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| Hi, this is one of our (almost) daily tastings. Santé! |
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July 27, 2023 |
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| At Distillerie des Menhirs, makers of Eddu (Radio France) |
As usual we'll kick this off from France, where things are getting a bit boring as it's been at least three weeks since we've had any demonstrations, lootings, black blocs, or rampages. There are even tourists who are starting to complain... |
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Eddu 'Tourbé 2nd Edition' (43%, OB, France, 2023) 
Hold your horse, it's only been finished in some ex-peater cask, it's not a proper peated buckwheat whisky by Distillerie des Menhirs. But could you smoke buckwheat? I suppose the answer is yes… Colour: white wine. Nose: a feeling of smoked pears and peaches, with a little rubber and cumin. White currants, prickly pears, a little turmeric… It's nice, for sure. Perhaps on ice, with Breton oysters? Mouth: the peat is louder on the palate, there's even a curious feeling of… Ardbeg? Good saltiness, edible seaweed, wakame, nori, samphires (not seaweed, I know), more pears, more turmeric, gin… I seems that peat and buckwheat do kind of like each other. It was smart to bring this down to 43% vol. Finish: medium, well balanced, with a little honey and golden raisins. Light peat and gin and tonic in the aftertaste. Comments: it's good, I'm sure it would be a star on ice. Will try that tonight!
SGP:553 - 82 points. |
Since we're in Bretagne, a proper peater please… |
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Kornog 5 yo (58.5%, OB, for La Maison du Whisky, oloroso finish, 274 bottles, 2023) 
Bourbon, then oloroso. Remember Kornog is a proper peater, it's not some peaty in-cask blend. Colour: straw. Nose: a hint of burnt butter at first, then bicycle inner tube, mirabelle eau-de-vie, drops of bitters, nocino, amaro, flint… The 58.5% don't even really feel. Class young Kornog. With water: porridge with inside, a nip of.. young Kornog. Garden centre (where they store the clothing, watering cans, rubber boots, garden hose…) No peat monster. Mouth (neat): very punchy, very citric, pretty rubbery. A very distinctive style, you would almost call it a retsina of malt whisky. Quite. With water: more peat, limoncello, two cream eggs, salty fudge… Finish: rather long, still with these rubbery notes that I really enjoy. Otherwise salted lemons and just peat and pepper. Comments: rubber's absolutely not a flaw in this case. Rather loved this. Moderate olorosoness.
SGP:467 - 87 points. |
To Alsace and then to Germany… |
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Distillerie de Strasbourg 'Esprit de Malt' (45.1%, OB, France, 2022)
A brand new distillery in one of the capitals of Europe, with a spirit that's only 10 months old, but I've already heard good things. It is organic while they're sourcing the wash from a local brewery called Bendorf, which, says my son Arthur who's much more a beer guy than yours truly, is producing good beer. Colour: white wine. Nose: good, it is not just distilled beer, which can be too light and too fruity. Believe me, I've tried to make some myself several times. Nice vanilla, kougelhopf (of course), soft doughs, mirabelles, acacia beignets… Mouth: all good, really, with more vanilla, preserved peaches and plums (tinned greengages), breads, minimal oakiness (just a little sawdust) and some apricots. Finish: medium, similar, again a little sawdust in the aftertaste. Comments: I'm getting mirabelles while I love mirabelles. I'm sure it'll 'digest' the sawdust over the years. Glad to have a future malt whisky from Strasbourg, hoppla!
SGP:541 - 80 points. |
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Brigantia 2016/2022 'Schwaben Whisky' (45%, OB, Germany) 
From Steinhauser on the Bodensee/Lake Constance. Apparently, this was aged on a boat that sails on Lake Constance. The weather can be quite rough, I've already been caught in a massive storm while on the lake, it was pretty intense. Brigantia is housed in a Cardhu-style bottle. Colour: white wine. Nose: like! Muesli and overripe apples, amaretti, a little sour cream, porridge… Mouth: good stuff, with some chocolaty oakiness, good malt, roasted chestnuts, Nutella (with apologies to the honourable distillers)… High quaffability ratio. Finish: medium, with some tea tannins, more chocolate, some malty beer. Comments: its good, I enjoy this chocolaty side, it must have come from the wood they've used.
SGP:451 - 84 points. |
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The English Vintage 2010/2022 'Heavily Smoked' (46%, OB, England, Small Batch)
From St. George. Hold on, what's the difference between 'peated' and 'smoked' on these bottles? Colour: pale white wine. Nose: light smoke, nice crispiness, oysters, lemons, smoke indeed, a little rubber, some sourdough. Mouth: very good, just a little ashy and drying at first. Feels finished in peater wood, but then again, that often works. Not too sure. Nice pink grapefruits. Finish: rather long, rather drying, but good. Ashes in the aftertaste. Comments: feels smoked as ham, bacon, sausages, fish or even paprika or oysters can be smoked. As I may have said before, after all, chefs do smoke just anything as well these days.
SGP:444 - 82 points. |
In a way, the latter reminded me of the one that started it all, Glenfiddich 'Caoran', remember that one? |
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The Lakes 'The One - Sherry Cask' (46.6%, OB, England, blend, +/-2022)
We're in Cumbria. It's just a blend and it's only finished in sherry, but you just never know… Colour: amber. Nose: chocolate, roasted chestnuts, chicory coffee, hazelnut cream, walnut cake, pecan pie, brownies, brandy de Jerez… I suppose you got it at this point. Mouth: exactly the same. Let me copy-and-paste for you, chocolate, roasted chestnuts, chicory coffee, hazelnut cream, walnut cake, pecan pie, brownies, brandy de Jerez… Finish: medium, this time with a little polish and walnut skins. Sour sherry, amontillado… Comments: whichever the recipe they've used, that worked. But since it's a blend, may I ask what they've blended? No quibbles though.
SGP:551 - 84 points. |
Good, let's spend our last Air France Miles… |
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Hellyer's Road 18 yo 2004/2022 (58.4%, OB, LMDW, Antipodes, Australia, cask #4022.03) 
Tasmania's Hellyer's Road is always incredible. Now, for how much longer can we continue to import bottles of whisky from the other side of the world? What does Greta say? Colour: gold. Nose: curry, ginger, vanilla, turmeric, kumquats, hay. With water: lovely chalk, sourdough and grist. We stay close to the raw ingredients, that's fine. Mouth (neat): greater than on the nose, absolutely smashing in fact. Gingery smoke, salty sauvignon blanc, ginseng, shoe polish, bamboo shoots, grapefruit… With water: careful, water can flatten it. Possibly not the best swimmer ever, but after all, the straight-line distance between Tasmania and France is over seventeen thousand kilometres. So, by swimming… Finish: long. Citrons, ginseng, turmeric, grapefruit. Comments: it's a little tough when whiskies above 55% do not take water with grace and confidence, but this is obviously another perfect Hellyer's Road.
SGP:563 - 88 points. |
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