2001 Samaroli Balmenach 19 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Silvano S. Samaroli is a foremost name in independent bottling and the first bottler of Scotch whisky outside the UK and Scotland, beginning in 1968. Some of the most famous and collectable whiskies in the world bear his name. After leaving the Samaroli company in 2008, Silvano still wanted to exercise his passion, releasing the Silvano S. Samaroli collection in 2016. Sadly, this was the first and last, as he died in February 2017.

Emmanuel Dron, owner of the Auld Alliance bar in Singapore and friend of Samaroli, comments "Some of his bottlings are just the best whisky I ever tried in my life. He probably bottled the best Scapa ever, the best Jura, the best Tormore, some outstanding Springbank, Ardbeg, Longmorn, Caol Ila, and I can name much more. His legacy for whisky lovers is huge."

Presently Samaroli's wife, Maryse Accorsi Samaroli is supervising the release of his remaining stocks.

Tasting note: [10ml sample] Bronze gold colour. Balmenach is considered one of Speyside's more traditional distillieries, making a rich, malty dram. This is a fabulous example. Aside from a little sulphur, the bouquet warms up with ginger biscuits, toasted oats, fresh fruit cake and raisin slice. Intense and oily - without being hot - it's a sherry monster: Dried fruits and baking spices dovetail into a superb cascade of sticky date and caramel fudge. Aged muscat, old leather and oloroso complete the picture. Special. No wonder these bottlings are sought after. 59.7% Alc./Vol. Bottled from a first fill sherry cask in 2019. Extremely limited.