Today’s review focuses on a single bottle, as, usually, we’re trying to review at least two at the same time, for comparison purposes. Coming from Elixir Distillers’ The Single Malts of Scotland range, it features a mystery Speyside distillery. As noted previously, distilleries often withhold permission for independent bottlers to use their brand names. This reluctance reflects a concern about independent bottlings, potentially outperforming official, high-volume releases and thereby affecting the distillery’s reputation. Consequently, independent bottlers frequently present their whiskies under anonymous or vague labels. In this case, the 2010 vintage labelled simply as ’A Speyside Distillery’ by Elixir Distillers invites speculation about its true origin.
A Speyside Distillery 2010 Elixir Distillers (2020) Review
This ’A Speyside Distillery’ expression underwent distillation in 2010 and spent 10 years maturing in three sherry butts before Elixir Distillers bottled it in 2020. The whisky was reduced to 48% ABV and released under The Single Malts of Scotland brand, as part of their Parcel No.4 series, without chill filtration or added colour. Although mostly sold out, some bottles remain available from an Italian retailer for just under €100. The retailer’s website was operational when first checked but was inaccessible at the time of finalising this review, so I’d still be careful if it comes back online.
Colour:
Bronze
Nose:
Neat: The nose reveals old dried dates and figs alongside the scent of aged leather furniture, reminiscent of a vintage Chesterfield armchair. Hints of oranges and dark cherries emerge, accompanied by a nutty layer featuring hazelnuts and walnuts. In the background, a subtle tartness of fizzy candy appears, similar to an arlequin but without the strong chemical banana note. The nose offers precision and detail, but lacks a tiny bit of intensity.
Palate:
Neat: The sherry maturation is clear, yet this is not a sherry bomb. The palate opens with spices and caramel, mainly pepper and ginger for the spices, and butterscotch for the caramel. Flavours of liquor-soaked cherries, rum and raisin ice cream, and hot chocolate from profiteroles follow. Oak spices make a gentle appearance, with the wood clearly present but not overpowering. Notes of cigar tobacco leaves mix with a fresh, herbaceous touch of liquorice and mint.
Finish:
The medium-length finish brings forward more red fruits, adding raspberries and strawberry jam to the cherries, along with raisins, apple caramel, and blood oranges.
Comments:
Speculation suggests this bottling might originate from Macallan, and if so, it surpasses the quality of the official Macallan releases I’ve encountered, including the 18-year-old. However, official bottlings have not been a focus for tasting in recent years. This secret Speyside whisky displays an appealing nose and a very good palate, though the finish falls slightly short of the palate’s standard. Nonetheless, this is very good!