Fruitful Spirits presented a new batch of whisky bottlings, outlined on their website. It’s a nice selection with two Old and Rare bottlings (well-aged Highland Park and Glenrothes) and three younger Exceptional Cask bottlings (Craigellachie, Bonnington and an undisclosed Hebridean Wisp).
Highland Park 21 yo 2003 (44,3%, Fruitful Spirits 2025, refill bourbon barrel #924, 81 btl.)
Nose: beautifully soft and rather fruity, with a honeyed layer of stewed fruits underneath a very thin veil of faded smoke. Sweetened lemon juice and some rather aromatic peaches. Then hints of orange cake and just a little sheep’s wool in the background. The bourbon wood simply works very well here.
Mouth: really good. Still some fruits, even lightly tropical kinds, dusted with spices, but now also a warming layer of old smoke. A great mix of oranges, limes and peaches, with light hints of mango. Subtle hoppy notes, but not very smoky. Then juniper, some green pepper and almond. Just a hint of chalk and flashes of passion fruit syrup.
Finish: medium length, with more of this chalky fruit combo.
Simply excellent. Brighter and way more fruity than what you’d expect from official releases – a nice catch. Bonus point for the tropical edge and the perfect drinkability. In conclusion, a recommended bottle. Still available from Master of Malt for instance.
Glenrothes 24 yo 2001 (47,2%, Fruitful Spirits 2025, re-charred hogshead #1113, 135 btl.)
Nose: this starts on hints of canvas and toast, followed by slightly burnt biscuits, leafy notes and some raw oak from the re-charring. Underneath there are generous plums, apple sauce and some peaches. Earthy spices and hints of tea in the background.
Mouth: now the fruitiness gets more jammy and slightly tropical again. I wonder how much tropical fruit syrup they add to each cask (just kidding). Charred pineapple. Then some herbal honey and mint, black peppercorns and hints of clove, giving it a light earthy edge.
Finish: medium to long, with the spiciness of the charred oak growing stronger. Hints of chocolate, robust malty notes and herbs.
The re-charred oak lends this some rather autumnal elements, with jammy fruits in second row. A firm whisky with plenty of character, albeit less balanced than the Highland Park. Also available from Master of Malt among others. Score: 87/100
Craigellachie 14 yo 2011 (51,7%, Fruitful Spirits 2025, second-fill bourbon cask #14, 249 btl.)
Nose: it starts on ripe banana, hints of muesli, with a little sunflower oil and vanilla custard. Then yellow apples, light hints of peanuts and some broken branches. Plain malty notes a bit of honey as well.
Mouth: natural and fairly oily. More leafy notes and plain malt, along with muesli and almonds. The robust style of the spirit comes forward. Then hints of pears, vanilla and hints of cinnamon. Still some creamy banana and honey in the background.
Finish: fairly long, with oak spice coming to the fore. Pepper and cinnamon, malt and hints of oranges.
Very solid again, despite the lower age (and price). It’s a more robust style, with a deeply malty core. Natural and easy to like. Check MoM. Score: 86/100
Hebridean Wisp 15 yo 2010 (52,1%, Fruitful Spirits 2025, ex-solera Oloroso sherry butt, 180 btl.)
Nose: it’s a sour style of sherry influence, along with coastal sea spray and hints of mellow bonfire ashes. Raisins and cranberries, with old leather and hints of tobacco leaves. There’s a musty vibe to it that isn’t bad at all. Some sulfurous hints of matchstick heads and gunflints as well.
Mouth: a lot more smoke now, while the sourness is still big. Some coppery notes, more gunpowder and plenty of salty liquorice. Then black peppercorns, sandalwood, more sour berries and a lot of tobacco. The maritime character is quite powerful and there’s a lightly bitter hint of orange peel and earthy Pu Erh in the end.
Finish: medium length, with aniseed, some musty oak and lingering matchsticks.
This undisclosed Island malt was finished in a 50 yo ex-solera cask. As you know I’m not a fan of mentioning the age of casks, but anyway. The whisky itself isn’t perfect either, it’s quite dirty and funky so maybe not my favourite style. Check Master of Malt. Score: 82/100
Bonnington 5 yo 2020 (63,5%, Fruitful Spirits 2025, charred virgin oak cask #2020.0776, peated, 261 btl.)
Nose: fresh wood indeed. Bonfire smoke, toasted wood and plain charcoal bricks. Toasted cedar wood, along with light minty notes. A little vanilla. Then some cigar boxes and sweet ashes.
Mouth: quite fierce of course, not unlike some Octomore releases. I’m adding water right away. This releases more raw soot and barbecue notes, burnt vanilla pastry, roasted hazelnuts and plenty of black peppercorns. Hints of coal and roasted coffee beans.
Finish: long, deeply sooty and quite spicy, with an underlying sweetness and a plankish edge of the virgin wood.
I believe Fruitful Spirits was the first bottler that brought Bonnington whisky to my attention – a sister cask of this one. Depite two extra years of maturation, this seems quite similar and still a bit rough. Decent value for money though, now let’s hope the virgin oak doesn’t take over before the spirit is mature. Check Master of Malt. Score: 83/100