Here are three of the latest releases related to Whisky-Maniac in Germany. There are two East Village Whisky Company bottlings (including Ben Nevis 1996, horray) and a venerable Bruichladdich 1991 provided by Sansibar.
Ben Nevis 28 yo 1996 (51,8%, East Village Whisky Company 2024, sherry butt, 72 btl.)
Nose: yeasty and chalky notes up front, along with marmalade, green herbs and a few caramelized notes. The sherry influence is subtle. Walnuts, drops of sunflower oil and light dunnage earth. Then Cantaloupe melon, a little damp wood and green malt, wax candles and some candied ginger. Mint as well, sure.
Mouth: a fruity blast now. Marmalade mixed with pineapple and guava, along with some green banana. Then it becomes more vegetal and mineral, with a pinch of pepper, some herbal drops, ginger and hints of grapefruit after a while. The wonderfully ‘mechanical’ and slightly stone-y notes of Ben Nevis as well.
Finish: medium to long, with lingering citrus and green pineapple, herbal notes and some bready hints.
I’m not a fan of active sherry with Ben Nevis, so I’m glad this leaves plenty of room for the distillate. Which is pretty wonderful. That sums it up really. Available from Whisky-Maniac.
Bruichladdich 30 yo 1991 (41,3%, Sansibar ‘The Clans’ for Whisky-Maniac 2021, bourbon hogshead, 83 btl.)
Nose: so polished. There are old-school mineral notes, along with beautiful waxes and Mediterranean herbs like verbena and thyme. A lot of apple peelings. Honey nut cereals. Then some peaches, subtle quinces and pears, a little banana too. Old diesel-like echoes in the distance, along with worn leather and some cedar wood.
Mouth: rather soft-voiced, but showing a brilliant profile that keeps the middle between fruity sweetness (honey, melons and pears) and mildly green notes of grapefruit peels, marmalade, green pepper and hay. Then gooseberries, sweet cereals and some sappy oak.
Finish: medium, still a tad bittersweet, with flower pollen, gooseberries and graepfruits. Subtle waxes and leafy notes too.
Truly delicate and beautiful whisky, with a natural charm. Bruichladdich can really shine at any age, right? Available from Whisky-Maniac. Score: 90/100
Secret Islay 13 yo 2009 (54,4%, East Village Whisky Company 2023, hogshead #108, 333 btl.)
Nose: pointing clearly towards Ardbeg, with medicinal notes, sooty smoke but also a hint of grapefruit syrup and green apples. Then sheep wool, classic iodine and a hint of tangerines. A subtle round edge of vanilla as well.
Mouth: sharp citrus fruits at first, like lime, tangerine and grapefruit zest. Then green pepper, a lot of cold ashes, coastal smoke and anise. A good dose of melon and apple sweetness underneath. A subtle medicinal bitterness too.
Finish: long, deeply smoky, with more citrus, maritime notes and a slightly firm zestiness.
By the looks of it, a sister cask of the Acla da Fans bottling. Overall rather close to the official bottlings and pretty flawless too. Available from Whisky-Maniac. Score: 89/100