German retailer DeinWhisky introduced three extra white label bottlings from Sansibar, unique to the shop. There’s Ben Nevis 1997 and Ardbeg 2009, however we’re beginning with a Blended Scotch 1976. That is prone to be a teaspooned Highland malt.
Blended Whisky 48 yo 1976 (49,1%, Sansibar for DeinWhisky.de 2024, bourbon hogshead, 131 btl.)
Nostril: good tropical fruits. Dried mango slices, apricots and tangerines, together with plums and many oranges. A really seductive trace of vanilla and fragipane, or perhaps Muscat. Hints of cake. Gentle whiffs of sandalwood too. Then candle wax, honey and a touch of leather-based.
Mouth: fairly pretty once more, with an excellent oily character. Extra creamy honey, bananas and tangerines, which finally transfer in direction of bittersweet oranges and hints of pink grapefruit. Extra leather-based, with hints of natural tea alongside the way in which. The waxiness turns into barely resinous. It strikes a in direction of the Highlands over time, if what I imply.
End: medium to lengthy, with extra citrus sweetness, some natural energy and lightweight resinous touches. Leather-based, all the time.
I obtained this pattern two days after I sampled Sansibar’s Japonism 1976 for Shinanoya. Though I couldn’t examine them straight, I’m certain they’re comparable. Out there from DeinWhisky.
Ben Nevis 26 yo 1997 (51,4%, Sansibar for DeinWhisky.de 2023, refill sherry cask, 269 btl.)
Nostril: a suble lactic observe at first – vanilla yoghurt. Then ripe melons and bananas, with lemon peelings and a faint gravelly observe. Additionally leafy notes and leather-based, walnuts and dusty cabinets. Greasy automotive elements. It wants time to calm down, however it’s good.
Mouth: fairly funky. There are inexperienced components, like inexperienced pepper and celery, contemporary leaves, grapefruit peels and a touch of pipe tobacco. Agency mustardy touches. Additionally previous wooden, faint brine, a bit of bitterness, but in addition inexperienced pineapple. Nutmeg and aniseed too.
End: lengthy, a bit briny, with moist leaves, hints of ginger, spent espresso grounds and barely medicinal herbs.
This one jogs my memory of the East Village Firm bottling. Definitely the extra austere aspect of Ben Nevis, missing a few of the extra tropical fruits and making it fairly mental in some unspecified time in the future. Not for inexperienced persons, however very fascinating. One for Fino lovers? Head over to DeinWhisky. Rating: 89/100
Ardbeg 15 yo 2009 (52,8%, Sansibar for DeinWhisky.de 2024, sherry butt)
Nostril: glorious purity. Clear iodine, numerous seashells and seaweed, hints of graphite and lukewarm ashes. Then menthol, some oysters and contemporary lemons. Hints of contemporary leather-based saddle as properly, together with a faint trace of vanilla. Pristine.
Mouth: very maritime and brimfull of ash (Cornershop, bear in mind?). Extra oysters, loads of seaweed, fallen leaves, uncooked wool. Some muddy notes, bandages, grapefruits and brine. Hints of toasted oak and a touch of cocoa in the long run.
End: lengthy, with drying smoke, maritime heat, oily notes and a few sharper natural notes.
There’s no sherry concerned right here, making this a really pure and chisseled Ardbeg. Prime quality. Out there from DeinWhisky. Rating: 90/100
