Sansibar has just released a 15th Anniversary series. They have been on our radar since 2013 or so, first with the grey / gold labels, then Samurai releases, Highland clans and many more.
It looks like they’ve kept aside some nice casks for this celebration: Clynelish 1993 and Glentauchers 1996, and then some 20+ year old Bowmore and Tamdhu.
Clynelish 32 yo 1993 (47,2%, Sansibar ’15th Anniversary’ 2026, first-fill bourbon barrel #11097, 131 btl.)
Nose: everything we hoped for. Big beeswax, propolis, some pollen. Later also roots, sunflower oil and dried herbs. Underneath we find red apples, light papaya and sweet tangerines. Subtle chalky / yoghurty hints too.
Mouth: extremely unctuous and oily. Creamy bananas, more papaya, ripe starfruit and hints of rice pudding, albeit toned town a little by the generous mineral notes, hints of chalk and black tea. Then drying tobacco notes. Hints of walnuts, waxes, with herbal notes that evolve towards cough medicine.
Finish: long, now more on drying leathery notes and dried herbs, along with some citrus, pine needles and mint.
We’ve had similar casks from the same range and they have all been excellent. The price is high. Already seen at DeinWhisky for instance.
Glentauchers 30 yo 1996 (47,5%, Sansibar ’15th Anniversary’ 2026, first-fill bourbon barrel #4255, 147 btl.)
Nose: fruitier than the Clynelish, with juicy nectarine, stewed berries and pears, along with greengage jam, dried flower petals and honeyed notes. Maybe a drop of mead. Then we get a balanced hint of polished oak, and indeed also a waxy side.
Mouth: very vibrant, with a big fruity core. Apricot, hints of muscat grapes and yellow plums, countered by some white peppery notes. Then vanilla custard, mulberries and some drying herbal notes.
Finish: medium to long, with the same oily fruits, mixed with oak and subtle herbal elements.
Marked a little by the oak, but the generous fruitiness makes up for this. A great old Speysider with a beautiful character. Score: 90/100
Bowmore 21 yo 2005 (50,5%, Sansibar ’15th Anniversary’ 2026, first-fill bourbon barrel #5944, 288 btl.)
Nose: it takes off on medicinal notes, light menthol and lemon verbena. Light seaweed and slightly sweet peat smoke too. Whiffs of vanilla and shortbread. After some time it starts showing some orchard fruits, but maybe not as much as similar casks.
Mouth: now the tropical fruits appear. Mango, passion fruit syrup, some pineapple. It mixes nicely with zesty citrus notes (grapefruit), more minty notes and slightly austere herbs. Mineral hints (wet rocks), seashells and cold ashes towards the end.
Finish: long but less complex, with minty smoke, citrus notes and something of chrysanthemum.
A nice example of the regained fruity quality of Bowmore, here leaving more room for the coastal and maritime side as well. Easy to recommend. Score: 89/100
Tamdhu 20 yo 2006 (53,2%, Sansibar ’15th Anniversary’ 2026, sherry puncheon #3102, 291 btl.)
Nose: the first impression makes me think of a sherry bodega, already a good sign. Caramelized hazelnuts and cashews, along with bramble and redcurrant. Then dusty almonds, dried figs and hints of cocoa dusting. Hints of old coffee tins in the background.
Mouth: more on baking spice now (nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger), with more hazelnut and walnut, along with herbal tea. Cocoa, even a hint of mole sauce (spiced chocolate) and cigar boxes. Then creamy nougat. Overall more on the dark side.
Finish: medium to long, with more of these mature wood notes, dark cocoa and subtle spice.
This Tamdhu gives us a sense of true old sherry casks, a bit more on the dry side of the spectrum. Score: 88/100