Acla da Followers in Switzerland celebrated its tenth anniversary not so way back. Now we’re their newest batch of whisky bottlings: 4 single malts with a Ski Girls theme on the labels.
Ben Nevis 28 yo 1996 (45,1%, Acla Choice 2024, hogshead #412)
Nostril: begins very well. Fruity notes aplenty, like pineapple, kiwi and papaya. Pink bananas. Fairly creamy, nearly exhibiting a white chocolate observe. Then a pleasant mineral / waxy aspect and delicate minty herbs. Candles and paraffin meals wraps. Fairly nice.
Mouth: candy and fats. Greater than sufficient fruits, like bananas and multi-fruit syrup, in addition to candy white grapes. Hints of ardour fruits and Cantaloupe melons too. Honeyed and waxy, with vanilla biscuits. Then some pink grapefruits and mineral, gravelly hints. Gentle herbs and a wee salty edge in the direction of the top.
End: lengthy, with vibrant fruits, chalky notes, lime and wax. Nonetheless barely saline.
Very waxy with a moderately thick sweetness, which masks a few of the brightest fruit notes. Nonetheless extremely engaging. These 1996s are hardly ever disappointing, however this can be a notably good cask. Obtainable from Acla da Followers.
Highland Park – Whitlaw 20 yo 2003 (54,4%, Acla Choice 2024, hogshead #749)
Nostril: typical and balanced, although maybe just a little extra peaty than the officers (though it could even be the distinction with the Ben Nevis). Some flints and limestone, lamp oil, loads of ashes, properly countered with candy lemons and limes. Then sourdough, seawater and unripe apple, with chalk and moist materials.
Mouth: smoky and intense, barely austere for a second, wih chalky notes, some grass and candy lemon. Natural infusions with a couple of drops of medicins, black pepper, ash and a very good saltiness. Nonetheless a inexperienced fruity observe within the background, ending on a pleasant bittersweet contact.
End: lengthy, salty and natural, fading on pepper and lemons.
Good and typical Highland Park at a good value. For me it doesn’t actually stand out among the many latest wave of indie releases, however for those who’re in search of a wintery whisky with average peat, test it out. Obtainable from Acla da Followers. Rating: 87/100
Secret Highland 11 yo 2012 (53,3%, Acla Choice 2024, refill butt #62491)
Nostril: a leafy begin, opening up over time with some pine needles and a faint resinous / mentholated trace. Then apples and lemon skins, hints of pepper and a few maritime aromas like iodine. High-quality ashy peat.
Mouth: gentle peat once more, balanced by a sweetness. Hints of lemons, plaster and iodine, in addition to hints of hessian. Then some delicate nutty notes earlier than the vegetal, grassy aspect comes again (by no means my favorite half). Some rooty notes. Very ashy.
End: fairly lengthy, with pepper, a leafy (barely bitter) observe and a obscure sweetness from the sherry.
We’ve had loads of calmly peated Secret Highlands these days, with a number of completely different ideas like Ardmore, Jura, Ben Nevis… When compelled to decide on, I’d go for Ardmore. Total this one will not be extraordinarily advanced however provides good worth for cash. Obtainable from Acla da Followers. Rating: 85/100
Port Charlotte 21 yo 2003 (53,4%, Acla Choice 2024, barrel #664)
Nostril: oh sure, this very explicit sort of farmy notes that I’ve solely present in Port Charlotte, Brora and Connemara to date (perhaps Ardbeg too). Horse stables with a touch of manure. Additionally bonfire smoke and sooty notes, in addition to pipe tobacco. A wonderful mixture actually. Then some salty kippers and hay, with delicate TCP and smoked herbs. Coastal notes like seawater and seaweed as effectively.
Mouth: very smoky and sooty, actually earthy however much less farmy now. Roasted espresso beans, creosote, anchovies in salt, tobacco and drops of natural potions. Properly tangy, with a citrusy edge. Then again to natural honey, with a little bit of leather-based, mint syrup and tarry peat.
End: lengthy, on menthol, tar, brine, lemon and earthy smoke.
That’s two improbable whiskies on this sequence! Actually wonderful Port Charlotte, precisely how I like them. I discover this very moderately priced as effectively, maybe it’s the obligation free benefit? Extremely really useful. Obtainable from Acla da Followers. Rating: 92/100
