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2019 Glann ar Mor Kornog Saint Ivy Cask Strength Single Malt French Whisky (700ml)

Brittany, FRANCE
$299. 00
Bottle
$3588.00 Dozen
ABV: 58.2%
'Saint Ivy' is one of Glann ar Mor's annual releases, offered each May and bottled at cask strength from a single Bourbon barrel. Every year these get better, with the 2019 edition gaining a rave review from Jim Murray. We have received a tiny allocation. Non chill filtered.

Other reviews... A much sharper vintage than the 2018 with passion fruit replacing the citrus. Less phenols...but the mint on the finish is what sets this apart... this enters an entirely different dimension, with the cocoa and Manuka and ulmo honey mix making this not just the best finale from this distillery, but among the top three of any malt I have tasted so far this year. 58.2% Alc./Vol.
95 points - Jim Murrays Whisky Bible 2020

[2018 release tasted] The subtle sweet smoke, like singed rocks around a beach fire, becomes more pungent if left unattended. Underneath, aromas of sweet lemons, tropical fruits, lemongrass, and smoked olives abound. Juicy sweetness, with a real concentration of mango, papaya, and sugary boiled candies melds into flavors of vanilla and Battenberg cake. After a concluding rush of pepper, the smoky fumes permeate through the back end. Oh boy! Ridiculously good!
92 points - whiskyadvocate.com, reviewed by: Jonny McCormick (Winter 2018)

[2013 release tasted]. What an easy name! It's a single cask this time, maybe not quite ex-Ivy League or is it? Colour: straw. Nose: well, careful, this is a bit strong. It seems that it's a little more medicinal than the others but not sure. Water please... With water: a wee tad raw and barleyish, maybe, when compared with the previous one. A feeling of sake, maybe, but otherwise it's all perfect. Well I love good sake. Mouth (neat): an ultra-lemony peat, this seems to be more or less the Taouarc'h Kentan 13 BC (phew) at a higher strength, with more pepper too. Not too sure, this is no jet fuel but it's really strong. With water: the salt comes out, together with lemons and grapefruits. All that is very peated, naturally. A little less oily and fat this time, but of course all that depends on the amount of water you're adding, on the kind of water, on the way you add it and on the waiting time (never taste whisky just after you've added water, always wait for a few minutes! Sipping is fine...) Finish: long and just excellent. Don't I detect touches of pineapples again? That's youth! Comments: another obvious winner, it's just that the superb Taouarc'h Kentan 13 BC (yeah yeah) may have overshadowed it a tiny-wee bit. 88 points - Serge Valentin, whiskyfun.com