Bruichladdich 10 yo early 80s Rinaldi Importatori

 

 

 

43°

Distillery : Bruichladdich - Islay 

Bourbon and Sherry Casks 

Original Bottling 

Core Range 

Single Malt 

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Almost Unpeated

 

 

 

Before the distillery closed in 1994, and even before it was reopened by Mark Reynier in 2001, it was owned by Whyte & Mackay, which still owns several distilleries today, including Isle of Jura, Fettercairn, or even Dalmore, Tamnavulin and Invergordon. And at the time, this 10 Year Old was the most common expression, available just about everywhere in Western Europe through various distributors. In Italy, whisky was very popular, except that it was called ‘acquavita di cereali’, and it was Rinaldi Importatori that distributed this nectar, apparently from the very early 1980s. On the back of the bottle, it says that Bruichladdich won a double gold medal at an unspecified international competition held in 1979. The expression must therefore date from after this competition, that means 1980 at the earliest.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The nose is incredible, warm and soft brioche, fresh from the oven, bread dough, beeswax, steamed ravioli, brewer's yeast, toasted wheat, and exotic fruits, pineapple, banana, kumquat, lemon pulp, liquid honey, sun-yellowed grass, haribo candy. On the palate, there's a big drop in tension, it's more mineral and cereal-like, slightly astringent, lemon soda, notes of limestone, foam, spices tinkle on the tip of the tongue, lime, slate, and it becomes herbaceous, until a very decent, fairly long finish, where we find some exotic fruit, puffed rice, traces of dry earth, cut hay, blond tobacco.

 

In Short, 

This really is a whisky from the great era, with a slight OBE (Old Bottle Effect), the patina of the old days. The nose is wonderful, with a very fine balance between brioche, cereals and exotic fruits. The palate, on the other hand, is rather common, but that corresponds to what this whisky was at the time, a very simple, low-end expression. The finish is very good, long and robust. Enjoying this liquid, you realise just how much whisky has lost its quality over the years. Of course, you can't produce with the same efficiency what was produced at an almost artisanal level, when very few people were interested in whisky. Nevertheless, it's a bit sad to have a glimpse of what we've lost. Every self-respecting collector who can afford it should have a copy of this type in their cellar.

Score : 87

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Legiana Collective - Lord Horse

Bunnahabhain 2004 Cask Strength Collection Collection Foundations 20 yo

 

 

 

61°

Distillery : Bunnahabhain - Islay 

1st Fill Oloroso Sherry Butt

Independent Bottling 

By Signatory Vintage 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Almost Unpeated

 

 

 

The Foundations collection offers us a few gems, such as this Bunnahabhain, which spent 20 years and two months in a 1st Fill Oloroso Sherry Butt. 491 bottles were released, sold in principle only on the French market.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The nose is full of very intense Sherry, cherry pie, blueberries and redcurrants, soaked leather, dried fruits, dates, apricots, figs, brown tobacco, applesauce, patchouli, turmeric, potimarron, pomegranate, large slices of watermelon, wood varnish. On the palate, it's more nuanced, more cereal-like, nuts, pipe tobacco, prunes, baked apples, and of course red fruits galore, cinnamon, caramel, nutmeg, perhaps a touch of salt. The finish is devastating, extremely long, filled with leather and beeswax, mountain honey, blackberry and raspberry, with pine resin, quince jam, traces of encaustic.

 

In Short, 

It's true that we lose a little of the distillery's costal character, but the Sherry is so well brought out, deep, complex and nuanced. It's fabulous, delicious and intense. The price is high, of course, but commensurate with the quality produced.

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Big Daddy Wilson - Walk a Mile in my Shoes

Clynelish 2010 The Single Malts of Scotland Collection Foundations 13 yo

 

 

 

56,6°

Distillery : Clynelish - Highlands

Bourbon Barrel

Independent Bottling 

By Elixir Distillers

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 8 ppm  

Selected by La Maison du Whisky to be part of the Foundations Collection, this Clynelish spent 13 years and 9 months in a Bourbon Barrel, before being transferred to 207 bottles.

Let's Taste It : 

A classical Clynelish, with hints of vanilla and wood, a good ladleful of wax, candle wax, wood wax, the patina of old cupboards, very light minerality with a drop of peat, a few grains of salt, apple and mirabelle plum. On the palate, notes of honey, malted cereals, blond tobacco leaves, dry hay, green anise, a lemon zest. Discreet spices, nutmeg and ginger. Long, very successful finish, more honeyed, ale yeast, courgette flower fritters. Damp bark, heather, salted butter caramel.

In Short, 

A very good Clynelish, very close to perfection, just a little soft on the palate. But it's a very good job, exactly what you'd expect from this distillery. What's more, it's almost reasonably priced, so if I could I'd tell you to go for it, but it's sold out at La Maison du Whisky. You can still find it in small French  spirits websites, but not for much longer.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

                                           Dirk Darmstaedter - Love is a Kind of Poison

Secret Orkney 2005 Cask Strength Collection Collection Foundations 19 yo

 

 

 

54,3°

Distillery : Highland Park - Islands

1st Fill Sherry Butt

Independent Bottling 

By Signatory Vintage 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 20 ppm

 

 

 

Still in the Collection Foundations, there are plenty of things to satisfy the enthusiast hungry for curiosities and quality, here we have a Highland Park that spent 19 years in a 1st Fill Sherry Butt, before being served in the form of 623 bottles to a thirsty public. I don't know why the name of the distillery isn't on the label, but at La Maison du Whisky, where I was lucky enough to taste it, they make no secret of where this little thing comes from.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Cream and butter, hazelnuts, a hint of wax and resin. Some exotic fruit, banana, pineapple, but above all yellow fruit, very pulpy, with a pleasant smoothness. After a little airing, a good ladleful of heather honey, woody, floral, airy. Perhaps a few notes of iodine, but very discreet. On the palate, some rustic, malty cereals, but that almost ethereal smoothness returns, almond milk, blond tobacco, whole walnuts. The peat is far in the background, with light spices. The long finish is absolutely up to scratch, with lime, brown sugar, bark, ginger and salted butter caramel.

 

In Short, 

The distillery's profile is very recognisable, but with some very interesting features. It's creamy and very delicate. Little or no mineral or iodine notes. So this is a very rounded, almost indulgent Highland Park that I would recommend, despite its high price. Fans of the distillery will appreciate its originality.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                          Sarah Kinsley - Sublime

Highland Park 2007 Connoisseurs Choice Cask Strength Collection Foundations 16 yo

 

 

 

56,1°

Distillery : Highland Park - Islands 

Refill Bourbon Barrel 

Independent Bottling 

By Gordon & MacPhail 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 20 ppm

 

 

 

The 2nd bottling from the prestigious company Gordon & MacPhail to be specially selected by La Maison du Whisky as part of the Foundations Collection is this Highland Park, aged for 16 years in a Refill Bourbon Barrel, giving the distillate all the space it needs. 250 bottles are on sale.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Almond milk, malted barley, toasted wheat, soufflé, brioche, then the fruits come, teased by a slightly herbaceous peat, greengages, melon, walnuts. Delicate touches of heather and iodine. Cinnamon, shortbread biscuits. On the palate, milky vanilla, whipped cream, crossed by citrus flavours, lime, grapefruit, but still some greengage and a slight exotic note. Light spices, Williams pear. Long, gently mineral finish, liquoriced, chlorophyll, mint leaf, candied lemon, hot chestnuts. Bark.

 

In Short, 

A lovely Highland Park with its own little touch of originality, full of brioche and greengages. I'm not totally convinced but it's still very good. The price is a bit high but it's still OK. A purchase may be considered.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Jasmine Myra - Rising

Caol Ila 2002 Connoisseurs Choice Cask Strength Collection Foundations 21 yo

 

 

 

52,5°

Distillery : Caol Ila - Islay 

Refill Sherry Hogshead 

Independent Bottling 

By Gordon & MacPhail

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 35 ppm

 

 

 

Founded in 1895, Gordon & MacPhail is one of the world's leading independent bottlers. In order to shine in the Foundations collection on offer for tasting at the Whisky Live Paris 2024, the best casks are opened, such as this Caol Ila aged 21 years in a Refill Sherry Hogshead. 159 bottles are produced.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

A magnificent balance of mineral and maritime iodine, fine ashy peat and dried fruit. Dried dates and apricots, soot-tinged gravel, sea breeze, limestone and gypsum, pinch of salt, seaweed, kelp, shellfish, whelks topped with caramel, shortbread biscuits. It remains delicate on the palate, with light but fleshy fruit, vanilla mixed with peat, slate and quartz slivers, fresh fish with their scales, a zest of lime. Broad spices, nutmeg, cinnamon, benzoin. Very slight medicinal touch, ointment. Long, explosive finish, charcoal and bark, marzipan, walnut honey, apricot-filled biscuits.

 

In Short, 

It's really very well done, with great delicacy. As is often the case with Gordon & MacPhail, the age adds subtlety and complexity, but in no way detracts from the distillery's character. The price is high, however, so let's hope for a promotion.

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Shedfromthebody - Lungs

Arran 2012 Private Cask Collection Foundations 11 yo

 

 

 

55,9°

Distillery : Lochranza, Isle of Arran - Islands

Bourbon Barrel 

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 20 ppm

To complement the 14-year-old I mentioned earlier, these gentlemen from Arran have released this 11-year-old, which is peated. The Isle of Arran distillery distilled its first peated whisky in 2004, and released it in 2010 under the name Machrie Moor, the first in a long series that has recently come to an end. This bottling is therefore an opportunity to rediscover peated Arran, which will happen very rarely from now on, as priority must be given to the neighbouring Lagg distillery, which produces only peated whisky. Aged in a Single Bourbon Barrel, it gives pride of place to the distillate. 240 bottles are on sale.

Let's Taste It : 

The peat is light and blends very well with the lemony and costal notes. Candied lemon, liquid honey, a pinch of sea salt, foam and sea spray, but it remains delicate. In the background, limestone ash, quicklime and ointment. On the palate, it becomes more herbaceous, reeds, nettles, grapefruit, lively spices, almonds, pecans, chalk, yellow plum and golden apple. The finish is powerful enough, long and pleasant, iodine and fleur de sel, sediments, quartz, slate, grey mushrooms, lichen, dry earth.

In Short, 

It seems very good to me, the costal character of the distillery is well highlighted, with mineral notes increased by the peat, which is nevertheless quite discreet. I think it will delight fans of peated Arran, but I find the price a bit high for what it is.

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           The Sixsters - Hurricane in my Soul

Speyside (M) 2011 100 Proof Edition #29 13 yo

 

 

 

57,1° (100° Proof)

Distillery : The Macallan - Speyside

1st Fill Oloroso Sherry Butts 

Independent Bottling 

By Signatory Vintage 

Limited Edition 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured 

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

And since good things never come alone, it seems that a new Macallan has just hit the shelves of the spirits shops. This time it's aged exclusively in 1st Fill Oloroso Sherry Butts, but apart from that the age is the same, 13 years. No idea how many bottles were produced.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

It's heady, indulgent, but also balanced. Plum tart, apfelstrudel, cinnamon and brown sugar, whipped cream, light autumnal freshness, orchard fruits, syrupy smoke, compote, pumpkin soup, candied peppers, blackberries and blueberries, wild strawberries. Hot chocolate, walnut-filled gingerbread. On the palate, full of caramel, it's almost acidic, chocolate chips, mirabelle plums, gently bitter deep wood, exotic spices, cinnamon, saffron, curry, nutmeg. The finish is long and powerful, but not overpowering, with baked apples, cola, liquorice, liquid caramel, oak bark and hot chestnuts.

 

In Short, 

The flaws I found in 100 Proof #25 are nowhere to be found here, it's very well balanced, everything is in its place, and we're left with a very good product, to be snapped up without a second thought if you can find it near you.

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Mary Dukes & The 32-20 Band - Too Much To Drink