Aberlour A'bunadh Alba Batch 007

 

 

 

58,9°

Distillery : Aberlour - Speyside

Ex-Bourbon Barrels 

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2022

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated 

 

 

 

Everyone knows the Aberlour A'bunadh, which have been around since 1998 and have over 80 batches of intense Sherry Bombs. But the A'bunadh Alba are much more recent, the first dates from 2018, and they are aged exclusively in Bourbon casks. After Sherry Bombs and Peat Bombs, perhaps Aberlour has invented Bourbon Bombs? I'm joking, but it's an excellent initiative, at the rate of one or two Batches a year, we're now waiting for the 10th Batch, but the one I was able to taste was Batch 007, released in early 2023.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

It's quite unctuous, hazelnuts, a dash of vanilla, white fruits, mirabelle plums, green apples, juicy pears. Some toasted cereals, chestnut leaves, young but already varnished wood, warm bread, just out of the oven. A certain country freshness. On the palate, the alcohol makes itself felt a little, but it remains solid: shortbread biscuits, cat's tongues, wood varnish, various fruit pulps, apricots, white plums, mashed banana. Fairly powerful spices, but no less so than the finish, which is explosive but not very long, roasted nuts, birch bark, earthy notes, pheasant meat, melon.

 

In Short, 

I thought it was a great success, very well done. It gives everything that a Cask Strength Bourbon bottling can give. Of course, it's quite young, but there's character and creaminess, a certain complexity too, and length on the palate. The price, on the other hand, is a little exaggerated, I think you'll have to wait for a promotion.

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Delta Sleep - Figure in the Dark

Orkney (HP) 2010 100 Proof Edition #38 14 yo

 

 

 

57,1° (100° Proof)

Distillery : Highland Park - Islands

1st Fill Oloroso Sherry Butt and Bourbon Hogshead

Independent Bottling 

By Signatory Vintage 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 20 ppm

 

 

 

This is already the 4th bottling from Highland Park in the 100 Proof range, launched barely 16 months ago. As is almost always the case, it is aged mainly in Sherry casks, and the number of bottles produced is not specified, although it is known to be very large.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Red fruit purée, raspberries, redcurrants, blackcurrants, blueberries, light ashy peat, pieces of lignite, melting dark chocolate, hot caramel, dates, well ripened apricots. A floral touch, some heather, semi-salted butter, wood and molasses, sesame. On the palate, peaches, honey, mandarins, then fairly strong spices, cumin, nutmeg. Rather long finish, with a certain character, chocolate crumble, cinnamon, damp earth, soft caramel, sandalwood. Chewing tobacco, cashews.

 

In Short, 

The Sherry is a little more prominent than on the other two editions I tasted, and on the palate it's a little clear. It's still a good product, there's a nice apricot fragrance on the nose, and the finish is well done, but I find that it's the least good of the Orney 100 Proofs that I know of. But if you can't find another one, you might as well take this one, the distillery's character is clearly detectable, and the value for money is still very good.

Score : 87

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Sleep Party People - Things Will Disappear Like Tears in the Rain

Hellyers Road 2003 Collection Foundations 21 yo

 

 

 

62,4°

Distillery : Hellyers Road - Australia

1st Fill American Oak Bourbon Barrel

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated  

It's one of the oldest bottlings to come out of Australia, and indeed the southern hemisphere. Hellyers Road is a distillery that has been operating in Tasmania since 1999, and is proud of its artisanal character. The fermentation takes 65 hours, and the distillation 72 hours, which is a long time. This cask was selected by La Maison du Whisky to be part of the Collection Foundations on the occasion of the Whisky Live Paris 2024, and filled just 150 bottles. The alcohol content is incredibly high for a 21-year-old whisky, so the environment must have been very dry.

Let's Taste It : 

Fruit paste, candied fruit, rose loukoum, there's a lovely explosion of fruit on the nose, but it remains very sweet, slightly citrusy, grapefruit, clementine, and even floral. At the same time, it's very cerealy and sandy, dried cereals in a desert climate, all coated with a good vanilla bean, almond paste, coconut crumbs and acacia honey. A zest of lime. On the palate, the noble wood is laid bare with ginger and vanilla custard, ripe peaches and mashed banana. Fine herbs, thyme, rosemary, parsley, a stick of liquorice and very well-integrated spices, nutmeg, saffron. The finish is powerful and long, hazelnuts, puffed rice and damp sand. The fruit becomes white, grape, mirabelle plum, and a return of almonds and ginger.

In Short, 

It's absolutely marvellous, and above all it's highly original, truly remarkable in its character and personality. The age adds great complexity, but in no way detracts from the liveliness of the flavours. For this reason, I think it's a little masterpiece in its own way, everything is very well done, there are no real faults even if the palate is slightly below the rest. The price is unfortunately very high, but it's a rare product, so you'll have to wait for a promotion.

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Troels Hammer - Botswana Girl

Amrut 2017 Collection Foundations Ex-Oloroso Peated 6 yo

 

 

 

60°

Distillery : Amrut - India 

Oloroso Sherry Cask 

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Lightly Peated

 

 

 

As well as having produced India's first Single Malt Whisky, the Amrut group is constantly experimenting and launching new bottlings. Although only 0.25% of their alcohol production is Single Malt Whisky, some bottlings are real curiosities, like this one, aged for 6 years and 11 months in a single Oloroso Sherry cask, for a total of 462 bottles. As whisky ages two to three times faster in India, with more than half the cask having disappeared at a rate of 11% of angels' share per year, this is a truly exceptional product.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Beautiful fullness from the oloroso, combined with ash and a bewitching, slightly dry smoke. It's unctuous, fragrant leather, red berries and dried fruits, apricots, raspberries, figs, dates, redcurrants. Exotic wood, cinnamon. It's velvety and elegant on the palate, despite hints of soot and charcoal, with intense fruit, quinces, forest berries, lively spices, nutmeg and cloves. Long and heady finish, fried bacon, red fruit coulis, charcoal. Heather honey, crushed peanuts. A slight herbal touch.

 

In Short, 

It's some of the best stuff you'll find from Amrut, the age is right, and the Oloroso Sherry cask is of good quality, all in all it makes a very good product. However, I find it a little lacking in character and personality. As for the price, I find it astronomical for what it is.

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Blood Cultures - Set it on Fire

Bimber 2019 Collection Foundations

 

 

 

58,5°

Distillery : Bimber - England

Moscatel Sherry Cask 

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 50 ppm

Bimber is a London distillery created in 2015. Their barley is sourced from Warminster Maltings, England's oldest malting plant, located close to the distillery. The liquid is left to ferment for 7 days, which is a long time. Bimber is therefore a distillery that claims to be artisanal, in an ultra-industrial environment. This one has been selected by La Maison du Whisky to form part of the Collection Foundations. It is the contents of a Moscatel Sherry cask, and has filled 301 bottles. The whisky is only 4 to 5 years old, and is peaty, which sometimes happens at Bimber. Usually with this distillery, the peat content of the barley is 50 ppm, and 14.5 ppm in the glass. But these are the usual measurements and I don't know if they are the same with this cask.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Very fresh white fruit, pomade, industrial glue, light peat, grainy and ashy, then the sherry makes itself felt, blood oranges, honey and dried leather, saffron, paprika, cinnamon, tomatoes, raspberries and a few floral fragrances. On the palate, dried fruit, figs, raisins, apricots, it's quite honeyed, but also tarry, with the dust of light peat and fleshy spices, cloves, nutmeg. The finish is long and powerful, the charcoal is thick, but gives way to exotic fruits, coconut, banana, pineapple. A pinch of salt, a medicinal touch.

 

In Short, 

Very elegant, but also slightly acidic, this whisky is complex and very original. I enjoyed it, especially the finish. It's a very interesting product, but the price seems very high to me, I'm well aware that artisanal production increases costs tenfold, but it shouldn't be exaggerated.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Diamonds - Beautiful Dark

Rampur 2016 Single Cask Foundations 8 yo

 

 

 

57,5°

Distillery : Rampur - India

1st Fill American Bourbon Barrel 

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

Rampur is owned by Radico Khaitan Ltd, it's a distillery established in the town of the same name in 1943, but it has only been producing whisky since the early 2010s. This one is a very limited edition of 135 bottles, undoubtedly one of the rare Single Casks from this distillery. The maturation process is very straightforward, allowing us to discover the character of this distillate.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Fragrant bark, melting caramel, very ripe apricot, orange marmalade with a hint of clove, fruit paste, warm floral fragrances, roses, tulips, it's fleshy and lush, red curry, a few drops of raspberry, treacle. It's very syrupy on the palate, rose loukoum, exotic fruit coulis, banana, mango, sesame nougat, soft-boiled egg, calissons, pastry cream. The spices are discreet but shimmering. Long, honeyed finish, puffed rice, brown tobacco, liquorice, damp roots, warm chestnuts.

 

In Short, 

It's very interesting, it has its own identity, its own character, the typicality of its country. It's exotic, suave, languorous, with colourful flavours. It's very original, of course, but I don't know if it will appeal to everyone. As for the price, it's too high for my liking.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Elephabt Stine - The Imajinary, NAmeless Everybody in the World

Springbank 2011 Local Barley 10 yo

 

 

 

51,6°

Distillery : Springbank - Campbeltown

100% Bourbon Casks 

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2021

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 12 ppm

 

 

 

This is the 7th edition of Local Barley since the range was resurrected in 2016. The first range included much older bottlings launched between 1988 and 2001, and is now legendary.  The new range, launched in 2016, is made up of rather younger bottlings, between 8 and 16 years old, often 10 years old. This one is one of the 4 Local Barley 10 year olds, and one of the 2 to have matured entirely in Bourbon casks, the other being an 11 year old released in 2017. This is a large-scale limited edition, with 15,000 bottles on sale.

Let's Taste It : 

Some straw, with a little earth on top, hints of stable, hay, whitewash, candied lemon, juicy pineapple, beeswax, floral notes, primrose, sunflower, a whiff of airy iodine, banana Frécinette, lime blossom, wild flower honey. Semi-salted butter, starting to melt. Mirabelle plums. IIt's clearer on the palate, lemon, vanilla, egg custard, caramel, treacle, cloves, cumin, lychees. Long, generous finish, icing sugar, white grapes, vanilla ice cream, then rough wood, very slight touch of bitterness. Endives, celery. Brussels sprouts.

 

In Short, 

With the 100% Bourbon Casks maturation, we have the very essence of Springbank's identity, the notes of barn, hay and rough wood, with a dash of iodine. That's why I really liked this one, it offers the Springbank character in all its authenticity. Once again, you have to realise that these Local Barleys are extraordinary, even revolutionary in the world of whisky. It's the paradox of local production in a hyper-industrial environment. Obviously, this kind of initiative comes at a high price, and fascinates the public. As a result, the last remaining copies of this legend are selling at an outrageous price.

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Giles Corey - No One is Ever Going to Want Me

Port Charlotte 2004 Rest & Be Thankful Rare Collection Collection Foundations 2024 19 yo

 

 

 

59,1°

Distillery : Bruichladdich - Islay

Oloroso Sherry Hogshead

Independent Bottling 

By Rest & Be Thankful Whisky Co.

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 40 ppm

 

 

 

Port Charlotte bottlings over 18 years old are rare, with fewer than 30 in existence today. It was under the direction of Jim McEwan and Mark Reynier that the first casks of Port Charlotte were distilled in 2001, and the first bottling was launched in 2006. 18 years later, it's fair to say that Port Charlotte is a central part of the distillery. This one was launched at the Whisky Live Paris event, as part of the Collection Foundations created by La Maison du Whisky, and reserved for the French market. 250 bottles were released to the world.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

On the nose, wisps of Sherry settle delicately, ebony wood, brown sugar, charcoal and soot, cooked mushrooms, brown tobacco, fig jam, cinnamon, earthy notes, roasted nuts, melting caramel, ashes in the fireplace, melon, quinces and medlars, dried bananas. Iodine and sea spray, seaweed. On the palate, the same impression as on the nose, it's thick, deep, woody, but also very fruity and supple, with a serious layer of peat in the background, accompanied by some mineral elements, graphite, quartz, candied cherries, blueberry tart, lemon zest, baked apples, meringue, not excessive but intense spices, cloves, black pepper. Very long and explosive finish, charcoal, earth, incense stick, slice of bacon, crushed red fruit, blackberries, redcurrants. Toasted hazelnuts.

 

In Short, 

Another excellent product, it's on a par with this one, which is still on my must-have list. This one is a little less fruity, not much exotic fruit, but deeper and earthier, woody, melting caramel and perfectly integrated peat. It's a masterpiece, and the worst thing is that it's still available to buy, but at an exuberant price. I'm waiting for a promotion worthy of the name.

Score : 91

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Helllight - As Daylight Fades