Michel Couvreur Intravaganza

Michel Couvreur virtual tasting, 21 October 2021. Whisky #1 Smell: There is a rubbery note on the initial smelling but it blows off almost immediately, leaving a fresh, waxy, cereal, malty aroma that is good but shows the youth of the whisky. Taste: A hot, spicy entry that is a little rough around the edges. It turns grassy-sweet as it develops but remains spicy and particularly bright on the palate. There is an almost effervescent quality to it. Finish: Medium/short. The whisky is cereal-focused throughout, although some fruity notes develop towards the end. I have not explored Michel Couvreur whiskies before, but a recent virtual tasting event featuring 5 expressions piqued my interest. This Intravaganza is a core-range product that is aged for 3-4 years in moscatel and oloroso casks, which give it a sharp, fizzy young oak quality. It improves greatly after resting in the glass for a while but never achieves any real stature. This is an OK but average young malt whisky. It is undeniably clean and crisp but it very obviously shows its youth. The casks used are clearly of high quality, but I wish the spirit had been left to mature in them for about 3-5 more years. It’s also playing fast and loose with accepted terminology to call this “cask strength” whisky when it is a blend reduced to exactly 50% abv. This is very similar to several Scottish single malts that are often considered to be “beginner” malts – Glenfiddich 12, Glenmorangie Original, Glen Grant 12, etc. The problem is that this is about twice the price, and at that cost, it is hard to recommend. "Above Average": 80/100 (3 stars)