kelp, seaweed, fish. Apple crumble, genoise, with herbal and earthy notes. Oily on the palate, seawater, oysters, shellfish, and a few sweet fruits, chocolate pear, lychee. Almonds, toffee. Soft spices, paprika, cardamom. It's warm, black tea, clove. Very long finish, gently explosive, spicy, coaly, amplified by hints of liquorice and banana. Chicory. Nutmeg.

 

In Short, 

A very nice bottling, which seduced me. The Sherry brings a magnificent complexity to a Bowmore whose identity is tremendously clear, very iodized and maritime. It is beautiful work. The price, on the other hand, is absolutely apoplectic. At first, I thought it was a joke, but no.

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Deep Sea Diver - Wide Awake