Brenne French Single Malt Whisky

It's always interesting to try whiskies not from the five main countries. This French Brenne Organic Single Malt is owned by an entrepreneur with a family history in spirits. It was matured in Limousin oak and French cognac barrels. Bottled at 40% ABV, it has a golden hue. The nose is a bit unusual. It begins with an odd but appealing scent of vanilla cake nearing its expiration date, like it's on its last safe day. The accuracy of this note is remarkable. It also has notes of apple juice and water balloons. Maize is present, giving a young and grainy impression. Every scent here brings to mind a circus. There's a touch of pepper. Following that, I detect aromas reminiscent of specific Ecuadorian colas named "Tropical," "Fioravanti," and "Gallito" – pink, red, or yellow varieties, which I suspect your countries have similar versions of. On the palate, it's very fruity, so much so that it feels more like fruit juice than whisky. Peaches, papaya, and melon are prominent, exactly as described. There's a detergent note. Once again, the circus sensation appears – not unpleasant, just peculiar. The finish is more of the same strange character. It tastes like papaya juice from the Ecuadorian mountains, with hints of sulfur. Cheap plastic and malted barley are also noticeable. Overall, it's not bad, but not good either. It's a completely distinct dram from your typical drinks. Predominantly fruity, but unlike Speyside whiskies, this evokes mountain fruit juice. There are some rough edges, and the balance isn't great. I wouldn't call it off-putting or bad, just unusual. It's not something you'd sit and share a whole bottle of with friends. It's a different experience; my rating is 72 out of 100.

It reminds me of a warm blueberry scone, minus the sugar topping, and a touch of unsweetened coconut. It's certainly not what I'd expect a whiskey to taste like, but wow... it's delicious for what it offers, which is a completely different profile for a whiskey. And for me, I'm fine with that! As long as it tastes good, even if it wasn't what my taste buds anticipated, it's still very enjoyable to sip. It's definitely not for the 'whiskey purists,' but rather for those seeking a delicious and surprising change of pace in their glass.

The aroma of the whiskey is primarily blueberry muffins. Underneath that, a subtle macadamia nuttiness can be perceived. There's the faintest hint of floral notes, similar to lilacs. On the palate, the drink is sweet and floral with hints of almond and a touch of demerara sugar in the finish. A unique experience. The influence of the cognac casks is quite evident in the soft sweetness of the drink. It departs from a traditional whiskey profile but is very pleasing nonetheless.

Nose: Dried tropical fruit, cough syrup, floral notes, cow manure, pear drops, and strawberry candies. Palate: Cherry sweets, red licorice, vanilla, brandy, white wine, black pepper, cinnamon, and unripe banana. Finish: Medium length. Pineapple, coconut, chocolate, Cognac/Armagnac, black pepper. This doesn't resemble a whisky at all. It's fruity and spicy, with more brandy notes than whisky. The hints of cow manure on the nose are quite unpleasant but not overwhelmingly so.

A very distinct whiskey, unlike anything I've encountered. The nose is fruity and perhaps a bit floral, but subtle. On the palate, there's a very fruity and floral flavor. It's hard to pinpoint exactly, but there's certainly some apricot. It leaves a mild burn on the tongue. The finish is very light and almost non-existent, with no significant burn going down. This is a very light whiskey that could be pleasant when I desire something different.

A very fruity and floral aroma, quite pleasing to the senses. It could serve well as a perfume or candle. The initial taste is more akin to wine than whiskey. The barrel flavor emerges unexpectedly at the end, with a woody, nutty taste that clashes with the sweet and floral notes. It's not bad at all, but I wouldn't spend another $70 on it.