Bellevoye Bleu Triple Malt

Bottled August 2024 at Mimi's bar in Nancy. Light golden color. Sweet nose with some alcohol aromas, reminiscent of Japanese whiskies, suggesting their sweetness and smoothness on the palate with an unctuous, soft fragrance, like the intoxicating scent of a lover preceding her up the stairs. The initial taste is fruity with hints of apricot and a pleasant roundness. The second sip is slightly alcoholic and peppery, leading to a sweet aftertaste on the third sip, similar to Asian whiskies. Unfortunately, this whisky leaves a slight lingering spicy alcohol aftertaste, described as a "bad game," on the tongue. Nevertheless, it remains a surprisingly smooth and rich French whisky. It's a mid-tier spirit that won't dethrone Asian favorites in terms of sweetness and delicacy, but it gives the impression of a well-executed counterfeit. This whisky could fool those without refined palates. Enjoyed in Nancy with a friend and three cheerful women. The sun is shining, women's laughter fills the air, my friend's eyes sparkle with hope... Life is sweet and peaceful.

This is my second French spirit, and it's notably better than a previous blend I sampled years ago. This is a non-peated blend of spirits from three French regions. I found it challenging to pinpoint specific tasting notes because its unique character adds another layer of complexity. Simply stating it has fruit and wood notes doesn't quite capture the essence of this spirit or its potential to divide drinkers of Scotch, Irish, or American whiskies. To me, it evokes a seaside picnic with sliced pears, moldy cheese, and sardine tarts. In essence, it's distinctly French.

Nose: Toasted marshmallows, earthy vegetable notes, dried wood, aged dusty leather, and dried apple rings. Taste: Again, dried apple rings, slightly sweet, shifting towards dry, earthy wood notes and a hint of sourness. Adding water or ice enhances the sweetness and diminishes some of the vegetal characteristics. I had higher hopes for this one, and was prepared to overlook the vegetal notes if there was more depth, but it's primarily just that – some sweet candy flavors mixed with a lot of earthiness. At least the bottle has an appealing design.

The nose presents immediate acetone and crushed seeds, plus a faint caramel. It's reminiscent of an unopened package that sat in plastic wrap in a warehouse for half a year. A rough start. The palate is sweet and somewhat bland, with only minor barrel notes. Pinpointing specific fruit is challenging. Fortunately, no plasticizer is detected on the tongue. The body isn't the thinnest but also not full. It's not terrible if you can overlook the aroma. Points for trying, I suppose.

This might be one of the more challenging whiskies to appreciate initially because it's quite distinct. However, much like a demanding film on a first watch, you may grow to admire the craft the longer you engage with this blend of three French single malts. As another reviewer mentioned... it's French, and I certainly detect a culinary influence in this blended malt. I imagine a dram of Bellevoye alongside some mussels and good crusty bread would be quite enjoyable.

Golden color. The aroma has pleasant malt notes, a light fruity hint, and a soft, not overly alcoholic smell. The taste is malty, with fruity sweetness, and is full-bodied. The finish is of medium length. Bottled on 13.12.2023. Score: 82/100