Clynelish 1993 (Silver Seal) Review

“Silver, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours”

Whisky Review # 856

Country: Scotland
Region: Northern Highlands

Brand: Clynelish 1993
Bottled by: Silver Seal (SS) in November 2012 at Cask Strength -  Bottles: 322
Type: Single Malt Single Cask Scotch Whisky - Cask # 7556

Age: 19 Years

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 53.5%
Maturation: Ex-Bourbon Cask
Chill Filtration: No
Price Range: Around US$ 240 (January 2020). Will be difficult to find.
Price/Quality Ratio: 😓At the moment it's very expensive. It's good though.
Buying Advice: 👍Nice Fruity Clynelish if you can spare the cash.

Colour: White Whine (Natural Colour)

Nose:

Quite lively and Fruity. This Clynelish is well-matured and the Oak is a mere note in the background. I would not say that Cask 7556 was extremely active. On the Nose this Clynelish shows Sweet, Sour, Musty and a few Funky notes. I wouldn't give it 19 years in a blind Tasting. Quite Fresh!

Main Aromas:

Sweet Barley, German Butter Biscuits, Grass, Fresh Herbs de Provence, Apple, Pear, Lemon, Banana, Bounty Candy Bars, Wax, Asparagus, Salted Almonds, Pepper, Cinnamon, Ginger and Mint.
    
Supportive Aroma Accents:

Buttered Toast, Toffee, Vanilla, Musty Wood, Orange, Grapefruit, Mandarin, Olive Oil, Tobacco and Nail Polisher.

Palate:

Waxy, Spicy, Fruity, slightly Edgy and Bitter-Sweet. Nicely matured Highlander.

Main Flavours:

Malted and Toasted Barley, Apple, Pear, Orange, Lemon, Grapefruit, Banana, Wax, Pepper, Cinnamon, Nutmeg and Ginger.

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Toffee, Salted Caramel, Vanilla, Straw, White Wine, Bounty Candy Bars, Ashes, White Chocolate, Tobacco, Herbal Tea, Asparagus and Coconut.        

Finish:

Middle-Long with Sweet and Sour notes. It's a little Edgy with medium Bitterness towards the end. I find Malted and Toasted Barley, Salty Caramel, Toffee, Apple, Pear, Banana, Nectarine, Orange, Lemon, Grapefruit, Mandarin, Wax, White Chocolate, Tobacco, Musty Oak, Cinnamon, Pepper, Ginger, Nutmeg Ashes and Mint.

Drinking Advice:

Due to the small size of the sample I only tasted this Clynelish neat.

Rating: 86.5

Nose: 22 - Taste: 22 - Finish: 21 - Overall: 21.5

Drinking Experience Neat: Good

Conclusion:

The distillery was founded in 1819 by the 1st Duke of Sunderland in the small town of Brora. It is owned by Diageo and the spirit is an important ingredient of various JW Blends. It produces around 4,8 million litres of Alcohol per year. Its sister-distillery Brora lies next to Clynelish and will be reopened this year after having been closed in 1983. A new Clynelish Visitor Centre is being built at the moment. The pictures were shot during our visit to Clynelish/Brora in May last year.

This Silver Seal Clynelish is a tasteful well-matured Highland Single Malt. It's a bit Edgy and Funky here and there but that's refreshing in today's mainstream Malt madness. It has character and that's what I'm looking for in a Whisky. At 19 years it can't be cheap of course and there are probably only a few bottles left world-wide. But if you have the cash and can find it somewhere you won't be disappointed. Lots of Fruit out there to be discovered with Citrus in the lead. Recommended!

Cheers!

Jan van den Ende                                                                January 27, 2020

Fettercairn 12 Years Review - Fettercairn 12 Years PX Review

“You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet”

Whisky Review # 852

Country: Scotland
Region: Eastern Highlands

Brand: Fettercairn
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Age: 12 Years

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 40%
Maturation: Ex-Bourbon casks
Chill Filtration: Yes
Price Range: US$ 45-55  (January 2020)
Price/Quality Ratio: Borderline okay.
Buying Advice: 😒Not really bad but Unbalanced and Thin. Try a sample first!

Colour: Golden (Artificially Coloured)

Nose:

As so often, please give this Fettercairn sufficient time in the glass as it opens quite slowly. The Nose is Sweet, Buttery, Malty and slightly Meaty. A bit of Fruit as well. I find it a little on the Thin side. The Alcohol is noticeable. An okay Nose I suppose but you don't have to wake me up for it!

Main Aromas:

Toasted and Malted Sweet Barley, Butter Biscuits (Butterkekse), Vanilla, Yeast, Tutti-Frutti Candies, Charred Pineapple, Banana Ice Cream, Milk Chocolate and Citrus Peel.

Supportive Aroma Accents:

Heather-Honey, Caramel, Toffee, Charred Oak, mildly Bitter Almonds, Marzipan, Forrest after a Rain Shower, Apple, Pear, Apricot or Nectarine, Caffe Latte, Sour Yogurt and Wet Paper.

Palate:

The delivery is on the Thin side. This Fettercairn really could do with a higher ABV. A Mix of Bitter, Sweet and Sour notes. Not quite my thing!

Main Flavours:

Malted and Toasted Barley, Burnt Toast, Yeast, Banana-Flavoured Yogurt, Oak Char, Charred Pineapple, Caffe Latte, Milk Chocolate, Bitter Herbs, Cinnamon, Pepper, Cloves and Menthol.

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Heather-Honey, Vanilla, Caramel, Sour Berries, Sour Orange-Juice, Dried Fruit, Damp Wine Cellar, Almonds and Baked Apples sprinkled with Nutmeg.

Finish:

Short/Medium-Long, Thin, Malty, Yeasty, Meaty and Spicy. I find Malted/Toasted Barley, Toffee, Caramel, Vanilla, Charred Pineapple, Banana-Flavoured Yogurt, Bitter Herbs, Charred Oak, CaffeLatte, Milk Chocolate, Almonds, Heather-Honey, Red Apple, Dried Fruit, Pepper, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Ginger & Menthol. A bit of Floral Perfume after a while.

Drinking Advice:

Due to the small size of the sample I only tasted this Fettercairn neat. I would imagine that added Water is not required. It's Thin enough as it is.

Rating: 78

Nose: 20.5  - Taste: 19.5 - Finish: 19 - Overall: 19.5

Drinking Experience Neat: Okay at best.

Conclusion:

The Fettercairn Distillery was founded in 1824 by Sir Alexander Ramsay and is located in Fettercairn, Laurencekirk, Kincardineshire in the Eastern Highlands. It changed hands many times in the past but mainly belonged to Whyte & MacKay that was bought by Emperador Inc. in 2015. The two pairs of stills produce around 1,5 million litres of Alcohol per year. The core range exists of the 12, 28, 40 and 50 Years.

The new core range was launched in 2018 to put Fettercairn back on the Single malt map. As known, this Malt is mainly used for the Whyte & MacKay blends. I must admit that this 12 Year old does not do a lot for me. Lots of Barley, Yeast, Butter and Dairy. A rather unbalanced mix of Sweet, Bitter, Sour & Spicy notes. A higher ABV could certainly help out and 43% should be possible without a significant price increase. I already think it's expensive for a relatively unknown Single Malt distillery. We visited Fettercairn in May 2019 and it's certainly well-worth the effort of getting there. Wonderful small and picturesque distillery. The visitor accommodations are still rather primitive but the Tour is quite nice.

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Whisky Review # 853

Country: Scotland
Region: Eastern Highlands

Brand: Fettercairn Pedro Ximenez Sherry Cask Edition
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Age: 12 Years

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 40%
Maturation: Ex-Bourbon casks with a fairly long finish in PX Sherry casks
Chill Filtration: Yes
Price Range: Around US$ 70 (January 2020)
Price/Quality Ratio: 👎Way too expensive for what it offers
Buying Advice: 😞Negative. The Nose is okay but Palate/Finish are too Thin.

Colour: Amber (Artificially Coloured)

Nose:

Rather than repeating the Aromas and Flavours already mentioned above I will simply look at the extra or different notes that come with the PX Finish. The Nose remains on the Thin side but Dark Red Fruit and Dried Fruit notes appear. The Alcohol seems better integrated although I can't really explain that. This is more mainstream than the 12 Years that has a few funky sides.

Extra Main Aromas:

Dried Fruit (Raisins, Sultanas, Apricots, Plums), Rose Water & stronger Orange Aromas.
    
Extra Supportive Aroma Accents:

Grapes, Damp Cellar, Red Berries, Cloves and Nutella.

Palate:

Is this a Single Malt Whisky? It's way too Thin and Watery for my sake. It's a bit Softer than the regular 12 years but certainly not better. There's some extra Red Fruit but it's so Thin it feels artificial. This PX Finish didn't work out very well.

Extra Main Flavours:

Damp Wood, Rose Water and Papaya.

Extra Supportive Flavour Accents:

Floral Perfume, Cherry-Flavoured Candies and Licorice.

Finish:

Short, very Thin, almost watery and Bitter-Sweet. This almost reminds me of a Watery Rose Water or watered down Floral Perfume. Hints of Milk Chocolate, Red Fruit, Damp Wood, Ginger and Licorice. Utterly forgettable!

Drinking Advice:

Due to the small size of the sample I only tasted this Fettercairn neat. I would imagine that added Water is not required. It's Thin enough as it is.

Rating: 73

Nose: 20 - Taste: 18 - Finish: 17 - Overall: 18

Drinking Experience Neat: Below Average.

Conclusion:

The 12 Years PX Finish was released in 2019 and destined for the Travel Retail sector. It's basically a standard Fettercairn Single Malt with a quite lengthy PX cask Finish. I'm not quite sure how long it was finished as sources mention as low as 6 months and as long as 2 years. The truth probably lies somewhere in the middle as the PX influence is noticeable but not overly strong.

As you can read above, I don't think that this PX Finish Edition worked out well. It misses Strength and Character. A higher ABV and more active PX casks could do wonders here. As it is, I feel that this is not the way forward for this beautiful distillery. Both the 12 Years and in particular this PX Finish can't compete Aroma and Flavour wise with the Highland competition. And they are too expensive for what they offer. If you want to get away from your Blended Whisky image you have to come up with a solid, flavourful entry Malt at an acceptable price level and build your way forward from there. I wish Fettercairn all the best and hope the new owners will take this next step.

Cheers!

Jan van den Ende                                                               January 14, 2020

All Pictures were taken during our visit in May 2019

Caol Ila 1995 (Douglas Laing) Review

“Have Yourself a Peaty Little Christmas”  

Whisky Review # 849

Country: Scotland
Region: Islay

Brand: Caol Ila 1995 (Distilled in January 1995)
Bottled by: Douglas Laing (Old Particular Series) in August 2015 - 282 Bottles
Type: Single Malt Single Cask Scotch Whisky - Cask # DL 10870

Age: 20 Years

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 51.5%
Maturation: Refill Hogshead
Chill Filtration: No
Price Range: Around US$ 170 (December 2019)
Price/Quality Ratio: Okay - 20 Year old Single Malt can't be cheap.
Buying Advice: 😐It's good but there are better Caol Ila options at this price.

Colour: Chardonnay (Natural Colour)

Nose:

I love the coastal Aromas of well-matured Islay Malt. This Caol Ila is still quite fresh for a 20 year old Single Malt. I wouldn't say that cask # 10870 was a very active one though. The Nose is slightly underwhelming. There's a bit of Alcohol in the air so don't poke your Nose in the middle of the glass. The Nose is good but not great.

Main Aromas:

Sweet Barley, Slightly Burnt Toast, Coastal Peat (Wet Earth), Cold Smoke, Ash, Soot, Iodine, Fish & Shellfish, Gas Station, Vanilla, Banana-Flavoured Yogurt, Tropical Fruit like Pineapple & Papaya and Green Vegetables.     
    
Supportive Aroma Accents:

Honey, Salted Butter, Tar, Wet Grass, Farmyard, Band-Aid, Wet Sand, Apple-Vinegar, Menthol, Rubber, Leather, Olive-Oil and Dried Herbs.

Palate:

Sweet and only ever so slightly Sharp. All the Flavours of mature Islay are there for you to enjoy.

Main Flavours:

Sweet Toasted Barley, Vanilla, Salted Butter, Wax, Cold Cigar Smoke, Wet Peat, Ashes, Soot, Brine, Toasted Oak, Fish & Shellfish on the BBQ, Lemon, Tobacco, Banana-Flavoured Yogurt, Aniseed and Menthol.

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Honey, Caramel, Tar, Iodine, Band-Aid, Caffe Latte, Dried Herbs, Olive Oil, Apple- Vinegar and Pepper.       

Finish:

Quite Long and remarkably Sweet. Medium-Dry. A light Bitterness of the Oak. It invites you to have another sip! I find Sweet Toasted Barley, Soft Wet Peat, Cigar Smoke, Ashes, Soot, Tar, Iodine, Brine, Vanilla, Salted Butter, Caffe Latte, Wet Stones, Lemon-Pepper, Leather, Diesel, Aniseed and Menthol.

Drinking Advice:

Added Water does not improve this Caol Ila. Better sip it neat.

Rating: 86

Nose: 21.5 - Taste: 21.5 - Finish: 21.5 - Overall: 21.5

Drinking Experience Neat: Quite Nice.

Conclusion:

The Caol Ila Distillery was founded in 1846 and is located close to Port Askaig on Islay. It was bought by DCL in 1927 and through some mergers is now part of Diageo. The distillery was rebuilt in 1974 and only one old Warehouse reminds us of former days. Traditionally, Caol Ila is an important component of Blends like Johnnie Walker, Bell's and White Horse. But during the last 15 years Diageo has made great efforts to position the Distillery as a Single Malt as well. Caol Ila is beautifully located alongside the strait between Islay and Jura. The Core range includes the 12, 18 and 25 Years, the Distiller's Edition as well as the NAS Moch. We enjoyed both our visits to the distillery in 2014 and 2017 respectively despite the fact that you're not allowed to take pictures.

Well-Matured Islay Malt is certainly one of my favourite types of Scotch Whisky. Therefore, it won't come as a surprise that I liked this Caol Ila. I liked it but I didn't love it. I believe this could have been a great Single Malt when a First-Fill Bourbon cask would have been used. There are enough of those around so I can't quite follow the reasoning for using a Refill cask to mature a good Islay Spirit for 20 Years. I'm just saying! It' s still a very enjoyable Single Malt but I would choose other Caol Ila options at this price level.

I would like to wish all readers of Best Shot Whisky Reviews a very Merry and Malty Christmas. May the good Spirit always be with you!

Cheers!

Jan van den Ende                                                              December 24, 2019

All pictures were taken during our visit in May 2014

Blair Athol 1988 (Sansibar) Review

“Simply Irresistible”

Whisky Review # 842

Country: Scotland
Region: Southern Highlands

Brand: Blair Athol 1988
Bottled by: Sansibar Whisky GmbH, Bad Nenndorf, Germany- 203 Bottles
Type: Single Malt Single Cask Scotch Whisky

Age: 28 Years

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 50.7% (Cask Strength)
Maturation: Ex-Bourbon Cask
Chill Filtration: No
Price Range: Around US$ 240 (November 2019)
Price/Quality Ratio: Good
Buying Advice: 😋It can't be cheap but it's delicious! Go for it!

Colour: Pale Gold/Chardonnay (Natural Colour)

Nose:

Soft, Mature, Pleasant, Malty and Fruity. Sweet but not overly so. The Alcohol is nicely integrated. A few Dusty Warehouse notes.

Main Aromas:

Malted and Toasted Barley, Fresh Pastry, Bread, Mixed Breakfast Cereals, Grass, Dusty Straw, Wax, Salted Nuts, Fruit Cake with layers of Pineapple, Mango and Apple, Dusty Oak and a squeeze of Lime.
    
Supportive Aroma Accents:

Heather-Honey, Caramel, Toffee, Vanilla, Sultanas, Slivovitz, Fresh Herbs, Nectarine, Mandarin, Banana, Pear, Ginger and Cinnamon.

Palate:

The first word that comes to mind is Tasty! The combination of Creamy Malt and Sweet (Tropical) Fruit is simply delicious. A few Bitter, Dusty & Salty notes provide the necessary balance. Very nice!

Main Flavours:

Malted and Toasted Barley, Fresh Pastry, Wax, Tropical Fruit Cake with layers of Pineapple, Mango, Papaya, Banana and Apple, Salted Nuts, Mandarins in heavy Syrup, Milk Chocolate, Dusty Oak, Pepper, Leather, Tobacco and Menthol.

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Heather-Honey, Caramel, Vanilla, Butterscotch, Orange, Lemon, Tangerine, Fresh Herbs, Green Tea, Cinnamon, Ginger, Nutmeg and Licorice.

Finish:

Middle-Long, Creamy and Sweet. A few light Bitter/Salty notes provide balance. Quite Fresh and Vibrant considering its age. The Finish really invites you to have another sip. Well done! I find Malted & Toasted Barley, Pastry, Vanilla, Tropical Fruit Cake, Heather-Honey, Banana, Mandarin, Lemon, Slivovitz, Salted Nuts, Milk Chocolate, Dusty Oak, Tobacco, Leather, Fresh Herbs, Green Tea, Pepper, Cinnamon, Ginger, Menthol, Wax and light Nutmeg and Licorice.

Drinking Advice:

I added a little Water and Fruity, Floral and Malty notes develop even more. It does move slightly in the direction of Tropical Fruit Liqueurs though. In prefer it neat but you you can certainly play with a few drops.

Rating: 89.5

Nose: 22.5 - Taste: 22.5 - Finish: 22 - Overall: 22.5

Drinking Experience Neat: Excellent

Conclusion:

The distillery was founded in Pitlochry (Pertshire) in 1798 by John Stewart and Robert Robertson, initially under the name Aldour. Only in 1825 did it receive its current name. It was mothballed in 1932 and bought by Arthur Bell & Sons, a family owned Blender. Production restarted in 1949 and from then on and until today Blair Athol became the heart of Bell's Blended Whisky. Eventually, the distillery, via take-overs, became part of Diageo. Only very few Single Malts are launched from time to time by Blair Athol so we mostly depend on independent bottlers in this respect. The only regular official bottling is the 12 Years Flora & Fauna. Blair Athol produces around 2 million litres of Alcohol per year.

I must congratulate both Blair Athol and Sansibar for producing this excellent Single Malt. It once again proves what a good Fruity Spirit, a good Cask and a perfect maturation can do. Mind you, this Blair Athol isn't extremely complex. It's a rather straightforward combination of Creamy Malt and Tropical Fruit. What does make the difference are these subtle notes of Dusty Oak, Tobacco, Herbs, Leather and Spices. It's simply delicious. A Single Cask of this age can't be very cheap of course but if you can still find it I advise you to go for it. You won't be disappointed. Blair Athol should really consider to focus a bit more on their Single Malt potential despite the obvious profitability of the Bell's Blend!

Cheers!

Jan van den Ende                                                              November 14, 2019

All pictures were taken during our visit in May 2014

Glenfiddich 15 Years Distillery Edition Review

“Ordinary World”

Whisky Review # 841

Country: Scotland
Region: Speyside

Brand: Glenfiddich 15 Distillery Edition

Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 15 Years

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 51%
Maturation: Mix of Ex-Bourbon and Oloroso casks
Chill Filtration: No
Price Range: US$ 50-60 (October 2019)
Price/Quality Ratio: Okay
Buying Advice: 😑Okay for starters. Not interesting enough for regulars.

Colour:

Deep Golden (Artificially Coloured)

Nose:

A little too Edgy and "Hot" for a matured Speysider. The Alcohol is noticeable. I would suspect that mainly Refill casks were used. A little Sulphur perhaps but nothing too serious. The Sherry Wood is noticeable. On the Nose this Glenfiddich presents a mix of Sweet, Bitter, Sour and Floral notes. It is definitively quite modern and "mainstream". It 's not bad but I can't get excited about it either.

Main Aromas:

Barley Sugar, Butter Kekse (German Butter Biscuits), Vanilla, Dried Fruit like Raisins, Sultanas and Apricots, Orange Marmalade, Toasted Nuts, Charred Oak, Milk Chocolate, Grapefruit Juice, Pepper, Cinnamon and Leather.
    
Supportive Aroma Accents:

Heather-Honey, Caramel, Apple, Pear, Mandarin, Pineapple, Dusty Straw, Dried Herbs, Coconut, Nutmeg, Cloves and Lemon-Pepper.

Palate:

Bitter-Sweet with a few Sour notes. The Alcohol remains quite present. It tastes younger than its actual age.

Main Flavours:

Toasted Barley, Vanilla, Dried Fruit like Raisins, Sultanas and Apricots, Apple, Pear, Hazelnuts, Orange Marmalade, Mandarin, Charred Oak, Cinnamon, Clove, Pepper, Nutmeg and Licorice.

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Heather-Honey, Salted Caramel, Toffee, Butterscotch, Black Currant Cake, Wet  Rocks, Ginger, Mustard and Leather.

Finish:

Middle-Long & Bitter-Sweet. A few Sour notes.The Alcohol remains noticeable. It is quite consistent with Nose and Palate. I find Toasted Barley, Vanilla, Salted Caramel, Heather-Honey, Dried Fruit like Raisins and Sultanas, Hazelnut paste, slightly Bitter Orange and Grapefruit Juice, Apple, Pear, Lemon, Grapes, Oak Char, Cocoa Powder, Pepper, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Ginger, Licorice, Mustard & Mint.

Drinking Advice:

I added a little Water and that eases the slightly "rough" character of this Malt. Other than that it basically remains unchanged. Just add a few drops and see how you like it best.

Rating: 82.5

Nose: 21 - Taste: 20.5 - Finish: 20.5 - Overall: 20.5

Drinking Experience Neat: Okay/Good

Drinking Experience on the Rocks: Good

Conclusion:

Glenfiddich was founded in Dufftown in 1886 by William Grant. It's one of the few distilleries that is still in the hands of the founder's family. In the year 1963 it became the first whisky that was marketed worldwide as a Single Malt. It was the first Single Malt to appear in the Travel Retail/Duty Free shops as well and the chance is very big that Glenfiddich was your first Single Malt. It was mine anyhow. It is also the first distillery that opened a visitor centre, back in 1969. The current core range consists of the 12, 15, 18, 21, 26, 30  and 40 years old. We visited the distillery in May 2014 and May 2019. Despite the large number of visitors they still do a good job on the Tours.

The 15 DE I'm reviewing today is around for a while and is available at the distillery and some Travel Retail Shops. It's not a bad Whisky but it has all the slightly boring characteristics of many of today's Single Malts. I have a specific issue with this Glenfiddich though. It smells & tastes a little rough and not fully matured. I must blame the indifferent refill Wood for that. This 15 DE will most certainly appeal to new whisky drinkers and that's most likely the idea behind it. But it doesn't convince me. It's all a bit plain & without any "Wow" moments. The P/Q ratio is okay if you can get it at around US$ 50.

Cheers!

Jan van den Ende                                                                 October 24, 2019

All pictures were taken during our visit in May 2019

Michel Firino Martell Bas Armagnac 1982 Review - Michel Firino Martell Single Malt 1994 Speyside Review - Michel Firino Martell Single Malt 1995 Speyside Review

“Michel Firino Martell Special”

Whisky Review # 838

Country: France
Region: Armagnac

Brand: Michel Firino Martell Bas Armagnac Ugni Blanc 1982 

Type: Single Cask Bas-Armagnac - Limited Edition- 998 Bottles (2 Single Casks)
Age: 33 Years (Bottled: July 2015)

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 45.6%
Maturation: Oak Barrels
Chill Filtration: No
Price Range: - (October 2019). Please contact seller.
All of today's reviewed samples provided by Michel from France. Many Thanks!
Buying Advice: 😃 Excellent, well-matured after-dinner Spirit.

Colour:

Mahogany (Natural Colour)

Nose:

It's been more than 15 years since I had my last Armagnac and it's my first take on this Spirit since I started Best Shot Whisky Reviews back in 2011. So I am  very curious. Okay, let's go! On the Nose this Armagnac presents very mature Aromas of Fruit, Nuts, Caramel, Wood and Spices. A mature American Rye Whiskey comes to my mind. It's still remarkably Fresh for a 33 Year old Spirit. The Oak is there of course but it doesn't completely dominate the other aromas. Good Wood Management. Sweet but not in a cloying way. Some Bitter notes for balance. Quite Dry. The Alcohol is nicely integrated. You can nose this Armagnac for more than half an hour and that's what I did in fact.

Main Aromas:

Dried Fruit like Raisins, Plums and Apricots, Roasted Almonds and Hazelnuts, Nougat, Seville Oranges, Papaya Cream with Creme de Cassis, slightly Musty Oak, Pine Resin, Tobacco and Pepper.
    
Supportive Aroma Accents:

Brown Sugar, Caramel, Butterscotch, Honey, Polished Leather Upholstery, Floral Soap, Peach, Lemon, Dried Herbs, Dark Chocolate, Nutmeg and Aniseed.

Palate:

Bitter-Sweet, Fruity, Spicy and a bit Woody. The Age becomes more clear now. This Bas-Armagnac matured quite nicely though!

Main Flavours:

Dried Fruit like Raisins, Sultanas and Plums, Roasted Hazelnuts, Seville Orange, Peach, Dark Chocolate, Leather, Tobacco, Pepper and Menthol.
  
Supportive Flavour Accents:

Brown Sugar, Caramel, Vanilla, Butterscotch, Roasted Marshmallows, Mulled Wine, Rye, Honey, slightly Musty Oak, Pine Resin, Marzipan, Lemon, Licorice, Ginger and Cinnamon.

Finish:

Quite Long, Bitter-Sweet, Fruity, Spicy and Woody. The Spirit clearly shows its old age here but not in a tired sort of way. I find Brown Sugar, Caramel, Vanilla, Pine Resin, Musty Wood, Dried Fruit like Raisins, Sultanas and Plums, Seville Orange, Red Wine, Roasted Chestnuts, Dark Chocolate, Leather, Tobacco, Lemon-Pepper, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Licorice and Peach-filled Puff Pastry.

Drinking Advice:

I added a little Water and although there's some Fruit development on the Nose, the Palate becomes less interesting and the Finish quite a bit shorter. The ABV is spot-on here and there's no need to add water.

Rating: 88

Nose: 22.5 - Taste: 22 - Finish: 21.5  - Overall: 22

Drinking Experience Neat: Very Nice.

Conclusion:

In 1994, Michel Firino Martell started selling and representing Martell Cognac in America, South-America and Asia. When the Martell label was acquired in 2001 by Pernod-Ricard, Michel decided to join other Family estates dedicated to the "Terroir" of their wines and spirits. Finally, in 2006 he launched Elite Selection, a wine merchant company dedicated to fine wine and spirits located in the city of Bordeaux. This vehicle gives Michel the opportunity to create limited editions of spirits & champagnes next to the commercialisation of rare and old wines from the best chateaux. The limited spirit editions include Armagnac and Single Malt Whisky from Scotland and France. These Spirits are finished in Michel's bonded warehouse in Glasgow and bottled by Michel as well. You can find all relevant information and prices on Michel's new Website Elite Selection.

The two casks used for this selection aged in the cellars of the Gelas house. It was distilled from the Ugni Blanc grape variety in Bas-Armagnac situated in the "departements" Landes and Gers. This grape is also used for the production of Cognac.

I didn't really know what to expect but I'm quite pleased with the quality of this Bas-Armagnac. It's well-matured and the Oak is not as overpowering as could be expected after 33 years. I loved the Nose. Good Cask Management as well. This is not for every day of course but this Armagnac seems perfect to end a fine special dinner. I will certainly try to review some other Armagnacs in the future.

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Whisky Review # 839

Country: Scotland
Region: Speyside
Distilled at: Braeval

Brand: Michel Firino Martell Single Malt 1994 Speyside

Type: Single Malt Single Cask Scotch Whisky - Limited Edition- 304 Bottles
Age: 23 Years - Distilled 20-12-1994 - Bottled in August 2017

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 55.4% (Cask Strength)
Maturation: Ex-Bourbon Cask (Heaven Hill)
Chill Filtration: No
Price Range: US$ - Please contact seller (October 2019)
Buying Advice: 😀 Good "old style" Bourbon Malt with character. A bit Oaky. 

Colour:

Golden (Natural Colour)

Nose:

This is only my third Braeval review so I don't have a lot of experience with this distillery. Please give this 1994 enough time in the glass as it opens up slowly. On the Nose this Braeval can't hide his age as the slightly Dusty Bourbon Wood makes itself known. It's Fruity but not overly Sweet. Some Grassy, Waxy and Dairy notes as well. The Alcohol is reasonably well-integrated. This Braeval is quite introspective on the Nose. It doesn't immediately show you what it's got so you have to look for it. To find the Fruity notes it's best to Nose around the brim of the glass.

Main Aromas:

Toasted Barley, Buttered Toast, Vanilla, Wax, Grass, Pear, Apple, Orange, Peach Marmalade, Charred Oak, Resin, Milk Chocolate, Pepper, Cinnamon & Ginger.
    
Supportive Aroma Accents:

Heather-Honey, Toffee, Caramel, Banana Ice-Cream, Floral Soap, Caffe Latte, Mango Cream, Tinned Pineapple, Sugared Almonds, Dried Apricot and Sultanas. 

Palate:

Bitter-Sweet. Quite strong delivery thanks to the high ABV. On the Palate this Braeval clearly shows its age. The Fruit is still there but it fights for survival against the Dusty Wood and Wood Spice notes.

Main Flavours:

Sweet Toasted Barley, Butter-Kekse (German Butter Biscuits), Brown Sugar, Vanilla, Resin, Grass and Straw, slightly Musty Wood, Peach-filled Puff-Pastry, Apple, Seville Orange, Milk Chocolate, Pepper, Nutmeg, Cloves and Ginger.
  
Supportive Flavour Accents:

Caramel, Toffee, Butterscotch, Heather-Honey, Floral Soap, Sugared Almonds, Caffe Latte, Tinned Pear and Pineapple, Cinnamon and a touch of Lemon.

Finish:

Middle-Long. Sweet, Fruity and Buttery at first but with increasing Bitterness towards the Medium-Dry end when Wood and Wood Spices take over. You can certainly tell its age by now. I find Sweet Barley, Brown Sugar, Caramel, Resin, Vanilla, Butterscotch, Wax, Hay, Dried Fruit like Sultanas and Apples, Seville Orange, Herbal Tea, Milk-Chocolate, Peach-Flavoured Yogurt, slightly Dusty Wood, Pepper, Cinnamon, Cloves, Licorice, Ginger and Menthol.

Drinking Advice:

I added a little Water and the Alcohol subdues of course thereby giving more room to the Fruit on the Nose. Wood and Wood Spices are more balanced with the other Flavours on the Palate. The Finish becomes less intense. You can certainly add a few drops to this Braeval.

Rating: 85.5

Nose: 21.5 - Taste: 21.5 - Finish: 21 - Overall: 21.5

Drinking Experience Neat: Good

Conclusion:

The Braeval distillery was founded in 1973 by Chivas Brothers to secure Single Malt for their blends. In 2001, Chivas was bought by Pernod-Ricard. The current annual production capacity amounts to 4,2 million litres. In 2017 the distillery released its first official bottling, a 16 Year old Single Cask.

This Braeval does not give itself away very easily and you have to dig to find all nuances. That only makes it more interesting though. This is a well-made Malt and a far cry from today's Mainstream Malt Madness. It is a bit on the Woody side though and I think it would have been even better if bottled a few years earlier. This bottling clearly shows that Braeval has Single Malt potential and it's a pity that most Spirit "disappears" in the Chivas Blends.

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Whisky Review # 840

Country: Scotland
Region: Speyside
Distilled at: Tormore

Brand: Michel Firino Martell Single Malt 1995 Speyside

Type: Single Malt Single Cask Scotch Whisky - Limited Edition- 297 Bottles
Age: 22 Years - Distilled June 15, 1995 - Bottled January 2018

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 55.2% (Cask Strength)
Maturation: Ex-Bourbon Hogshead
Chill Filtration: No
Price Range: US$ - Please contact seller (October 2019)
Buying Advice: 😃Solid Well-Balanced Bourbon-Matured Speysider.

Colour:

Golden (Natural Colour)

Nose:

Be sure to give this Tormore enough time in the glass as it opens up slowly. The Alcohol is quite strong so you need to find your way around it. Don't stick your nose in the middle of the glass but carefully follow the brim. On the Nose this Tormore is Medium-Sweet while a few Sour notes provide some balance. The Oak is quite present of course. This is a more "classic" Bourbon-matured Single Malt. You get the basic Aromas and Flavours you would expect.

Main Aromas:

Sweet Barley, Butter Kekse (German Butter Biscuits), Vanilla, Grass and Straw, Cake with Whipped Cream, Dusty Charred Oak, Pineapple-Flavoured Yogurt, Milk Chocolate, Orchard Fruit and Cinnamon.

Supportive Aroma Accents:

Heather-Honey, Butterscotch, Toffee, Caramel, Dusty Country Track, Orange, Mango Cream, Coconut, Banana ice-Cream, Sour Berries, Lemon Pepper, Fresh Herbs and Menthol.

Palate:

Good delivery. It's more pronounced than the slightly timid Nose would lead you to believe. It's Sweet and Sour and quite Creamy and really invites you to take another sip.

Main Flavours:

Sweet Barley, Salted Caramel, Vanilla, Fruit Cake with Whipped Cream, Apple, Banana, Milk Chocolate, Charred Oak, Cinnamon, Ginger, Mint and Aniseed.
  
Supportive Flavour Accents:

Heather-Honey, Brown Sugar, Straw, Bounty Bars, Orange, Berries, Marzipan, Lemon-Pepper and Cardamom.

Finish:

Middle-Long but quite powerful thanks to the high ABV. Its age is clear and Oak and Wood Spice lead the way. A mix of Sweet, Bitter and Sour notes provides a balanced Medium-Dry finish nevertheless. Sweet Barley, Vanilla, Butterscotch, Marzipan, Hay, Sugared Almonds, Marzipan, Milk Chocolate, Bounty Bars, Pear, Orange, Banana Ice Cream, Cinnamon, Pepper, Aniseed, Mint, Licorice and Tobacco.

Drinking Advice:

I added a little Water and Malty, Floral (Heather) and Fruity (Nectarine perhaps) notes develop. The Alcohol retreats a little on the palate and my advise is to carefully add a few drops until you find your preferred balance. The Finish is more Spicy this way.

Rating: 85.5

Nose: 21 - Taste: 21.5 - Finish: 21.5 - Overall: 21.5

Drinking Experience Neat: Good

Conclusion:

The Tormore distillery was founded in 1958 by Schenley Int, the owners of Long John Blended Whisky. In 2005 it was bought by Chivas Brothers (Pernod-Ricard) that needed additional Single Malt whisky for their Blends. The only two current Single Malts (14 and 16 Years) were released by the distillery in 2014.

I just noticed I gave the two Single Malts the same rating. That's correct from a quality point of view as they are both well made Speyside Malts. But they are quite different types of Whisky. The Tormore is a little closed on the Nose but immediately shows its hand on the palate and in the Finish. It's a Whisky that comes to you. In the case of the Braeval you will have to dig deeper to get to the soul. You have to explore the Malt until you find what hides behind the Oak. But both are well-made Single Malts and show much more character than the mainstream Speyside Malts that overflow the market in recent years. These well-matured Single malts can't be cheap of course so they can't be considered as daily drams. But they make for perfect birthday presents to enjoy sip by sip.

Cheers!

Jan van den Ende                                                                 October 14, 2019