A small batch of cognac and non-cognac things this time, moving from blends to single casks, from oxidised profiles to raw peat.
Raison Personnelle 2.0 40,3%
Another Raison Personnelle from 2.X range. So same pedigree here, an XO (15 years+, blend of various vintages), bottled around 2021–2022; the estate is now releasing the 5.x series. Angeac terroir. Let’s go!
Colour: Orange, gold lights. Medium irregular tears.
Nose: Fresh fruity notes and a tad of sugariness at first. Black pepper shades. Reminding me a bit of some young GC fruitiness, but I clearly miss precision here. A tad of heathery scents in the background.
Palate: Light texture, with hints of orchard fruit notes. Shy raisin notes surrounded by a medium tannic structure. Slightly acidulous in the aftertaste. It ends on cooked orchard fruits and fresh peppery notes.
Last Notes: A tad more on the floral side with air, mainly on lavender and lilac. Back on the palate, you get various cooked fruit notes again. I miss precision and fun here.
Interesting in some aspects (charming fruitiness), but I miss precision and balance.
82+/100
Raison Personnelle 2.2 41%
Same pedigree, blend of early 2010s vintage. GC (Angeac terroir) bottled in 2021-22. Let’s go!
Colour: Orange, gold lights. Medium irregular tears.
Nose: Candied citrus notes and a tad of nutty scents too. Vinous notes and a touch of raisin as well. Opulent orchard notes in the background, gently lifted by light fresh spice notes.
Palate: Light texture, carrying a tad of warm spice, mainly caraway. Quite a sharp profile, still focused on raw orchard notes and vivid citrus shades. Hints of nutty notes in the aftertaste. Chalky impressions too.
Last Notes: Vivid citrus notes again, this time on lime and bergamot. A tad of liquorice. Back on the palate, you get a wave of freshness on peppermint and cardamom. It ends on pistachio and candied citrus aromas.
Bold energy of pure chalky terroir, but I’m not a huge fan of this kind of blend, where I miss precision, depth and fun.
82/100
Michel Couvreur Auprès De Ma Bonde 48%
This Couvreur cuvee was distilled in 2008 and bottled in 2017, after a 9yo ageing in a sherry half-butt for a limited release (213 bottles). Let’s go!
Colour: Dark amber, red lights. Irregular heavy tears.
Nose: Strong balsamic shades at first, immediately followed by distinct oxidised Savagnin wine scents. Vinous notes (old Châteauneuf-du-Pape, and more precisely reminding me of 2006 Beaucastel) melted into an elegant malt patina.
Palate: Rich texture, with a tad of malt-driven dryness in the aftertaste. Delicious nutty notes on hazelnut cream and roasted walnut. The palate is screaming PX. Lingering tobacco notes. Very nice rancio shades on humidor and cocoa.
Last Notes: Opulent chocolate scents with air. Precious wood notes. Heady dry floral notes on potpourri. Earthy shades, almost yuzu-like. Back on the palate, you get the strong nutty bitterness of very old Port, with a gentle patina still present in the aftertaste.
Beautiful whisky, very typical Couvreur expression. Hardly recommended, except for those who are fond of oxidised profiles.
89/100
Ledaig 2005 Signatory Vintage for LMDW 56,6%
This Ledaig 2005 bottling is an exclusive bottling by Signatory Vintage for LMDW. was bottled in 2017 from a single sherry butt (#900155). Distilled at Tobermory and fully matured in sherry wood, it was bottled at cask strength with 648 bottles released, without chill filtration or colouring. Let’s go!
Colour: Orange, gold lights. Irregular heavy tears.
Nose: Explosive peaty profile. Intense smoke notes at first. Salmon, herring. Varnished wood, pit fire. More creamy with a few drops of water. Smoked pastéis de nata (just invented it). Yeasty, bready notes, close to some blanc de noirs Champagne expressions (but with an unmistakable salty/peaty side). Rich saline and meaty notes, bordering on high-end charcuterie, like Ibérico lomo.
Palate: Massive peat. If you’re not a peat geek, stay away from this. Still some fishy notes. Obvious smoked salmon aromas indeed. Citrusy shades with a tad of gasoline, almost as if this Ledaig were faking a Riesling grand cru profile (but that’s like hiding a bear behind a rabbit, you know). Exquisite.
Last Notes: Lingering briny/salty notes. A tad of waxiness. Intense old leather scents. Wild peat for sure, even with water. Back on the palate, no surprise: chimney aromas, heavy smoke. It ends on green olive tapenade, grapefruit juice, and vegetal mezcal shades. Last impressions of a weird (but pleasant) Paloma cocktail.
It goes everywhere, it’s massive, but it remains quite precise. That’s the signature of a great peated whisky in my tasting software. Hopefully I’ve got a few more cl of this one.
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