Christian Dully Selection is an independent bottler from Switzerland, founded in 2019. There’s Christian himself, his wife and a close friend making the selection. More about them on the C Dully website. They are good friends with Sansibar, so we’ll also include one of their releases.
We start this session with a Blended Scotch, 25 years of age. The whiskies involved come from distilleries in the Edrington Group, supposedly 70% Macallan and 30% from an unknown grain whisky.
Blended Scotch Whisky 25 yo 1999 (44,3%, C. Dully Selection 2024, sherry butt #24, 639 btl.)
Nose: old-style fruity sherry. Nice orange juice and dried apricots, with golden raisins and beautiful notes of varnished furniture. Old leather, a bit of fruit tea and mild cocoa. A nice hint of sour berries and green apple too. Then some mild spice and a whiff of tobacco. Good start.
Mouth: slightly drier and spicier. Herbal tea with orange peels, roasted walnuts and black pepper. Now the grain component comes out too, with a (mild) sharpness that is highlighted by some oak tannins. Dark cocoa and hints of coffee beans, as well dried fruits and leathery notes.
Finish: medium length, with bittersweet sherry notes, herbal tea and nutty notes.
A classic style of Macallan, with just enough grain whisky added so that it doesn’t hurt. Nice selection. Still available in a few German and Swiss shops.
Secret Islay 25 yo (47,9%, C. Dully Selection 2024, bourbon barrel CD 24-88, 357 btl.)
Nose: green apple, lime and lemon, along with rather intense medicinal smoke and a coastal breeze. Later some peach comes out, as well as rapeseed oil and subtle floral notes. Fresh grassy notes underneath.
Mouth: really punchy for the age. Big hints of seaweed, iodine, smoked fish and burnt Mediterranean herbs. A nice sweetness (pear and peach candy) in the background, as well as sweet citrus. More rapeseed, a pinch of nutmeg and pepper. It looses a bit of strength towards the end, making room for mild oak spice.
Finish: medium length, smoky and heathery, with hints of Fisherman’s Friend but also undertones of sweet citrus.
A multi-faceted single malt (Laphroaig, I guess?) which still has a lot of coastal and medicinal elements. Add some fruits and herbal notes and you have a really great Secret Islay. Very commendable, although I’m afraid the bottles are gone now. Score: 89/100
Secret Islay 32 yo 1991 (50%, Sansibar + Roenhee + Shinanoya 2023, bourbon hogshead #4402742, 269 btl.)
Nose: a milder style of Islay, with less obvious coastal marker but a nice waxy side to it (paraffin). Very fine smoke, with green herbs and grass. Light vanilla, roots and some gherkin brine. Very nice hints of damp chalk as well.
Mouth: menthol, some peppery heat and salty smoke. This hasn’t lost its power. Flashes of lime juice and unripe pineapple, maybe light peaches. Then a bit of honey, drops of Chartreuse, some varnished notes and drying tobacco leaves towards the end.
Finish: long, with sour fruity notes, lingering smoke and seawater.
The waxiness on the nose was great and overall it is utterly drinkable. That said, I feel we’ve been spoiled with similar Laphroaigs that left an even bigger impression. Still available in a couple of German stores close to Sansibar. Score: 90/100