Michel Couvreur Overaged Malt 12 Year

A curious dram from a gift, perhaps unexpected. This malt was sent to France for aging. Reportedly a mix of 12- to 27-year-old spirits matured in PX sherry barrels within a renowned wine-making area (Bouze-les-Beaune; though its relevance to the whisky's benefit is unclear to me). Nose: A somewhat stale, dusty scent dominates, with a strong malt presence and a distinct wood undertone. The malt is quite light, resembling cookie dough, accompanied by supporting aromas: apple, vanilla, mild spices, and a hint of leather. The sherry cask's dried fruits emerge over time but are, in my opinion, overshadowed by the prominent wood. Chocolate is present, hinting at the sherry cask expectation. Palate: Medium-bodied, striking a balance between juicy and thick. Flavors include baked apple, biscuity malt, ginger, brown sugar crisp, cloves, cinnamon, some leather, and possibly black forest fruit notes. The wood influence has lessened, allowing a developing creamy texture to become more noticeable with time. A subtle mocha note appears towards the end. Finish: Medium. Ginger-cinnamon spice, apple liquid, chocolate, and raisins. An oily texture and perhaps some nuttiness persist. Unremarkable. It's a standard sherry cask whisky, indistinguishable in a blind tasting. It's perfectly acceptable and I'd gladly drink it, but it's not memorable or noteworthy. At AUD$158.99, it's overpriced. Simply put: unremarkable. Whisky taste #266

This is quite an intriguing one, and its story made me want to try it for years, though I never actually bought a bottle. This whiskey is aged in Burgundy but originated in Scotland. An independent bottler would acquire single-malt Scotch and transport it to cellars in Bouze-lès-Beaune, Burgundy, where the single malts would age for years in sherry butts, then in demijohns or large bottles kept in complete darkness within underground galleries. If I understand correctly, this is a vatting of whiskies aged 12 to 27 years. What does Scotch imported to France, placed in fresh, high-quality sherry casks, and aged in a wine cellar in the heart of the world's priciest wine region taste like? Fortunately, a friend kindly shared a sample for me to find out. The nose begins with notes of chocolate chip cinnamon raisin cookies being dipped in sherry, baked apples, light ginger and clove spices, and leather, followed by a mild ethanol burn. The taste presents a medium, viscous mouthfeel with grape must, baked apples, some subtle minerality, then light barrel spices like ginger, cloves, and leather, and a medium-light ethanol burn that finishes medium-long with prunes, ginger, cloves, dark chocolate, cinnamon apples, and subtle minerality. This is a solid whiskey; it's very light and easy to drink. There's nothing to fault here, but it's also not particularly complex. It's something I could serve at a family gathering for those who prefer non-peated or lower-proof options, and everyone would appreciate its smooth drinkability and pleasant, relaxed flavors.

Nose: Strong sherry presence, abundant dark dried stone fruits, nearly like brandy/cognac's dark grape sweetness, with caramel bread pudding notes. Taste: A slight touch of chocolatey toasted barley, spiced dark dried stone fruits, sweet roasted nuts, cinnamon-spiced sweet white wine, and a whisper of white peppercorn spice. Finish: Lingering peppercorn spice, with the remaining sweetness of white raisins soaked in spiced/mulled wine, finishing with a light herbal/medicinal note right at the very end. Score - 86/100 Final Thoughts - This is a rather intriguing pour that can be described as liquefied bread pudding loaded with plump raisins. It's enjoyable, a bit too sweet for some, but presents a fairly unique flavor profile. I'd classify it more as a dessert drink. It could also hold up well in a cocktail, perhaps a Rob Roy with chocolate bitters. Shame about the difficult bottle opening due to the fragile wax and the need for a corkscrew...

Pale gold to brass color. Healthy, thick, distinct legs. The nose has heavy, musty malt with a hint of raisins. The palate is dominated by maltiness, with a subtle background of candied dates and oak spices. The finish is smooth and long, with a slight bitter aftertaste. It's a distinctive whiskey but easy to drink.

Big red fruit notes and a smooth mouthfeel. While I do enjoy this, it's not something I'd want multiple servings of at once. Perhaps a nice pairing with dark chocolate before bed.

Full-bodied with strong sherry notes. It's a bit too sweet for a whiskey, almost like a dessert beverage. A little goes a long way. An interesting dram, but a one-time experience in my opinion.