2010 Michel Couvreur Alekse Single Cask Colheita Port Single Malt French Whisky (500ml)

Considered a high point in the company's maturation know-how, this is the latest in a series of premium curations falling under the 'Alekse' label. For this edition, Scottish malt was matured in a single Colheita Port cask stored in Couvreuer's damp underground cellars for a full 15 years. Sourced from a single Portuguese harvest, the rare 'pipas' (550-liter barrels) have imparted distinctive oxidative notes and a superb fruity richness. For maximum effect the whisky was bottled with no reduction, the final ABV arrived at via slow evaporation. A work of craftsmanship from the inside out, the hand-waxed 500ml bottle comes nestled in a wooden case, confirming the status of this genuine limited edition. 1200 bottles were decanted at a natural strength of 50% Alc./Vol.

Michel Couvreur passed away in 2013; his son-in-law Cyril Deschamps and his cellar master Jean-Arnaud Frantzen, with the invaluable help of Michel’s devoted wife Marthe and his daughter Alexandra, follow to the letter the philosophy and the motto of the house: Virtute et Opera.

Other reviews... Good things come in threes, and sometimes that actually holds up. After the 2003 (Amontillado) and 2008 (Oloroso), the 2010 Aleksé is up next. This time: Port instead of Sherry. Once again approved by Alexandra Couvreur, carrying a clear house style. Distilled in Scotland in 2010, aged in Colheita Port pipes in Couvreur’s cold, damp Burgundy cellars, and bottled at cask strength (50% ABV). Colheita Port Pipes are rare in whisky, single vintage, minimum 7 years of oxidative aging for the tawny port. Promising on paper. On the nose, it’s immediately Port-forward: dark, ripe berries, dates, blackberry, alongside roasted nuts and cocoa. With time, honey, vanilla, and a hint of clove come through. On the palate, full and rounded, yet still powerful. Surprisingly accessible for 50% ABV, minimal heat, plenty of structure. Honey and caramel lead into dark chocolate, orange zest, gentle spice, and a touch of tobacco. Balanced, elegant, and very cohesive. The finish is long and spicy, with dry cocoa, dried fruit, and a subtle oak bitterness. Sweetness lingers, but spice takes the lead. A very solid 90 (89) points in my little book. If pricing in the German market were a bit less ambitious, I might actually have rated it even higher. - whiskybase.com