Signatory Ink Series #2 Single Cask Exclusive Selections for Le Comptier Irlandais

• • 92

  • Nick's Import

  2009 Signatory Vintage Exclusive Selection Ink #2 Collection Single Cask Auchroisk 11 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

  Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND

  $150. 00

  Bottle

  $1800.00 Dozen

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  ABV: 46%

  French retailer, Le Comptoir Irlandais selected this first-fill hogshead because it was "atypical and relatively complex while retaining the finesse specific to Auchroisk" (or "OH-thrusk" in Gaelic). The amber gold colour is advanced by a first fill maturation. The aroma opens sharp and slightly green, relaxing over time and becoming almost rum-like in its vanilla-malt nose-feel; shows a nice transition of oak to barley with notes of tea biscuits and emerging orchard fruits (pears / ripe apples). Oak creams up the mid-palate with an injection of off-dry, Bourbon richness. Not often a fan of this distillery which is frequently over-spicy, 'grassy' and off-key, especially in youth. This one has achieved balance early. While it remains softly spoken, it's unquestionably one of the better Auchroisks to date. 46% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.

  Notes from the bottlers... On the nose, very grassy, dry, floral. It is direct on aromas of vanilla and very fresh green tea. It's classy, precise, atypical. The palate is still herbaceous, almost oriental with honeyed flavors that complement very spicy notes, a pastry aspect in a second time around more vanilla and almond notes. The finish is fine and spicy, pastry again. Atypical, excellent, a real great tasting experience on an unusual Speysider.

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• • 94

  • Nick's Import

  2011 Signatory Vintage Exclusive Selection Ink #2 Collection Single Cask Ledaig 9 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

  Isle of Mull, SCOTLAND

  $160. 00

  Bottle

  $1920.00 Dozen

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  ABV: 46%

  Tasting note: This peaty Tobermory was aged in a single Bourbon cask followed by a finishing in a Port cask. Salty, sea-infused peat aromatics develop with barnyard, hints of lanolin, pepper and hessian sack. Perfect balance for this distillate, with just the right amount of shell fish and sweet peat, the port giving the mid palate a juicy, salivating burst. Wonderfully expressive. The finish turns dry, minerally and slightly medicinal, fading with dark chocolate. Text book and effortless in its distinctive Ledaigian way. If you enjoy Caol Ila, you'll love this. 46% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.

  Notes from the bottlers... The style is an opposition between the fruits and the delicacy of the Port cask, and the original "wood fire" and "barbecue" character of Ledaig peat. A great character but which remains accessible. The nose contrasts the fruit salad offered by the cask, and the very dense peaty and "smoked bacon" aspect of the distillate. The palate boasts jets of smoked fruit, earthy and oily peat. Finishes with fine peat and always fruity. The finish is balanced, delicious and easy. A great alternative to Islay and a great gateway to discovering the world of peated whiskies.

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• • 94

  • Nick's Import

  2007 Signatory Vintage Exclusive Selection Ink #2 Collection Inchgower 12 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

  Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND

  $199. 00

  Bottle

  $2388.00 Dozen

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  ABV: 61.2%

  Tasting note: One of Le Comptoir Irlandais' favourites from their latest 'Ink Series' selection. Not a total surprise actually, as Inchgowers are pretty good on a regular basis. The nose presents a powerful combination of digestif biscuits and coastal freshness with trace beeswax, white pepper, salted citrus and lemon tart carrying through on the palate. Emphatically Inchgower with terrific distillery character, the malt complexed by a kind of sea-breeze tang and minerality that reminds you of certain West coast styles. Beautifully dense and textural. Besides a delicate bittersweetness at the finish - not a single off note. As far as Inchgowers go, this is flirting with perfection. 61.2% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.

  Notes from the bottlers... The nose is very malty at first, grassy on green tea, mineral and fresh. In a second step denser and more animal notes. Robust.The palate is oily to the point of fat, very thick, there is substance. Still mineral, very ripe citrus, malted black tea. Always this minerality and this aromatic density on the original aromas of malt. The fresh and herbaceous notes are also malty, with aromas of bacon and fruit. The thick texture literally explodes in the mouth.

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• • 93

  • Nick's Import
  • Reduced

  2008 Signatory Vintage Exclusive Selection Ink #2 Collection Single Cask Bunnahabhain 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

  Islay, SCOTLAND

  Reduced from $199.00

  $139. 99

  Bottle

  $1679.88 Dozen

  Sold Out

  ABV: 46%

  Signatory's 'Ink Collections' are hand-picked by whisky experts at the French retailer, 'Le Comptoir Irlandais'. Aiming at perfectly realised maturations, the labels reflect the complex alchemy of whisky, wood and time by illustrating different arrangements of shapes and colours. We have secured and tasted four from the series, and can confirm these are indeed astute choices showcasing fabulous character and balance in every instance. The INK #2 collection is now sold out at the Brittany based store, so the current offer cannot be repeated.

  Drawn from a single first-fill sherry hogshead (#1170), Le Comptoir Irlandais dedicate this unpeated Bunnah' to lovers of "old school" sherry. The nose captures the winey notes nicely; fruit cake and brandy sauce smother the malt's latent fruitiness, deepening and intensifying after brief air contact. In the mouth, the quality of the cask selection is confirmed: Plums and raisins galore with fabulous concentration - even at this middling ABV - and an almost luscious finish. The aftertaste hints at fruit'n'nut chocolate and ginger bread, lingering with dilute molasses, coffee cake and fine, drying astringency. This one's all about the sherry. Pure and delectable, though you wouldn't easily pick it as Bunnah'. 46% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.

  Notes from the bottler... We are here, as the English say, on a big old fashioned "Sherry Bomb". Few fruits and spices like on "modern" Sherry casks, but more rustic, more "old school" aromas. The cask is very powerful, it is a magnificent sherry whisky, but you do not feel anything of the Bunnahabhain character, there it is only the cask, in a sense it is a little unbalanced whisky ... but if you like the cask from Sherry it's splendid. The palate is massive, thick, on dark chocolate, pepper, blood orange and a woody note reminiscent of certain old Cognacs.The finish is always on coffee, chocolate, dried fruits. A huge superb old-fashioned Sherry cask with deep and heavy aromas, more distant from modern Sherry casks with a fresher, lighter and fruity style.

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