The Olympic Sessions, Day 13


August 12, 2024

The Olympic Session, Day 13 (kind of, not sure anymore)

Red Bull and whiskies from around the world to set us right. We’re leaving from France again… Indeed, even though the official Paris Games ended yesterday, we'll carry on a bit longer on our end.

At St. Kilian in Germany (St.Kilian Distillers)

Alfred Giraud ‘Intrigue #2’ (51.5%, OB, France, +/-2024)

We genuinely enjoyed the first version of this Intrigue, offered by the whisky growers/breeders Alfred Giraud. Young whisky sourced from France, then aged in top-tier casks and bottled in a luxurious fashion, reminiscent of the great Cognac houses with their ‘super-premium’ expressions. Colour: gold. Nose: very fine delicacy, with ripe yellow peaches and a hint of Sémillon, meadow honey, a bit of alpine muesli (what?), and a complex, rather fruity curry, followed by notes of almond croissant. It’s quite unimpeachable, shall we say. With water: as often with young whiskies, it leans towards cake dough, baker’s yeast, and white flowers. A slight chalky touch, as is often the case. Mouth (neat): juicy, still on ripe peach, but with more prominent wood (ginger, cinnamon) and strongly infused green tea. A pronounced French oak character. With water: it falls into place, with a return of fruits, apricot and peach, plus honey and herbal teas, chamomile, cinnamon... Finish: long, with casks playing the leading role. Plenty of tea. White clover in the aftertaste. Comments: very good, as expected. Truly a very good cask-driven work.
SGP:551 - 87 points.

Let's have a bit of fun with some Muscat wine...

Morris of Rutherglen ‘Muscat Barrels’ (46%, OB, Australia, +/-2023)

Back to Victoria we go, to visit these winemakers/distillers. This is a finishing in their own Australian muscat casks (Morris), which I find rather cool. Hooray for self-finishing! Colour: deep gold. Nose: the sweet wine is noticeable but works well, being balanced, delightful, soft, fruity, and not excessively muscated. A very lovely floral note, ylang-ylang, a hint of jasmine, and a touch of small-berried muscat blanc. Then, quite a bit of buttercream, pastries... Mouth: undoubtedly a bit too much on the palate, with a very pronounced sugary vinosity accompanied by notes of old cask. That said, the orange liqueur sensation comes to the rescue; I reckon it's the orange liqueur or the triple sec that truly deserve medals in San Francisco, at the IWSC, WWA, etc. At least an honorary medal for the entirety of their work as descriptors. Finish: medium length, sweet, on muscat raisins. Comments: not bad at all, but a tad excessive in the whisky/wine mix for me.
SGP:741 - 81 points.

While we’re at it…

Amrut 5 yo 2017/2022 'Ex-Sauternes Cask' (60%, OB, La Maison du Whisky, cask #8038, 2198 bottles)

I've often noticed that the somewhat exuberant nature of Amrut's malt allows it to hold its own with powerfully expressive wines. Like Sauternes, let's see how this goes... Colour: dark gold. Nose: the Australian Morris serves as a real springboard here, with more mango and orange at the forefront in this Amrut, followed by sémillon and honey-glazed ham. This ham is quite amusing and lovely - and unusual. But that might change with the first drop of water... With water: hints of clay and gunpowder, a tiny bit of hard-boiled egg, then aubergine and mead. Mouth (neat): utterly sinful, peach sorbet, pink banana, lemon fudge, cassata, oranges, and a slight sulphur touch that's not off-putting, almost the opposite. With water: orange blossom, cream eggs, peach liqueur. Finish: fairly long, with pink grapefruit taking charge. Honeyed aftertaste, without any sulphur at all. Comments: the problem with ex-sweet wine casks is that they are very fragile and thus require quite a bit of sulphur unless you refill them very quickly. Otherwise, they can start to spoil. This very, very lovely Amrut stayed in the safe zone, fortunately.
SGP:751 - 85 points.

St. Kilian 2019/2024 ‘Unpeated’ (59.4%, OB, Germany, single cask, ex Four Roses bourbon barrel)

St. Kilian is just never boring. How many distilleries can say that? Colour: very white white wine. Nose: I’m not sure I get the Four Roses but I really enjoy these fresh pastries, croissants, cakes, scones, shortbread, and then the heaps of apples and pears of various sorts that pour into your glass. Fresh and impeccable. With water: lemon macarons, amaretti, linden blossom tea. Nothing to discard. Mouth (neat): brilliant, Williams pear eau-de-vie, apple juice, acacia honey, a touch of lime. It's akin to an excellent cocktail, invigorating and refreshing. With water: still on quality eaux-de-vie, you’d even find some service tree berry and wild cherry. A hint of liquorice and gentian in the background. Finish: fairly long, fresh and lively, with apples reigning supreme. Comments: this is really good. Off you go, a lovely bronze at the WF Olympics!
SGP:551 - 87 points.

Brigantia 12 yo ‘Edition Constancia’ (45%, OB, Germany, 2022)

Brigantia 12 yo ‘Edition Constantia’ (45%, OB, Germany, 2022)

A barley malt whisky from Lake Constance! Even if their ‘Classic’ was a bit tricky last year (WF 76), let’s go in with an open mind. Colour: gold. Nose: incredible, it’s ultra-floral, with geranium, rose, and acacia flower at first sniff. Once your olfactory bulb filters all that, we arrive at traditional pastries, streusels, kougelhopf, and then sourdough. Mouth: it’s a bit odd, with double cream, rennet, and unleavened bread at the start, then powdered pepper and 7Up. We almost ventured into Red Bull territory. Finish: medium, a bit dusty. Some good aspects (old apples) nonetheless. Comments: I’m not quite sure what to make of this baby. Maybe nothing, it has its good sides, others are a bit more problematic – but remember, it’s just one man’s opinion.
SGP:542 - 75 points.

Speaking of Red Bull, would you believe I had a pack of six aluminium cans forgotten at the back of WF's cellar for two or three years? Well, the drink managed to corrode and then pierce the aluminium from the inside, leaking onto the shelf and causing the kind of damage you can imagine. Would never happen with whisky! The brand supports extreme sports, which is all well and good, but drinking Red Bull seems to be an extreme sport in itself.

Tennessee 10 yo 2011/2022 'Just Dram It' (47.9%, Whisky Picnic Bar Taiwan, USA, barrel, 102 bottles)

Generally speaking, these little darlings are George Dickel. Not bad news, if you ask me. Colour: gold. Nose: once again, one of those bourbons that flirts a bit with the world of sweet rum, thanks to the use of columns that somewhat soften the impact of the distillate and, by contrast, give more prominence to the casks. You know what I mean. It's beautifully vanilla-y, with a hint of nail polish, cherry, macadamia nuts, touches of pineapple and perhaps a bit of sesame. Mouth: ah, very good, more on the citrus side, although the wood is a tad too pronounced for me. The sweet woodruff shines here (have you ever tried woodruff syrup or liqueur?) Very nice balance, leaning slightly towards a hazelnut coffee akin to some of Starbucks. Finish: medium length, with notes of ripe banana and cinnamon. The woodruff lingers in the aftertaste. Comments: I find it really good.
SGP:551 - 85 points.

Current Medal Standing
After Day 13

92 - Gold
	TTO Trinidad Distillers Limited 14 yo 2009/2024 'Edition N°1' (62.9%, The Colours of Rum, Up Spirits Club, bourbon cask, cask #106, 259 bottles)
91 - Gold
	JPN Shizuoka 2019/2023 (65.2%, Asta Morris, Japan, peated, pot still K, bourbon barrel, cask #1222, 302 bottles) JPN Shizuoka ‘United S - Summer Edition 2023’ (50.5%, OB, Japan, first-fill bourbon) JPN Yamazaki 18 yo ’Suntory 100th Anniversary’ (48%, OB, Japan, Mizunara, 2023) GUI Uitvlugt 31 yo 1990/2022 (56.2%, Silver Seal, Guyana) FIJ South Pacific Distillery 11 yo 2012/2023 (57.5%, The Whisky Jury, Fiji, refill barrel, cask #12, 292 bottles)
90 - Silver
	JPN Hakushu 18 yo ‘Suntory 100th Anniversary’ (48%, OB, Japan, 2023) NED Millstone 26 yo 1996/2022 (47.7%, OB for The Whisky Exchange, Netherlands, American oak, cask #1372, 264 bottles) JPN Shizuoka 2018/2024 (46.6%, OB, Sushi + Soul Munich, Japan, KS+WS, bourbon, cask #939) TTO Caroni 25-year-old 1998/2023 (60.1%, Impressions by The Colours of Rum, Trinidad, cask #8, 120 bottles) TTO Caroni 25 yo 1999/2024 (57.2%, Jean Boyer, Rum Bullion, Trinidad, cask #198) TTO Caroni 24 yo 1998/2023 ‘Mars’ (61.1%, Jack Tar, Cosmic Series, cask #2185, 195 bottles) LCA Chairman’s Reserve 15 yo 2005/2022 (61.5%, OB, St. Lucia, GotA & RumX, bourbon, cask #06012000, 232 bottles) CUB Cuban Rum 50 yo 1973/2024 (52%, Spheric Spirits, cask #2314302, 258 bottles) BAR Foursquare 20 yo 2002/2023 (49%, The Colours of Rhum, Barbados, N°19, cask #4, 208 bottles)
89 - Silver
	FRA Alfred Giraud ‘Une Odyssée’ (52.9%, OB, France, Collection Singulière, cognac cask, 459 bottles) GBR Bimber ‘Stratford’ (58.5%, OB, England, The Spirit of the Underground, Fino cask, cask #267/16, 325 bottles, 2024) KOR Kimshangsoo Single Cask (52.1%, OB, Korea, Artist Edition, 1st fill European oloroso hogshead, 312 bottles, 2023) AIN Caribbean Rum 30 yo 1993/2024 (60.5%, eSpirit, Liquid Treasures, 15th anniversary, barrel, 282 bottles)
88 - Bronze
	GBR Bimber ‘Wimbledon’ (56.6%, OB, England, The Spirit of the Underground, Vino de Naranja cask, cask #310/5, 298 bottles, 2024) JPN Chichibu 2017/2023 (65%, OB for ePower, 1st fill bourbon barrel, cask #8279, 176 bottles) USA Copperworks 3 yo 2018/2022 (56.8%, Whisky-Facile, USA, Black Cat Series, virgin oak, cask #287, 239 bottles) ITA Exmu ‘Spirit of Sardinia’ (45.5%, OB, Italy, bourbon, +/-2024) JPN Kanosuke 2019/2023 (61%, OB, for ePower, Japan, oloroso sherry, cask #19421, 281 bottles) JPN Mars Tsunuki 6 yo 2017/2024 ‘Yakushima Aging’ (58%, OB, Japan, for Tiffany’s New York Bar and AF Trade, sherry hogshead, cask #2094, 252 bottles) GBR Penderyn 13 yo 2010/2023 (59.5%, OB, Wales, LMDW New Vibrations, second fill bourbon, cask #313/2010) JPN Shizuoka ‘Pot Still W Japanese barley First Edition’ (55.5%, OB, Japan, Japan exclusive, 2,500 bottles, 2023) JPN Yoichi 10 yo (45%, OB, Japan, Edition 2022) GUY Diamond 20 yo 2003/2024 'SVL' (51.6%, The Roots, Guyana, bourbon cask, cask #23, 174 bottles) CVD Sodade 'Cana Rocca Ouro Blanco' (43.1%, OB, Cape Verde, grogue, +/-2023)
87 - Bronze
	FRA Alfred Giraud ‘Intrigue #2’ (51.5%, OB, France, +/-2024) GBR Bimber ‘Germany Edition 2023’ (59.2%, OB, Kirsch Import, sherry, cask #456, 280 bottles) GBR Filey Bay 2016/2021 (63.1%, OB, England, oloroso sherry hogshead, cask #146, 271 bottles) NED Kalkwijck 2019/2023 ‘Higgledy Piggledy Rye’ (44%, OB, The Netherlands, American oak, 480 bottles, +/-2023) TPE Kavalan 2014/2024 (61%, OB for Malt, Grain & Cane, Port, cask #O140201019A, 186 bottles) FIN Kyrö 'Malt Rye' (47.2%, OB, Finland, +/-2023) NED Millstone 2019/2024 (57.3%, OB for The Whisky Jury, refill PX hogshead, cask #2547, 319 bottles) ESP Sherishor 12 yo (45%, OB, Spain, ‘pure malt whisky’, +/-2024) GER St. Kilian 2019/2024 ‘Unpeated’ (59.4%, OB, Germany, single cask, ex Four Roses bourbon barrel) GER The Westfalian ‘Masterpiece Peated’ (64.1%, OB, Germany, ex-Macallan sherry hogshead, cask #TW74, 238 bottles) GER The Westfalian 2012/2024 'Single Grain' (62.5%, OB, Germany, ex-Ben Nevis sherry hogshead, cask #TW8, 266 bottles) USA Westward ‘Cask Strength 125 Proof’ (62.5%, OB, USA, +/-2023) AIN Ron Colon ‘Salvadoreno High Proof’ (55.5%, OB, blend, +/-2022) TTO Trinidad Distillers Limited 15 yo 2008/2024 (64.4%, Spiritori #1, Trinidad, cask #243, 335 bottles)