Benrinnes 2011 100 Proof Edition #33 13 yo

 

 

 

57,1° (100° Proof)

Distillery : Benrinnes - Speyside

1st Fill Oloroso Sherry Butts 

Independent Bottling 

By Signatory Vintage 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

The 33rd bottling in the 100 Proof range launched just over a year ago is a Benrinnes, and it's the first one. For the occasion, they found 1st Fill Sherry Butts at least 13 years old, which should be enough to embellish the distillate.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Deep and rich sherry, red fruits, blueberries, blackcurrants, raspberries, redcurrants of all colours. Spoonfuls of jam. Forest honey. Prunes, varnished noble wood. On the palate, molasses, resin, quinces, green tea, apple crumble generously sprinkled with cinnamon. Intense spices, cloves, nutmeg, cumin. Quite a long and appreciable finish, religieuse au chocolat, slight woody bitterness, cola, coffee grounds. Shortbread biscuits, chestnuts, forest undergrowth, a few drops of caramel. 

 

In Short, 

I liked the nose, it's Sherry as we like it, deep, subtle and not sickening. The finish is also a success, just lacking a little something on the palate to make it a total success, but I didn't find what I required. That said, this is a good Benrinnes for a very attractive price, and I'd recommend buying it.

Score : 87

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Suzie Ungerleider - The Wilds

Mortlach 2013 100 Proof Edition #34 11 yo

 

 

 

57,1° (100° Proof)

Distillery : Mortlach - Speyside

1st and 2d Fill Oloroso Sherry Butts 

Independent Bottling 

By Signatory Vintage 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated 

 

 

 

This is the 34th bottling in the 100 Proof range launched early last year, and the first Mortlach. It is 11 years old and aged in 1st Fill and 2d Fill Sherry Butts. Mortlach works very well with Sherry, so we'll see what happens this time.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Warmer sherry, sandalwood, various red fruits, prickly pears, blood oranges, plantains. Juicy pears, with a mint leaf. Dates, quince jam. Vinegary condiments and a touch of malt. It's a little shy on the palate, with just a few yellow fruits, apricots and lemon, jam and coppery wood. Rape honey and all sorts of spices, ginger, cinnamon, cloves. Powerful, very woody finish, burnt caramel, pistachio. Nutmeg, salted butter caramel. Mille-feuilles, pastry cream and icing sugar.

 

In Short, 

The nose is not bad, with a variety of fruits and beautiful nuances. The finish is powerful and will not leave you indifferent. On the palate, on the other hand, I found it decent but unremarkable. It's not a great Mortlach, lacking in character and rather inconsistent. But it's still pleasant to drink, sometimes nuanced and powerful. The price is derisory, so there's not much risk in buying a bottle.

Score : 87

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Velvet Rush - Aurora

Glenburgie 1995 Artist #14 Rothes Glen Over 25 yo

 

 

 

54,7°

Distillery : Glenburgie - Speyside

Bourbon Hogshead

Independent Bottling 

By La Maison du Whisky 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated 

 

 

 

Still in the 14th Batch of the Artist range, and subtitled Rothes Glen to pay homage to the architect Charles Doig, this Glenburgie distilled in 1995 is considered to be over 25 years old, but in fact it's more like 28 years old that should be claimed on the label. The latter is adorned with a work by Victor Ekpuk entitled Returnee. 200 bottles have been crafted, and reserved for the French market.

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The nose is very creamy, with cake pastry, custardy vanilla, and some exotic fruit in the background, pineapple, grapefruit, banana, but also pear, peach, mirabelle plum, cereals galore and acacia honey, puffed rice, cracked wheat, barley. Almond milk, semi-salted butter. The palate is delicate, even silky, the cereals are there, sprinkled with lemon, but also pastry cream, pulpy white fruit, cinnamon, rosemary and black pepper. The finish is as long as I'd hoped, as creamy as ever, liquorice, caramel, almond paste, candied fruit, shortbread biscuits.

 

In Short, 

It's an excellent Glenburgie, less saturated with fruit than some others I've tasted, but infused with cream, almonds, vanilla and icing sugar. It really is beautifully made. Unfortunately, the price is excessive, which is often the case with this range. So it's best reserved for absolute fans and, if possible, wealthy.

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

                                            Nina Nesbitt - The Mountain & The Man                                  

Glendullan 2012 100 Proof Edition #32 11 yo

 

 

 

57,1° (100° Proof)

Distillery : Glendullan - Speyside

1st Fill Oloroso Sherry Butts

Independent Bottling 

By Signatory Vintage 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

The 100 Proof range has been around for over a year now, and we're already on the 32nd bottling. This is an 11-year-old Glendullan, aged in a few Oloroso Sherry Butts. Glendullan is a distillery belonging to Diageo, which is almost entirely devoted to Blends, so it's interesting to have a bit of Single Malt from them, as it allows you to discover the profile.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Quite simple and slightly alcoholic sherry. Copper and dried fruits, dates, raisins. Delicately waxed wood. Plum, peach and pear pulp. White melon. Vanilla glaze. Apple crumble, cinnamon. It"s very decent on the palate, with nectarine, brugnon, white grape and more of these copper notes. Quinces and apricots. Imposing spices, cloves, cumin, grey pepper. Long and full finish, slightly charred, burnt caramel, intense wood with a touch of bitterness. Bread dough.

 

In Short, 

This is a representative bottling from the 100 Proof range, with an intense Sherry and a cask pushed to its maximum capacity to impregnate the distillate. The result is quite successful, despite a few slight flaws. It's pleasant to drink, but the downside is that it's hard to detect the distillery's personality behind all the Sherry. As usual, the price is very attractive, which may convince even the most reluctant to try a bottle. But you have to like Sherry.

Score : 87

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Array of Illusions - Whispers

Compass Box The Peat Monster 4th Edition

 

 

 

46° 

Distillery : Caol Ila, Laphroaig, Ledaig, Ardmore, Clynelish, Dailuaine, Teaninich - Islay, Islands, Highlands, Speyside

Refill Bourbon Hoghsheads nad Barrels, Heavily Toasted French Oak Barrels

Independent Bottling 

By Compass Box 

Limited Edition 

Blended Malt Scotch Whisky

Bottled in 2016

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 38 ppm

 

 

 

The Peat Monster is a legend in the history of whisky, and is the work of John Glaser, the founder of Compass Box. The first Peat Monster dates back to 2003, but it was only called Monster at the time. Then came the first, second, third and fourth editions of Peat Monster. In between, we had a special 10th anniversary edition, a first Peat Monster Cask Strength in 2015, the Peat Monster Arcana in 2020, and a 2nd Cask Strength in 2023 for the 20th anniversary. Finally, in 2019, Peat Monster was integrated into the Signature Range, Compass Box's regular range. It has therefore become much easier to find. The recipes change depending on the edition, and I'm not entirely sure about the one for this 4th edition released in 2016, as it's kept more or less secret. The only recipe officially given is for the new Peat Monster in 2019, but the ones before contained Ardmore and sometimes Ledaig. Nor is it known how many bottles were produced for this edition. However, it is said to be between 10 and 16 years old.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Powerful and herbaceous peat right from the start, followed by a fine balance. Mineral notes, sprinkled with lemon. Yellow fruits in the background, thick and slightly medicinal smoke. Whitewashed walls, damp hay. Mountain honey. The palate is a little pale and rather lemony, the peat is still there. Pungent spices, cloves, ginger, treacle, lychees. Apple not quite ripe. Quite correct, decent, almost long finish, charcoal, pepper, liquorice, greasy ashes. Braised chestnuts. Waxed wood.

 

In Short, 

It's typically the kind of thing you can't resist having another glass of. I opened it a few days ago, and the bottle is already well used up. It's not extremely complex, nor powerful, it's not that monstrous, far from it, but it's the perfect formula for an easy-to-drink whisky, which is bound to please peat lovers. I think it's Laphroaig that dominates, helped a little by Ledaig, while Caol Ila is more discreet. On the Signature Range Edition, Caol Ila is more present, and I prefer it, but this edition is very pleasant. You can still find it at the release price on certain sites, but you'll have to look hard because it's officially been out of stock for at least 5 years.

Score : 86 

                                            To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Copperboots - The Quiet Queen

Bunnahabhain 1977 Artist #12 Over 40 yo

 

 

 

47,2°

Distillery : Bunnahabhain - Islay 

Refill Sherry Butt 

Independent Bottling 

By La Maison du Whisky 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2022

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Almost Unpeated

 

 

 

This one was released in 2022, with the 12th Batch of Artist, the range relaunched every year by La Maison du Whisky for the Whisky Live Paris. It is claimed to be over 40 years old, but in fact its exact age is 44, which is getting on in years. It has spent all this time in a Refill Sherry Butt, resulting in 546 bottles. The label features a painting by Gesine Arp entitled Volo Sul Sup.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Creamy nose typical of the distillery, with a pinch of salt, but fruit as far as the eye can see, vanilla, pear, peach, pineapple, papaya, redcurrants, blueberries, honey galore, woody fragrances, mint and bay leaves. On the palate, woody and marine fullness, a shadow of peat, fruit pulp mixed with wood wax, very light spices, nutmeg. Very long, full and explosive finish, some exotic fruits, chamomile, shortbread biscuits. Herbaceous notes, dark chocolate, coffee, dried figs.

 

In Short, 

To confess, I was a little disappointed by the palate, which seemed clear to me, but the rest is excellent, very impressive. The nose is captivating with its variety of pulpy fruits, and the finish wins you over with its exceptional length and vigour despite the fairly low alcohol content. Quite marvellous stuff on the whole, but the price cuts short any spell, it's out of reach for 95% of the population.

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                          To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Etta James - Cry Like a Rainy Day

Longmorn 1994 Artist #14 Rothes Glen 30 yo

 

 

 

55,9°

Distillery : Longmorn - Speyside

Refill Hogshead

Independent Bottling 

By La Maison du Whisky 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated 

 

 

 

La Maison du Whisky continues with its Artist range, subtitled Rothes Glen in honour of the great architect Charles Doig, and it's now a 30-year-old Longmorn that we're dealing with. Distilled in 1994 and then aged in a Refill Hogshead, the distillate should come out very much embellished. Only 141 bottles were offered for sale, and Serge Valentin, the master of us all, rated this nectar 92. Needless to say, the bottles sold like hotcakes, despite the very high price. The label features a picture by Victor Ekpuk entitled Take Five.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Buttered toast and white fruit, pineapple, coconut, mirabelle plums, Italia grapes. An ounce of wax, resin, lacquered noble wood. Crushed banana, heather honey, dates and figs, coppery tints then a little earthy, blond tobacco, ginger. On the palate, soaked and waxy leather, thick lemon sauce, some exotic fruit in the background, then it becomes more chocolatey, even rooty. Orchard fruit, juicy pear, green apple. White peach. Rare spices. Very long, honeyed finish, resin, tobacco once again, almonds and orange peel, shortbread biscuits, egg yolk. Chestnuts.

In Short, 

It's obviously very good, but I have the impression that I'm missing something, because for me it doesn't deserve 92 at all. It's still a very good whisky, complex, fine, long on the palate, but nothing exceptional. The price, on the other hand, is exceptional, even outrageous, but that didn't stop it from being sold out at La Maison du Whisky. You can still find it on some lesser-known websites.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Heather Nova - Ghost in my Room

Aberlour 2008 Artist #14 Rothes Glen 15 yo

 

 

 

58,9°

Distillery : Aberlour - Speyside

Sherry Oloroso Hogshead

Independent Bottling 

By La Maison du Whisky 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated 

 

 

 

The Artist #14 range, launched on the occasion of the Whisky Live Paris 2024, includes this 15-year-old Aberlour aged in Hogshead Sherry. The label features a painting by Victor Ekpuk entitled Found Green. 257 bottles are on sale.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Very intense and heady sherry, dark chocolate, in which someone must have forgotten one or two coffee beans, blueberry jam, blood oranges, exotic fruits such as papaya, watermelon, pomegranate, with black berries and muscat grapes, sultana pudding, redcurrants, candied ginger, apricots and dates. Forest undergrowth. It's silky on the palate, but a little light, with pineapple and mango, crème brûlée, guava. Spices under control. Very long, intense finish, pipe tobacco, blackcurrant, dried bay leaf, heather earth, salted butter caramel, wild strawberry coulis. Shortbread biscuits.

 

In Short, 

A very deep and rich Sherry, like you'd find in any old Aberlour, but this one is still a bit young and lacks a touch of complexity. There's a certain freshness as well, and lots of fruit of all kinds. A great pleasure for fans of the profile, but the price seems very excessive to me.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Betty Fox Band - Slow Burn