Origin: Speyside (Scotland)
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Strength: 57.47%ABV
Ageing cask: Ex-Bourbon
Chillfiltered: No
Added colouring: No
Owner: Whisky Facile
Average price: € 125.00
Official website: Whisky Facile
Another bottling from the well-known Italian bloggers, passionate about cats (and more), who this time have chosen to empty a barrel that had actually been among their paws for a few years.
An undisclosed distillery not stated on the label, hence the ingenious nom-de-plume, but well-known to those who purchased this ex-bourbon cask, a cask that indeed doesn’t fall within the typical maturations of these Speyside distillery, which makes the bottle even more intriguing.
193 bottles produced in the first half of 2026 and presented at the Milan Whisky Day on April 18 of the same year, which therefore ends up being tasted with lots of curiosity.
Tasting Notes
Fruits abound on the nose, expressed in yellow and white with peach, apricot, ripe banana, apple, Williams pear, white grape, grapefruit, and a faint hint of white currant. There is a balance between acidity and sweetness, the latter growing over time with the emergence of sponge cake, petit biscuit, vanilla, and a drop of honey, while marzipan, white yogurt, and gooseberry linger in the background. The addition of water enhances warmth and sweet notes, revealing enveloping pastry cream, fudge, and a waxy component at the finish.
Mellow on the palate, yet not forgetting a significant acidic note that comes in second, along with spices (white pepper, ginger) and the fruity intensity of the aroma. Roaring and aggressive, with a bold and biting alcohol strength that enhances the duality of the distillate, always suspended between caresses and stings, showcasing more evident bitter and vegetal hints in the length. A nearly imperceptible saline note on the lips. Just as on the nose, the water softens it but doesn’t tame it; rather, the acidic and stingy parts remain clearly evident without conceding an inch.
Finale long and bitter, where the chase between the yin and yang of the whisky continues, with a dryness at the end that encourages one to reach for the glass again.
Review: A challenging, engaging, and multifaceted dram, a bipolar whisky difficult to appreciate without focusing on its nuances. It’s not a dram I would drink every day, as it opens the door to debate and discussion. And that’s saying something.
Vote: 87/100