For the full list of tasting notes, click here

21 Dec 24

Ben Nevis 2002 for Waldhaus am See, 21 YO, Signatory, 56.1%, B:2024, First fill sherry cask 327. Price: Colour: Amber Nose: Rich, heavy, with lots of tannins and leather, dried fruits (sultanas, orange, figs), brambleberries, nice floral and light grassy flavours. Taste: Rich, fruity, floral, juicy, with nice grassy flavours, milk chocolate, soft leather, brambleberries, some blackcurrant, fudge and soft tannins. The finish is long, fruity, grassy, on soft tannins, dark berries, some fudge and various fruity flavours (mango, orange, figs) and chocolate. Impression: From a first fill sherry cask, this Ben Nevis is nicely complex, fruity, on tannins, spices, leather and dark berries. Rich, thick and juicy. Very good. Rating: 15/20 FP:G2

Ben Nevis 1996, 23 YO, Golden Cask, 46.1%, cask CH252. Price: Colour: Old gold-amber Nose: Round, rather mellow, fruity to very fruity, with lots of exotic fruits. An excellent fruit basket. Taste: Very fruity, grassy, intense, complex, with lots of exotic fruits (papaya, mango, passion fruits), nice grassy flavours and a hint of smoke. Excellent. The finish is long, very fruity, slightly spicy and grassy, with lots of fresh tropical fruits and light oaky flavours, Diluted, the fruity flavours are becoming softer. Impression: A delicious fruity bomb, with lots of exotic fruits. There are light to mild oaky flavours, giving a nice bite to the whole. During the first tasting, it seemed rather oaky, but a few weeks, the fruity flavours have exploded. Rating: 17/20 FP:A2

Ben Nevis 1996 Skiers, Acla Selection, 45.1%, B:2024, cask 412. Price: Colour: Gold Nose: Fresh, fruity to very fruity, with lots of papaya, guava, some passion fruits and pineapples. Very nice. Taste: Light, mellow, fresh, very fruity, on a mixture of ripe and green pineapples, papaya, passion fruits, and some slightly green orchards fruits, as well as a touch of vanilla custard. The finish is medium, mellow, with some green fruits, pineapples, papaya, some passion fruits and slightly green pears. Impression: A rather light and mellow Ben Nevis, with lovely fruity flavours, on exotic fruits, including papaya and pineapple. I like these fruity flavours very much, although the whisky is rather thin. Rating: 15/20 FP:A1

17 Dec 24

Holyrood Embra, OB, 43.6%, B:2024. Price: Colour: Pale gold Nose: Smoky, dirty, oily, moderately peaty, with some aromatic peat smoke, peach, vanilla and light nutty flavours. Taste: Smooth (new make), peaty, aromatic, slightly yeasty, rather oily and gristy, with a nice aromatic peat smoke, some hops, green nutty flavours, some almonds, peach, vanilla and custard. The finish is medium, oily to very oily, nutty, on aromatic peat smoke, vanilla, nuts, some green olives, clives and a touch of hops. Impression: A very nice whisky, with a nice aromatic peat smoke, an oily body with light nutty flavours. The different types of yeasts, barley and casks provides a nice complexity to this young malt. Rating: 14/20 FP:C4

Holyrood Ambir, OB, 49.8%, B:2024. Price: Colour: Pale gold Nose: Light, creamy, rather malty, slightly nutty, with some cocoa, soft spices, fudge  and freshly crushed barley. Taste: Fresh, malty, on freshly crushed barley, some hops, toffee, fudge, vanilla and soft spices. The finish is medium, smooth (new make), some toffee, fudge, soft spices, some floral fragrant flavours, light yeasty and nutty flavours. Diluted, it becomes even smoother, and slightly more fragrant. Impression: A smooth, light and young whisky, with light toffee and fudges aromas, as well as some soft spices coming from ex-sherry casks. Rating: 11/20 FP:D1

13 Dec 24

Ardnamurchan  Sherry, OB, 50%, B :2024. Price: Colour:  Gold Colour: Amber Nose: Peaty, intense, tarry, oily, on old soot, tar, dry aromatic peat smoke, worn leather, soft spices (cinnamon and nutmeg mainly), honey and light nutty flavours. Taste: Peaty, tarry, smooth, smoky, on plums, sultanas, lots of tar, hemp rope, soot, dry aromatic peat smoke, some tobacco and black liquorice. The finish is long, chewy, thick, dry, peaty and tarry, on black liquorice, grapes, sultanas, and with some floral flavours at the end. Impression: A lovely, rich, thick and chewy whisky, with intense sherry flavours and a very tarry peat smoke. Rating: 14/20 FP:G5

Ardnamurchan 10 YO, OB, 50%, B :2024. Price: Colour:  Gold Nose: Fruity, with nice waxy flavours, mango, pears, apples, vanilla, some grassy flavour and flinstones. Taste: Waxy, fruity, slightly oaky, rather fresh, on ripe vanilla, mango, peach, and orchards fruits, light grassy flavours and some hay. The finish is fruity, slightly oaky, astringent and bitter, on green pineapple and mango, some slightly green orchards fruits, citrus and honey. Impression: A whisky with a lovely nose, on rather soft fruity flavours and honey, but with a rather bitter and astringent finish. Rating: 13/20 FP:A1

10 Dec 24

Secret Islay 2009, 14 YO, Dramcatcher, 49.3%, B:2024, cask 1201. Price: Colour: Gold Nose: Peaty, maritime, rather complex, on nice maritime peat smoke, seaweeds, some oysters, freshly pressed lemon and iodine. Elegant. Taste: Mellow, complex, smoky, maritime, peaty, slightly zesty and mineral, with some seaweeds, peat smoke, iodine, a touch of menthol and a nice mellow maritime peat smoke. The finish is medium to long, mellow, peaty, smoky, maritime, with some lemon zest, iodine, disinfectant, seaweeds and vanilla. Impression: A very elegant single malt distilled at Ardbeg, with a nice maritime peat smoke, lemon and some disinfectant. Complex and mellow. Rating:16/20 FP:A5

Glen Moray 2013 for Whisky & Music, Dramcatcher, 51.4%, B:2024 cask 2312209. Price: Colour: Old gold Nose: Spicy, rich, on oaky spices, apples, pears, some vanilla, peach, honey, tobacco, soft leather, and sultanas. Rather complex and nicely balanced. Taste: Spicy, floral, rather fragrant, moderately winey, on dried fruits, grapes, sultanas, some sugary flavours, nuts, spiced bread, orange and slightly green and oaky. The finish is medium, floral, slightly fragrant, on liquorice, leather, honey, some woodland flavours, sultanas, slightly fragrant floral flavours and a dash of orchards fruits. Diluted, it becomes more on toffee. Impression: A rather rich and spicy Glen Moray, on cinnamon, nutmeg, some cloves, old leather flavours, wich gives a nice complexity to this whisky and a different flavour profile from the core products. Rating: 14/20 FP:D1

08 Dec 24

Auchroisk 16 YO Manager’s Dram, OB, 55.6%, B:2015. Price: Colour: Amber Nose: Round, malty, floral, rather fruity and juicy, with some peach, apricots, sultanas, honey, orange, leather and soft spices. With a lovely combination of fruity and malty flavours. Taste: Starchy, malty, floral, slightly fragrant, with some leather, honey, chamomille, toffee, sultanas and some spices. Rather warming and elegant. The finish is rather long, round, smooth, floral, slightly spicy, on leather, toffee, fresh floral flavours, some leather, orange and soft spices, as well as some ginger bread. Impression: A very nice soft and floral single malt, with a pleasant roundness, some toffee and soft spices. Rating: 15/20 FP:D1

Caol Ila 12 YO, Manager’s Dram, OB, 58%, B:2021. Price: Colour: Amber-red Nose: Dry, peaty to very peaty, ashy, maritime, on dry maritime peat smoke, some grapes, light winey flavours, seaweeds, hemp rope, tar and sooty. Very dry and maritime. Taste: Dry, winey, salty, peaty, on grapes, various winey flavours, dry maritime peat smoke, seaweeds, iodine, hemp rope, some pepper, leather and a touch of rubber. The finish is long, dry, maritime, intense, tarry, on hemp rope, grapes, winey flavours, leather, seaweeds, and some rubber. Impression: The distillate is very good, with a lovely dry, intense and peat smoke, but also with some rather winey flavours, suggesting the use of some red wine casks for its maturation. Rating:15/20 FP:D7

04 Dec 24

Secret Highland 2012 Skier, 11 YO, Acla Selection, 53.3%, B:2024, Price: Colour: Straw Nose: Smooth, light, rather grassy, with some ginger, freshly cut grass, aromatic herbs, light floral flavours, as well as some vanilla, oak spices and candied ginger, with a touch of nuts. Taste: Very smooth, with light flavours, but a rather oily and malty body, some fresh floral flavours (including hay), candied ginger, vanilla, some heather and aromatic herbs. Diluted, there is a touch of lemon. The finish is rather long, oily, smooth, malty, moderately aromatic, with some ginger, lemon curd, vanilla, grist, light nutty and aromatic herbs. Impression: A very smooth single malt, rather oily and malty, on ginger and some aromatic herbs and a certain complexity. Elegant and subtle. Rating: 13/20 FP:A1

Glen Garioch 2011, 12 YO Brothers in Malt, 55.8%, B:2023, cask 2692. Price: Colour: Straw Nose: Smooth to very smooth, fresh, aromatic, some light floral flavours, elderberries, juicy malt and a touch of ginger and chamomile. Pleasantly smooth, with light spicy-gingery aromas. Taste: Smooth to very smooth, rather oily, with some ginger, spices, light aromatic herbs, sugary malty flavours, some heather and fresh and light floral flavours. The finish is medium, malty, oily, slightly spicy, very smooth, on sugary malty flavours, some ginger, dried aromatic herbs, vanilla and light floral flavours. Impression: A very smooth whisky, with little wood influence and nice ginger, floral and oily flavours, in the same style as the Secret Highland. Rating: 13/20 FP:A1

01 Dec 24

Dailuaine 2013, The Whisky Chamber, 58.6%, B:2024, Amarone Barrique. Price: Colour: Old gold Nose: Round, spicy, slightly winey, on nice sugary grape flavours, various round spices, light creamy and malty flavours. The influence of the wine is noticeable, but very well-integrated, and provides a very enjoyable sweetness to the nose. Very nice. Taste: Malty, spicy, floral, on nice round and spicy winey flavours, some grapes, cinnamon, nutmeg, leather, chewing gum and with some tannins. The finish is long, round, spicy, slightly winey, on red berries, grapes, vanilla, some custard, cinnamon, cloves and tannins. Diluted, there are some cocoa beans flavours released. Impression: I am not found of wine finished whiskies, but in this case, the cask was matured from birth in an ex-amarone oak cask and the spicy and tannins from the wine are rather mild and remarkably well-integrated with a round and intense distillate. Very good. Rating: 15/20 FP:E1

Glen Garioch “hand written label” Fino, 13 YO, Samaroli, 57%, B:1988. Price: Colour: Straw Nose: Dry, austere, peaty, sharp, intense, aromatic, bitter, on camphor, some medicinal flavours and dark chocolate. Given time, it becomes more medicinal. Taste: Dry, bitter, aromatic, citric to very citric, dry, smoky, austere, waxy, on lemon peel, bitter lemon, liquorice roots, almonds, nuts, and some honey comb. The finish is long, peaty, austere to very austere, waxy to very waxy, citric, slightly fragrant, on nuts, almonds, aromatic herbs, bitter lemon and oranges, as well as some honey comb. Impression:  A rather austere, aromatic and bitter whisky, with a medicinal nose and combined with some nutty flavours. From a fino sherry cask. Original and excellent. Thank you Hans-Jürgen. Rating: 18/20 FP:C6

Glen Garioch 2011, 12 YO, Signatory, 48.2%, B :2024. Price: Colour: Straw Nose: Spicy, gingery, slightly aromatic and floral, on candied ginger, some paraffin, heather honey, and light sugary flavours, as well as some lemon peel. Complex. Taste: Waxy, gingery, spicy, intense, slightly yeasty, with some yeast, ginger, hops, various aromatic and slightly bitter herbs, some citrus, vanilla, chalk and heather. The finish is rather long, intense, spicy, waxy, rather mineral, gingery and aromatic, on ginger, some bitter lemon, heather and paraffin. Diluted, it becomes more on bitter lemon. Impression: A very nice, gingery and spicy Glen Garioch, with rather intense aromatic flavours and some citrus. Not for the faint hearted. Rating: 14/20 FP:A2

29 Nov 24

Roe & Coe QO Solera 01, OB, 46%, B:2024. Price: Colour: Pale gold Nose: Smooth, bold, slightly spicy and oaky, on vanilla, light creamy flavours, some quince, peach and apricots. Taste: Light, floral, slightly spicy and oaky, on vanilla, grainy flavours, porridge, light milky and slightly sour aromas. The finish is medium, oaky, fragrant, slightly floral and spicy, on green nutty flavours, oak spices and some vanilla. Impression: A rather rough and oaky Irish whiskey. Rating: 11/20 FP:A1

Roe & Co blended Irish, OB, 45%, B:2024. Price: Colour: Gold Nose: Round, malty, with nice ripe cereal and fruity flavours, mainly yellow fruits, including some peach and ripe orchards fruits. Taste: Crisp, spicy, bold, slightly oaky, on oak spices, cooked cereals, cinnamon, some orange, marmalade, orchard’s fruits and some vanilla. Diluted, it becomes rounder and more fruity. The finish is medium, spicy, grainy, with various spices, some marmalade, yellow fruits and cereal flavours. Impression: A well-made blended Irish whiskey, enjoyable and good value. Rating: 13/20 FP:C1

Fuji single blended, OB, 43%, B:2024. Price: Colour: Gold Nose: Light, smooth, creamy, on vanilla, and light cereal flavours. Rather subtle. Taste: Light, smooth, creamy, on starch,  light vanilla flavours, as well as some iris, jasmine and lys (light fresh floral flavours). The finish is medium, light, smooth and on the same flavours. Impression: A nice Japanese made from grain and malt distilled at the Fuji Gotemba distillery. The whisky is light, smooth with nice fresh and light floral flavours. Refreshing. Rating: 13/20 FP:A1

25 Nov 24

Ardmore 13 YO for Whisky Hood,  Riegger’s selection, 56.3%, B:2024. Price: Colour: Amber Nose: Round, fruity to very fruity, juicy, on orange and tangerine juice, nice meaty flavours (bacon and smoked ham), with some red berries coming through afterwards. Complex and most pleasant. Taste: Rich, smooth, fruity, juicy, on nice light fresh floral flavours, a touch of oak spices and black liquorice, with lovely meaty flavours, dried bacon, smoke ham and nice juicy aromas of orange and tangerine. Impression: A most pleasant Ardmore, with lovely meaty flavours, round and juicy flavours, smooth, with light floral flavours and a nice peat smoke. One of the nicest Ardmore I have tasted for a long time. Rating: 16/20 FP:G6

Ardmore A:Mor 2 2011, Riegger’s selection, 59.8%, B :2024, cask 801528. Price: Colour: Straw Nose: Fresh, floral to very floral, slightly spicy and aromatic, with nice light and round floral favours, some vanilla, hay, light aromatic peat smoke, becoming drier over time, and more sooty and tarry. A whisky that needs some time to open. Taste: Fresh, floral, bitter, smooth, aromatic, with nice fresh floral flavours, vanilla, aromatic herbs, some dried fruits and hay. The finish is rather long, floral, smooth, slightly aromatic, with some vanilla and nice round floral flavours. Impression: A very nice rather smooth and floral Ardmore, lightly peaty and elegant. Smoother and markedly less bitter than the TWA bottling. Rating: 14/20 FP:A3

Ardmore 2005, 16 YO, The whisky Agency, 51.3%, B :2022. Price: Colour: Straw Nose: Mellow, peaty, aromatic, light, with light floral flavours, some hay, aromatic peat smoke, vanilla and a touch of citrus. Very nice. Taste: Light, smooth, initially dry before the smooth and sugary flavours are coming, with a nice mild aromatic peat smoke, some elderberries flowers, oak spice, some ginger and bitter lemon. The finish is rather long, rooty, rather aromatic, slightly floral, with some hay, aromatic herbs, vanilla and some liquorice roots. Impression: A mildly peated Ardmore, light, rather rooty and citric, with some ginger and slight slightly fragrant floral flavours, with a certain bitterness. Rating: 14/20 FP:A4

22 Nov 24

Royal Brackla for World of Whisky 25th Anniversary 2014, Signatory, 46%, B:2024. Price: Colour: Amber Nose: Round, floral, rather silky, very smooth, with a lovely silky floral flavour and gentle light fruity flavours. Very elegant and subtle, with a nice complexity. Taste: Floral, slightly oaky and sugary, on soft spices, spices bread, candied oranges, some red berries, and round floral flavours. Diluted, it become more creamy and malty. The finish is long, smooth, silky, floral, with nice malty flavours, soft dried fruits and light creamy flavours. Impression: A very good whisky, soft, with a lovely silky, floral and malty mouthfeel, with gentle dried fruits. I really enjoyed it. Rating: 16/20 FP:D1

Bruichladdich 18 YO Private Cask legacy for Lateltin, OB, 59.5%, cask 1504. Price: Colour: Gold Nose: Clean, salty, maritime, with some sea brine, ripe orchards fruits and vanilla. Rather closed and slightly musky. Taste: Oaky, spicy, slightly floral, on vanilla, some yellow fruits, sea tang, elderberries flowers and a touch of smoke. Diluted, it becomes more creamy and on vanilla, as well as with some quince and light aromatic flavours. The finish is medium, round, rather mellow, slightly maritime, salty, oaky and creamy, with some sea tang, vanilla, quince jelly, yellow fruits and a touch of marzipan. Impression: A matured Bruichladdich, with a light sea tang and round vanilla flavours. From a rather active ex-bourbon cask and rather closed. Rating: 14/20 FP:A2

Octomore 15.3, OB, 61.3%, B:2024. Price: Colour: Straw Nose: Very peaty, dry and tarry, on strong maritime flavours, intense dry peat smoke, soot, tar, seaweeds. A real dry peat blast. Taste: Very peaty, dry, maritime, tarry, sooty, on intense dry peat smoke, some iodine, citrus, tar and soot. The finish is long, very peaty, dry, citric, maritime, on seaweeds, intense dry peat smoke and some citrus. Impression: With other 300 PPM, this is one, if not, the most peated Octomore. It is indeed very peaty, but surprisingly mature and balance, with nice citric flavours and a pleasant mouthfeel. Rating: 15/20 FP: A9

 

19 Nov 24

Caol Ila 2011 for the 25th Anniversary of World of Whisky by Waldhaus, Signatory, 58.8%, B:2024, Burgundy cask 6. Price: Colour: Old gold-amber Nose: Dry, peaty, maritime, slightly winey, on grapes, dried fruits, peat smoke, hemp rope, tar, peat smoke and some seaweeds, Taste: Peaty, dry, maritime, winey, spicy, on nice dry peat smoke, grapes, spices, red wine (tannins), hemp rope and some seaweeds. Well balanced. The finish is rather long, with a mixture of dry maritime peat smoke and round soft winey flavours from the ex-Burgundy wine cask. With some menthol at the end. Impression: An intense and peaty Caol Ila fully matured in an ex-Burgundy wine cask. The wine cask contributes to some nice sweet—sugary flavours and some grapes, without dominating the distillate. A very pleasant twist of flavours compared to the traditional Caol Ila. Rating: 14/20 FP:D6

Caol Ila 2010 Old Malt Cask 25th Anniversary, 13 YO, Hunter Laing, 50%, B:2023. Price: Colour: Old gold-amber Nose: Mellow, smoky, peaty, maritime, slightly medicinal, with some sea weeds, peat smoke, leather, and nice dried fruits. Complex and very elegant. Taste: Round, mellow, complex, fruity, maritime, smoky, on sea brine, orange, tangerine, some leather, fudge, seaweeds, and a nice round peat smoke. Other time, more fruits flavours are released. The finish is rather long and fruity, smoky, maritime, mellow, balanced, Impression: A most enjoyable Caol Ila, complex, balanced, with a lovely influence from the sherry cask, on dried fruits and toffee, balancing the dry peat side of Caol Ila. The mouthfeel is most pleasant.  Really good! Rating: 16/20 E5

Caol Ila 11 YO Fighting Fish, Monnier Trading, 58.5%, B :2024. Price: Colour: Straw Nose: Peaty, clean, maritime, smoky, with some seaweeds, iodine, hemp rope and a nice light maritime peat smoke and tobacco. Elegant. Taste: Dry, maritime, peaty, smoky, on seaweeds, lemon zest, peat smoke, tobacco, vanilla, some iodine and sea shells. The finish is long, zesty, smoky, peaty, maritime, on lemon zest, peat smoke, sea weeds, sea shells, tobacco, some bandages, iodine and vanilla. Impression: A very zesty Caol Ila, light, maritime and with a fair amount of tobacco leaves. Rating: 15/20 FP:A6

18 Nov 24

Ardnahoe Inaugural Release, 5 YO, OB, 50%, B:2024. Price: Colour: Old gold-amber Nose: Round, fruity, smoky, slightly peaty, with some tar, dried fruits, some berries, sultanas and dates, and woodland flavours. Less peaty and more fruity than the Infinite Loch. Taste: Smoky to very smoky, maritime, slightly medicinal, rather sweet and malty, on dried fruits, some orange, tangerine, seaweeds, iodine, peat smoke, sultanas and a touch of fudge. The finish is long, smooth, rather sweet, fruity and smoky, with some seaweeds, iodine, orange, tangerine, cinnamon, and black liquorice. Diluted, it becomes smoother, more creamy, on vanilla and with some tobacco. Impression: It has the same age as the infinite Loch, but with a higher proportion of sherry (25 vs 15%). It is also markedly more fruity and sweeter, giving the impression that is less peaty. I found it more complex than the Inifite Loch. Rating: 15/20 FP:D4

Ardnahoe Infinite Loch, OB, 50%, B:2024. Price: Colour: Gold Nose: Peaty, maritime, smoky, on seaweeds, tar, some hemp rope, iodine, vanilla, and light fruity flavours. Taste: Maritime, smoky, peaty, on sea weeds, peat smoke, some liquorice roots, tobacco, light creamy flavours, some elderberries flowers and vanilla. The finish is rather long, smoky, maritime, slightly earthy, with some sultanas, hops, vanilla, light malty flavours  and a nice maritime peat smoke. There are also some iodine flavours and seaweeds. Diluted, it becomes drier and slightly yeasty. Impression: The second release from Ardnahoe, with a 15:85 sherry:bourbon cask ratio, with nice maritime peat smoke and a rather smooth mouthfeel. A well-made Islay single malt, smoother and sweeter than most of its neighbor. Rating: 14/20 FP:C5

16 Nov 24

Finglassie 2017, 6 YO, Rest & Be, 46%, B:2023. Price: Colour: straw Nose: Peaty, dry, aromatic, tarry, on dry aromatic and tarry peat smoke, liquorice roots, soot, seaweeds and tar, some seabrine and seaweeds. Surprising peaty and dry. Taste: Dry, peaty, tarry, aromatic, on sea weeds, peat smoke, tar, soot, seaweeds and some bandages. The finish is long, dry, tarry, sooty, very peaty, smoky and maritime, with some vanilla, seaweeds, camphor, peat smoke, bonfire smoke and fresh citrus. Impression: Finglassie is the name of the peated whisky distilled at Inchdairnie distillery and this whisky is remarkably intense, peaty and smoky, in a style reminding some Port Charlotte. A very nice surprise! Rating: 15/20 FP:A7

13 Nov 24

Bowmore 15 YO Sherry cask, OB, 43%, B :2024. Price: Colour: Old gold-amber Nose: Smoky, salty, peaty, maritime, rooty, slightly oaky, on soot, tar, dried and maritime peat smoke, some iodine, tannins, toffee, cocoa and light citrus flavours. Slightly unbalanced and thin. Taste: Salty, maritime, medicinal, smoky to very smoky, with some tar, sooty, black liquorice, leather, some cinnamon, cloves, cocoa, toffee and roasted coffee beans The finish is medium, smoky, maritime, slightly salty, with some seaweeds, nice fruity flavours, tannins, liquorice, leather, cinnamon, cloves and orange. With a slightly bitter aftertaste. Impression: The Bowmore sherry cask is unfortunately not a single malt matured exclusively in sherry casks, but the standard 12 YO with a finish in ex-sherry cask. It is rather smoky and maritime, with lots of soft tannins and spices, as well as some dried fruits, and with a slightly bitter finish on caramel. Not the most balanced whisky I have tasted. We are far from the Laimrig. Rating: 12/20 FP:G4

12 Nov 24

Macardo Single Malt, OB, 42%, B:2023. Price: Colour: Pale gold Nose: Young, smooth, on freshly crushed barley, starch, some vanilla, green orchards fruits and pecan nuts. Taste: Very malty, creamy, malty, slightly yeasty, on vanilla, freshly crushed barley, some light oaky and nutty flavours. Impression: A young and very creamy Swiss single malt. Promising. Rating: 11/20 FP:A1

Cedar Tree  2002, 21 YO, The Whisky Cask Company, 52.6%, B :2022, Demerara Rum. Price: Colour: Gold Nose: Fresh, light, malty, with some cane sugar, pineapples, light fragrance, banana, and a touch of vanilla Taste: Fresh, fragrant, floral, on green pineapples, some vanilla, banana and a touch of varnish. The finish is medium, fragrant, on green pineapples, some cane sugar, rum and vanilla. Impression: A fresh, light and pleasant Irish whiskey, with a fragrant influence from the rum, mainly on slightly green pineapples. A whiskey that should appeal to the enthusiasts of rum matured whiskies. Rating: 13/20 FP:A1

09 Nov 24

Speyside M for the 25th Anniversary of World of Whisky by Waldhaus am See, 18 YO, Signatory, 57.7%, B:2023, cask 2605. Price: Colour: Dark  amber Nose: Round, thick, intense, slightly rubbery and bitter, on tannins, dried and dark fruits, marmalade, cardamom, cloves, coffee beans, dark chocolate, old worn leather and some lacquer. Taste: Intense, thick, chewy, floral, spicy, on tannins, dark chocolate, old leather, roasted coffee beans, marmalade, some liquorice, cloves and red berries. The finish is long, round, thick, chewy, floral, with various spices, tannins, lacquer, some cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, marmalade and light exotic fruits. Impression: This is the third expression of Speyside (M) whisky distilled at Macallan for Waldhaus am see. It is also the most heavily sherried one, with a fair dose of tannins, spices and light bitter flavours. Slightly too much to my liking. Rating: 15/20 FP:G1

08 Nov 24

Yamazaki 18 YO Mizunara Tsukuriwake edition 2024, OB, 48%, B:2024. Price: Colour: Old gold-amber Nose: Elegant, on sandalwood, incense, some tree sap, orange, cinnamon, nutmeg and peach. Complex and very smooth, Taste: Spicy, complex, fruity, on pineapples, incense, sandalwood, some orange, cocoa, nutmeg, cinnamon, tree sap and oak spices. The finish is long, sappy, on peach, incense, cinnamon, sandalwood, some pineapples and tree sap. Long and harmonious. Impression: A lovely Yamazaki matured exclusively in Mizunara cask. I really like these elegant sappy and aromatic influence from this cask. The balance and elegance of this whisky is gorgeous. Rating: 17/20 FP:D1

Yamazaki Golden Promise Tsukuriwake 2024 Edition, OB, 48%, B:2024. Price: Colour: Gold Nose: Rich, intense, malty, slightly spicy and peppery, on vanilla, oak spices and various citrus fruits. Taste: Oaky, spicy, slightly rough, on tangerine, marmalade, lemon and vanilla custard. The finish is rather long, bold and malty, on citrus fruits, oaky flavours, some peach and exotic fruits. Diluted, it becomes more on vanillin and freshly sawn wood. Impression:  I like the nice citrus and other fruity flavours, as well as the boldness from the Golden Promise barley, but less the rather intense influence from the ex-bourbon casks. Rating: 13/20 FP:A1

07 Nov 24

Hakushu 18 YO Peated Tsukuriwake 2024, OB, 48%, B:2024. Price: Colour:  Gold Nose: Smooth, elegant, slightly fruity, peaty and austere, with nice light floral flavours (Lilly of the valley), some green orchards fruits, light grassy and mineral flavours, as well as a light and subtle rather aromatic peat smoke. Less dry and maritime than the Yamazaki. Taste: Grassy, slightly malty, smooth, mellow, with a nice delicate and floral peat smoke, some Lilly of the valley, jasmine, light creamy and grassy flavours. Complex. The finish is rather long, complex, elegant, slightly floral and fruity, with a mild slightly aromatic peat smoke. Nicely balanced. Diluted, it becomes slightly mineral and on chalk. Impression:  Peated to 14 ppm, this Hakushu is made from different types of peated Hakushu aged up to circa 25 years old. The peat is rather subtle and well-integrated with the elegant slightly grassy, mineral and fruity flavours from the distillate.  Best to enjoy it with a clean palate. Rating: 16/20 FP:A3

Yamazaki Islay Peated Tsukuriwake 2024 edition, OB, 48%, B:2024. Price: Colour: Pale gold Nose: Smooth, slightly floral, on dry maritime peat smoke, light elegant floral and malty flavours and some other dirty smoky flavours. Taste:  Dry, oaky, maritime, rather salty, slightly medicinal, on dry maritime peat smoke, some seaweeds, iodine, smooth and light floral flavours as well as some grilled bread. The finish is rather long, dry, peaty and maritime, on dry maritime peat smoke, some iodine and light malty and floral flavours. Impression: A nice Yamazaki peated to 20 PPM with Islay peat (from Port Ellen maltings ?), with a rather dry and maritime peat smoke. The peat smoke is markedly different from the Hakushu. Rating: 15/20 FP:A5

06 Nov 24

Ardbeg 1972, OMC, 27 YO, Douglas Laing, 50%, B:2000, 238 bottles. Price: Colour: Straw Nose: Very medicinal, smoky, maritime, on iodine, disinfectant, bandages, peat smoke, sea weeds, sea salt, some tar and soot. Taste: Very medicinal, smoky, peaty, maritime, on an elegant maritime and medicinal peat smoke, with lots of iodine, on disinfectant, bandages, camphor, some soot and rooty flavours, as well as sea brine, seaweeds and citrus. The finish is long to very ling, very medicinal, with some soot, tar, roots, iodine, disinfectant and bandages. Impression: A very nice Ardbeg 1972, with the typical medicinal flavours from that vintage, as well as some citrus (mainly lemon), as well as some salt. The first Ardbeg bottling on the old malt cask series. Rating:17/20 FP:A6

05 Nov 24

Ardbeg 13 YO Anthology, OB, 46%, B:2024. Price: Colour: Old gold Nose: Peaty, smoky, very medicinal, on camphor, iodine, seaweeds, disinfectant, some tar and soot. Very good Taste: Salty, oaky, medicinal, slightly mineral, maritime, on iodine, seaweeds, camphor, disinfectant, tar, soot, some old medicinal bands, citrus and a touch of spearmint. The finish is long, peaty, smoky, maritime, medicinal, on iodine, seaweeds, tar, camphor and peat smoke. Diluted, it becomes slightly more citric and oaky. Impression: A very good, maritime and very medicinal expression of Ardbeg. I wish Ardbeg was releasing more expressions like this one. Rating: 16/20 FP:A6

02 Nov 24

Special Whisky Live Paris

Ardbeg 25 YO, OB, 46%, B :2023. Price: Colour: Gold Nose: Smooth, mellow, rather light, with a light subtle maritime peat smoke, slightly mineral, with some seaweeds, seashell, and vanilla. Rather soft. Taste: Smoky, maritime, on seaweeds, lime and lemon juicy, peat smoke, some iodine, camphor, sea brine and some old tobacco. The finish is medium to long, mellow, rather light and soft, with a rather delicate maritime peat smoke, citrus, some seaweeds, iodine and seashells. Impression: A nice elegant, light, and mellow Ardbeg, in the style of the new Ardbeg 17 YO. It is well-made, but rather soft. The aged expressions from Ardbeg seem to have the peat levels dropping markedly faster than the Ardbeg from the 1970s. Rating: 15/20 FP:B3

01 Nov 24

Ardbeg Traigh Bhan 19 YO batch 5, OB, 46.2%, B :2024. Price: Colour: Old gold Nose: Peaty, intense, smoky, maritime, on sea brine, seaweeds, peat smoke, camphor, some soot, tar and iodine. Very nice. Taste: Salty, maritime, peaty, citric, smoky, oaky, on seaweeds, oak spices, lemon, peat smoke some iodine, camphor, tar and liquorice. The finish is rather long, intense, citrusy, oaky, with some charred wood, liquorice, aniseeds, peat smoke, iodine, camphor and maritime peat smoke. Impression: A very nice intense, oaky and citric Ardbeg, with loads of peat and nice maritime-salty flavours. Rating: 16/20 FP:A6

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