May 2025 - More Drams, Less Drama

Esprit Libre 2017 Spirit Paradise

23rd May 202522nd May 2025Coldorak

A few years ago, Philippe Gosmand, a whisky enthusiast for 30 years, founded Spirit Paradise, a young company specialising in spirits, primarily focused on collectible whiskies and limited editions. The company incorporated the ‘Rare & Collectors Whisky Club’ into its activities. Created in 2013, the club has around a hundred members and regularly organises tastings in Paris or the Paris region, and on request in other parts of France. In 2021, Spirit Paradise launched its first bottling from a single malt cask from the Texan distillery Balcones. At the end of 2022, the company released two more bottlings from selected casks at the Breton distillery Warenghem, known for its Armorik whisky. Then, Philippe selected a whisky from Maison Benjamin Kuentz stocks that we’re reviewing today: the Esprit Libre 2017 Spirit Paradise.

Nikka Yoichi Non Peated Miyagikyo Peated

Yoichi Non Peated & Miyagikyo Peated (2021)

21st May 202520th May 2025Coldorak

The Nikka Whisky Discovery range comprised a series of whiskies released over three years, from 2021 to 2023, offering fresh interpretations of Nikka’s classic expressions. Nikka launched limited editions that focused on exploring specific components of their whiskies and their aromatic impact. The first edition delved into the influence of peat, featuring a Yoichi Non Peated (unusual for this typically peated distillery) and a Miyagikyo Peated (a departure from their usual unpeated style). The second edition, released in 2022, highlighted the role of yeasts, with both Yoichi and Miyagikyo using a different ’Aromatic’ yeast for fermentation. Finally, the last release showcased grain whiskies by combining the expertise of four distilleries, including one closed for 25 years, resulting in Nikka The Grain, a blended grain whisky using various grains from these distilleries. These whiskies were launched in anticipation of Nikka’s 90th Anniversary, which happened in 2024, and was celebrated with the Nikka Nine Decades. Today, we will review the first two releases: the Yoichi Non Peated and the Miyagikyo Peated, launched on the 28th of September 2021.

Four Bruichladdich (OB/Cadenhead’s/Chorlton)

19th May 202518th May 2025Coldorak

We return to Bruichladdich to review four previous releases. These are not particularly old, although two of them date back about twelve years. The selection includes one official bottling and three independent ones, with ages ranging from eleven to twenty-two years. As we have already introduced Bruichladdich in a recent post, I will move straight on to these four Bruichladdich: one OB and three from Cadenhead’s and Chorlton Whisky.

Egreteau Borderies Fragment 95B23 & 80-81B23

Egreteau Borderies Fragment Lot 95B23 and 80–81B23 Cognac

16th May 202515th May 2025Coldorak

The Egreteau Cognac estate is a family vineyard located in the Cognac region of France, spanning the Fins Bois and Borderies crus. The estate’s soils, composed of limestone hills and clay, produce eaux-de-vie that are aged separately to maintain their distinct aromatic profiles before blending. This approach reflects the estate’s focus on terroir-driven production. We review two single casks: the Egreteau Borderies Fragment Lot 95B23 and 80–81B23.

Two Campbeltown Blended Malts (Swell/Chorlton)

14th May 202514th May 2025Coldorak

When an independent bottler releases a blended malt, it can mean one of two things. First, it might be a true blended malt-a carefully crafted combination of single malts sourced from different distilleries, skilfully married to create a unique flavour profile. Alternatively, it could be what’s known as a ’teaspooned’ single malt. In this scenario, and as we’ve already mentioned in the past, the original distillery, wishing to keep its name under wraps, adds a tiny amount – just a teaspoon – of another single malt to the cask. This minuscule addition is enough to legally classify the whisky as a blended malt, even though it has virtually no effect on the taste. In some cases, that ’teaspoon’ might be purely virtual – a symbolic gesture rather than a physical addition – used solely to navigate labelling regulations without altering the whisky itself.

Today on our tasting table, we have two intriguing Campbeltown Blended Malts: one from Swell de Spirits and another from Chorlton Whisky. Let’s dive in, savour each dram, and see if we can guess what’s really in the glass!

Three Indy Invergordon Aged Over 40

12th May 202511th May 2025Coldorak

Invergordon Distillery, established in 1959 and producing whisky since 1961, stands as a key Highland single grain whisky producer in the northernmost part of Scotland’s grain whisky region. It ranks among only six dedicated single grain distilleries in Scotland and supplies spirit crucial for blended whiskies, especially for Whyte & Mackay’s portfolio. The distillery crafts its whisky using a unique mash bill of maize, malted and unmalted barley, and Scottish wheat, combining this with pure water from Loch Glass and massive column stills that create a smooth, refined spirit. Because Invergordon primarily contributes to blends, official single grain bottlings remain rare and mostly appear through independent bottlers. Here, we review three indy Invergordon aged over 40 years: one from That Boutique-y Whisky Company and two from Scott’s Selection.

Six Indy Teenager Glen Moray

9th May 20258th May 2025Coldorak

Glen Moray may not always grab the spotlight in the crowded world of Speyside single malts, but it consistently offers a solid foundation for independent bottlers to showcase a range of intriguing expressions. Known for its bright, fruity character and willingness to experiment with various cask finishes, Glen Moray provides a versatile canvas that can reveal surprising depth and charm beyond its core range. In this review, we explore six independently bottled Glen Moray whiskies, each bringing its own unique twist-from ex-bourbon and sherry casks to more unusual finishes, like IPA and Vino de Naranja. While some expressions lean towards the classic Speyside profile of fresh fruits and gentle spice, others push aside the habits with richer, more complex layers. Whether you’re a seasoned Glen Moray fan or new to the distillery’s independent releases, this selection of six indy teenager Glen Moray offers a compelling glimpse into the distillery’s diverse potential.

Five Cheap Supermarket Blends

7th May 20257th May 2025Coldorak

If you are a regular reader of this blog, you have seen reviews of mostly good to excellent whiskies and cognacs, along with a few other spirits. Occasionally, some were not that great. However, we have rarely reviewed really inexpensive whiskies here. So, it’s time for me to take courage and review five cheap supermarket blends, listed in alphabetical order and all without an age statement: Ballantine’s, Clan Campbell, J&B, Label 5, and William Peel. Wish me luck, and have the Gaviscon ready.

Laurichesse, Marancheville & Ragnaud Sabourin Grande Champagne Cognacs

5th May 202520th May 2025Coldorak

Today, we’re exploring three Grande Champagne cognacs: Laurichesse, Marancheville, and Ragnaud Sabourin. I must confess, my appreciation for cognac has been steadily growing. For a long time, I was so captivated by whisky that other spirits seemed dull in comparison, lacking the depth and complexity of flavours. However, over the past six to twelve months, I’ve delved deeper into cognac, learning to distinguish between the different crus and even recognizing them blind sometimes. I realise now that I was mistaken to overlook cognac before; it’s a remarkable spirit with a rich history that whisky can’t always match. Now, let’s see how these three cognacs measure up. I haven’t researched their ages beforehand, so we’ll taste them in order of increasing ABV.

Braes of Glenlivet 25, 27 and 30-year-old

2nd May 20251st May 2025Coldorak

Today we do a small vertical with a trio of releases from the distillery now known as Braeval: the Braes of Glenlivet 25, 27 and 30-year-old. These releases are part of the previous Secret Speyside range from Pernod Ricard, and we’ll do vertical tastings from the other distilleries in this range in the coming weeks. But before we crack on with the tastings, let’s talk a bit about the history of this distillery.