Balvenie 1970 42yo Sherry Cask [From Paris with Love]

Hi everyone,

Wah! This is exciting!!

I happened to be walking past the Balvenie stand and noted that they were pouring whisky from a bottle with a handwritten label. I managed to catch them just as they were trying to hide it underneath the stand and asked what it was.

Turns out David Stewart had just done a masterclass at Whisky Live Paris and this was the final whisky from the tasting. A 1970 Single Sherry Cask, bottled at 42 years old.

I also tried the 17 Doublewood as a kind of warm up.

Balvenie 17 Doublewood 43%

Colour: Dark Gold

Body: Medium

Nose: Really classically fruity, lots of honey and nice florals.

Taste: Fruity and sweet, honey, nicely balanced.

Finish: Medium/long length. Honeycomb and beeswax.

This is a really nice one and a big step up from the 12 (which I’m not too fond of).

79/100

 

Balvenie 1970 Single Cask 42yo Sherry 58.8%

Colour: Dark amber

Body: Full

Nose: Like any great Balvenie, this just oozes class. Antique, leather, Sherry, orange blossom, cherry, old polished wood, old antique furniture, really complex and balanced, slight medicinal note with cough sweets. Cocktail cherries too. Amazing nose.

Taste: Sherry arrival, so soft, so epic. Old wood, dry oak, layers of complex spices, orange blossom, crystallised honey, beeswax, oily amazing mouthfeel.

Finish: Medium/Long length. Sweetness goes, then dry oak, leather and chocolate come back with some spice. Not as amazing as the nose and taste, a little too dry.

WOW! Layers and layers to the taste, just keeps developing in the mouth. Emotional. Extraordinary. If the finish hadn’t been a little too dry, this could have been my first 93!

91/100

This makes Balvenie the only whisky so far (not for long) the only distillery with two whiskies on my 90+ list, after the awesome Tun 1401.

Thanks for reading!

Scotch Reviews #461-#462

Whisky Network Reviews #526-#527

Network Average: 74.3

Best Score: 92

Worst Score: 22

0-49 Terrible

50-59 Bad

60-64 Just About OK

65-69 Ok to Good

70-74 Good

75-79 Very Good

80-84 Excellent

85-89 Superb

90+ Magnificent

Full Disclosure Disclaimer: I currently work as a Brand Ambassador for Penderyn Distillery. The views expressed here are purely my own and do not reflect the views of Penderyn Distillery or The Welsh Whisky Company. I try to maintain as much objectivity as I can but feel free to take my reviews with as big a pinch of salt as you like. Furthermore, my rating scale is NOT based on a Parker type wine scoring scale or a school/college/university % or A-F grade score. You can find more on my scoring here. I apologise for any seemly low or 'bad' scores given with my system and am sorry I can't say only nice things. Please keep in mind that I am ethically compromised and am unable to produce 100% unbiased reviews.

Why is this here?

Glendronach 1991 Kingsman Review [From Paris with Love]

Hi everyone,

Oh god, where to start with this one?

So, this is a whisky released for a particular movie sequel, Kingsman 2. Now, I could understand Dalmore or Macallan popping up in James Bond, and there is that association here with the Bond films, but Glendronach? Not sure, that’s the image you want to cultivate. Especially, with a spy comedy.

Anyway, all of that aside, this was exciting. Because it’s Glendronach. It’s from Sherry casks. It’s cask strength-ish. And it’s old. The oldest Glendronach I’ve tried so far.

So I tried to not let the movie thing get to me and just assess the whisky itself.

 

Glendronach 1991 Kingsman 48.2%

Colour: Dark Amber

Body: Medium/Full

Nose: Cherry and crushed mint, Sherry isn't too in your face, it's restrained, a little sharp alcohol though, nicely woody with some nutmeg, some cinnamon but there is a sour vinegar note that I feel I’m sensitive to.

Taste: Sharp then soft, woody, lots of oak, cherry, artificial cherry, cinnamon spice, Euro oak, sour red grape. It is quite sour and woody to start, then it gets even more sour. Thankfully, there’s none of the vinegar here.

Finish: Short/Medium length. Malty, lots of espresso, dark chocolate. Length is disappointing here.

Ah! What a fantastic way of getting rid of your ‘dud’ casks that haven’t performed as well as you’d have hoped! Release some swanky box and decanter for some Hollywood movie and sell for huge amounts of money.

Joking aside, this is disappointing. It’s disappointing for a Glendronach, and majorly disappointing for the price it’s at.

And yes, I did give it time. I decided not to add water but I left it to open up but didn’t get much more from it. As always, this review is just an opinion.

76/100

Thanks for reading!

Scotch Review #460

Whisky Network Review #525

Network Average: 74.3

Best Score: 92

Worst Score: 22

0-49 Terrible

50-59 Bad

60-64 Just About OK

65-69 Ok to Good

70-74 Good

75-79 Very Good

80-84 Excellent

85-89 Superb

90+ Magnificent

Full Disclosure Disclaimer: I currently work as a Brand Ambassador for Penderyn Distillery. The views expressed here are purely my own and do not reflect the views of Penderyn Distillery or The Welsh Whisky Company. I try to maintain as much objectivity as I can but feel free to take my reviews with as big a pinch of salt as you like. Furthermore, my rating scale is NOT based on a Parker type wine scoring scale or a school/college/university % or A-F grade score. You can find more on my scoring here. I apologise for any seemly low or 'bad' scores given with my system and am sorry I can't say only nice things. Please keep in mind that I am ethically compromised and am unable to produce 100% unbiased reviews.

Why is this here?

Ardbeg An Oa Review [From Paris with Love]

Hi everyone,

So, this is Ardbeg’s latest NAS release, as an add-on to their core range.

At release there was a lot of talk of different types of sherry, special marrying vats and virgin oak, which made for a bit of convoluted sounding mix. Like some kind of watered down baby of Oog and Corry.

I was curious to try this but Ardbeg stand was swamped all day at Whisky Live Paris. VR is being explored as a marketing ploy and Ardbeg and Glenfiddich are eager to exploit it, so of course Ardbeg had a little boat you could sit in with your wellies on and pretend you’re a smuggler or some such.

How does their new whisky actually taste though?

Ardbeg An Oa 46.6%

Colour: Gold

Body: Full

Nose: Like a blend of the 10 and Corry. Ardbeggian smoke, virgin oak, the pine needles I normally get from Corry, creamy, lime peel and juice, chilli chocolate.

Taste: Sour arrival, sour lime juice, then some spicy oak and ginger develops but it goes quite spicy with the chilli coming in too.

Finish: Medium length. Oak and smoke, not much else.

I don’t really get why they bothered releasing this. It’s not different enough from Corry in my opinion. To me it tastes like just watered down Corry. It’s Ardbeg, so it’s still good but it’s a weak release compared to their other products. Give me a bottle of the 10 over this any day.

74/100

Thanks for reading!

Scotch Review #459

Whisky Network Review #524

Network Average: 74.2

Best Score: 92

Worst Score: 22

0-49 Terrible

50-59 Bad

60-64 Just About OK

65-69 Ok to Good

70-74 Good

75-79 Very Good

80-84 Excellent

85-89 Superb

90+ Magnificent

Full Disclosure Disclaimer: I currently work as a Brand Ambassador for Penderyn Distillery. The views expressed here are purely my own and do not reflect the views of Penderyn Distillery or The Welsh Whisky Company. I try to maintain as much objectivity as I can but feel free to take my reviews with as big a pinch of salt as you like. Furthermore, my rating scale is NOT based on a Parker type wine scoring scale or a school/college/university % or A-F grade score. You can find more on my scoring here. I apologise for any seemly low or 'bad' scores given with my system and am sorry I can't say only nice things. Please keep in mind that I am ethically compromised and am unable to produce 100% unbiased reviews.

Why is this here?

Belgian Owl 36 Months Review [From Paris with Love]

Hi everyone,

A few years ago, a distillery in Belgium bought the old disused stills from Caperdonich and installed them with the help of Forsyths. Belgian Owl has been around for a while but with a much, much smaller production.

We got chatting with one of the guys behind Belgian Owl at Whisky Live Paris and he was obviously passionate about his product from these stills, now being three years old.

It’s been matured in 1st fill Bourbon barrels, and matured for 3 years. How’s it taste?

 

Belgian Owl 46%

Colour: Gold

Body: Medium

Nose: Honey florals, some rubbery young esters.

Taste: A little sharp, a little sour, nice lemon but a little rubbery.

Finish: Short/medium length. Lemon soap, not unpleasant.

It young, yeah. But I’ve had far worse whiskies that are four times the age. The honey notes on the nose are nice and although it’s a little soapy and rubbery, it works. Looking forward to trying it again when it’s a little older.

66/100

Thanks for reading!

Belgian Whisky Review #1

Whisky Network Review #523

Network Average: 74.2

Best Score: 92

Worst Score: 22

0-49 Terrible

50-59 Bad

60-64 Just About OK

65-69 Ok to Good

70-74 Good

75-79 Very Good

80-84 Excellent

85-89 Superb

90+ Magnificent

Full Disclosure Disclaimer: I currently work as a Brand Ambassador for Penderyn Distillery. The views expressed here are purely my own and do not reflect the views of Penderyn Distillery or The Welsh Whisky Company. I try to maintain as much objectivity as I can but feel free to take my reviews with as big a pinch of salt as you like. Furthermore, my rating scale is NOT based on a Parker type wine scoring scale or a school/college/university % or A-F grade score. You can find more on my scoring here. I apologise for any seemly low or 'bad' scores given with my system and am sorry I can't say only nice things. Please keep in mind that I am ethically compromised and am unable to produce 100% unbiased reviews.

Why is this here?

Mortlach 1994 G&M Sherry Review [From Paris with Love]

Hi everyone,

Older Sherried Mortlach. That's the dream my friends. Some the stuff is legendary and it's got a reputation for these complex meaty flavours that work so well.

So when I saw Gordon & MacPhail had one, I made a beeline for their stand.

Prices are high though and this one would set you back around £200ish. Not as ridiculous as the officials though remember.

 

Mortlach 1994 G&M Cask Strength 54.2%

Colour: Dark Amber

Body: Full

Nose: A little medicinal strangely, cough sweets, floral geranium, a little closed though. Opens up after a bit with cherry lip gloss.

Taste: Big and rolling. Quiet at first then building up with cherry, Sherry then amazing medicinal and floral notes. Cherry chocolate.

Finish: Long length. Really good. Woody, chocolatey, dark chocoalte.

Single Sherry butt. A shame that the nose didn't really open up. Perhaps it needed a little water but I was cautious at this point because a drop of water had really dumbed down a previous whisky.

82/100

Thanks for reading!

Scotch Review #458

Whisky Network Review #522

Network Average: 74.2

Best Score: 92

Worst Score: 22

0-49 Terrible

50-59 Bad

60-64 Just About OK

65-69 Ok to Good

70-74 Good

75-79 Very Good

80-84 Excellent

85-89 Superb

90+ Magnificent

Full Disclosure Disclaimer: I currently work as a Brand Ambassador for Penderyn Distillery. The views expressed here are purely my own and do not reflect the views of Penderyn Distillery or The Welsh Whisky Company. I try to maintain as much objectivity as I can but feel free to take my reviews with as big a pinch of salt as you like. Furthermore, my rating scale is NOT based on a Parker type wine scoring scale or a school/college/university % or A-F grade score. You can find more on my scoring here. I apologise for any seemly low or 'bad' scores given with my system and am sorry I can't say only nice things. Please keep in mind that I am ethically compromised and am unable to produce 100% unbiased reviews.

Why is this here?

Bw7 Elements of Islay Review [From Paris with Love]

Hi everyone,

This is one of the new Elements of Islay releases from a 'mystery' distillery labelled 'Bw.' I'll give you one guess.

This was distilled in 2001 and matured in four Sherry butts.

Bw⁷ 53.2%

Colour: Dark Amber

Body: Full

Nose: BBQ sauce and heavy Sherry, malt, pommegranate, nice florals, powdered sugar on overdone doughnuts. Gristy.

Taste: Soft, silky then big Sherry and malty smoke, grows bigger again, slight BBQ, fig and date.

Finish: Long length. Goes in a completely different direction. Really fruity and sweet to end, sweet fig, some raisin, then drier with some oak.

This is obviously overly Sherried but remains very interesting with some interesting notes.

81/100

Thanks for reading!

Scotch Review #457

Whisky Network Review #521

Network Average: 74.2

Best Score: 92

Worst Score: 22

0-49 Terrible

50-59 Bad

60-64 Just About OK

65-69 Ok to Good

70-74 Good

75-79 Very Good

80-84 Excellent

85-89 Superb

90+ Magnificent

Full Disclosure Disclaimer: I currently work as a Brand Ambassador for Penderyn Distillery. The views expressed here are purely my own and do not reflect the views of Penderyn Distillery or The Welsh Whisky Company. I try to maintain as much objectivity as I can but feel free to take my reviews with as big a pinch of salt as you like. Furthermore, my rating scale is NOT based on a Parker type wine scoring scale or a school/college/university % or A-F grade score. You can find more on my scoring here. I apologise for any seemly low or 'bad' scores given with my system and am sorry I can't say only nice things. Please keep in mind that I am ethically compromised and am unable to produce 100% unbiased reviews.

Why is this here?

Kilchoman 2007 Whisky.fr LMDW Review [From Paris with Love]

Hi everyone,

Remember when Kilchoman was a great young whisky?

Well it’s coming of age, with a few 10 year old single casks starting to creep out. The oldest I’d tasted so far was a fantastic 9 year old from 2007, so when I saw this, I jumped at the opportunity to try it.

This was bottled for the 20th anniversary of Whisky.fr, La Maison du Whisky’s online webshop.

Kilchoman 2007 Single Cask LMDW 56%

Colour: Light Gold

Body: Full

Nose: Much lighter and more ethereal than expected. Malty and mineral, kiwi fruit and crushed granite.

Taste: Full on, amazing fruit and mineral combo, stony, granite, lemon-y, seaweed, ginger.

Finish: Long length. More lemon with malty smoke staying and staying. Really long.

10 years old! A first for me from this great little distillery. There is a little woody harshness that comes through after more time with it though.

83/100

Thanks for reading!

Scotch Review #456

Whisky Network Review #520

Network Average: 74.2

Best Score: 92

Worst Score: 22

0-49 Terrible

50-59 Bad

60-64 Just About OK

65-69 Ok to Good

70-74 Good

75-79 Very Good

80-84 Excellent

85-89 Superb

90+ Magnificent

Full Disclosure Disclaimer: I currently work as a Brand Ambassador for Penderyn Distillery. The views expressed here are purely my own and do not reflect the views of Penderyn Distillery or The Welsh Whisky Company. I try to maintain as much objectivity as I can but feel free to take my reviews with as big a pinch of salt as you like. Furthermore, my rating scale is NOT based on a Parker type wine scoring scale or a school/college/university % or A-F grade score. You can find more on my scoring here. I apologise for any seemly low or 'bad' scores given with my system and am sorry I can't say only nice things. Please keep in mind that I am ethically compromised and am unable to produce 100% unbiased reviews.

Why is this here?