Three bottles of perhaps the most famous and most travelled Scotch whisky are back to their icy home

First of all, serve youself a whisky dram and then, start to read this post. It could help to warm you up... Sláinte!!

In 2010, three crates of Scottish Mackinlay whisky, bottled in 1898 after being aged for 15 years, and two of brandy were discovered by conservationists beneath the floor boards of Antartic explorer Ernest Shackleton’s abandoned his 1907 Numrod expedition base camp hut. The expedition failed to reach the South Pole but set a record at the time for reaching the farthest southern latitude.

The crates were frozen solid after 102 years below the ice but the whisky itself was intact as the Antartica's -30 degrees Celsius was not cold enough to freeze the alcohol.

All of us would be tempted to open it and have a dram of it... but the actual owner of the brand decided differently.

In fact, Distiller Whyte & Mackay, which now owns the Mackinlay brand, chartered a private jet to take the bottles from the Antarctic operations headquarters in the New Zealand city of Christchurch to Scotland for analysis in 2011. Why? Because the recipe for the whisky had been lost…

The bottles were returned unopened to the distillers in order to be able to extract a sample with a syringe through the cork of one of the bottles: recreate the long-lost recipe. The Scottish Master Blender, Richard Paterson, has rigorously blended several malts to create a replica of this centenary whisky.

The Mackinlay replica contains a large variety of Highland malts, including Glen Mhor, who was the Mackinlay distillery before its closure in 1983. They could reproduce a limited edition of 50 000 bottles of the original beverage, costing around 169€ each and Antarctic Heritage Trust receiving £5 (5,90€) for every bottle sold.

To conclude, these three mystic whisky bottles were finally ceremoniously handed back on Saturday night at New Zealand's Scott Base. Nearly back sweet home…

Small consolation, we still have the opportunity to taste this legendary whisky and having our usual tasting notes. Waiting for that moment!

An enjoyment! A great Islay Cask Strength...

Several weeks ago, we had the chance to taste an impressive classic Islay malt whisky at Art & vins, Bordeaux, the Laphroaig 1995, 16 years old, Cask 48, Signatory vintage. This complex whisky matured from the 4th of April 1995 to the 16th of May 2011 in a single bourbon barrel. 

“You love it or you hate it!” As their ancient advert said, there is these two possibilities, you have certainly discussed once about this subject with some connoisseurs. Direct, without flourish, this powerful marine and peated malt whisky, create a real explosion of aromas in your mouth. Marin, because the distillery is literally locate on the waterfront. Laphroaig whiskies are renowned for their surprising medicinal taste, which make them unique.

Signatory Vintage?? It’s an independent bottler. Signatory Vintage’s goal is to offer a wide range of whiskies some of which are not even bottled by the proprietary distillery. This allows malt enthusiast to sample the huge variety of subtle differences that occur between casks.

To add proof of authenticity to their cask strength bottlings, Signatory always include the cask numbers, date of distillation, date of bottling and number of bottles produced.

Tasting notes

Colour: Bright golden yellow

Nose: Rich, very aromatic. Peaty, marine. Medicinal. Tannic oak. Mango, fruit-flavored candies.

Palate: Intense, well balanced. More and more peaty with ocean breeze. Spices such as clove and nutmeg.

Finish: Long. Peated with seaweed and charred wood taste. Ripe fruits and exotic fruits aromas.

ABV: 59,4%

Wonderful! To drink reading a book during a snowfall night...

Only slight snag is the price: 105/120€…

Sláinte!

One of the greatest value for money whiskies. From...Japan!

We all know that January is one of the most difficult month of the year in term of budget, but it can’t stop you to continue to discover with us new spirits:

Surprise your palate with this rich and powerful Nikka From the Barrel, which is one of the greatest value for money whiskies in the world (25/30€).

It’s a blend of grain Japanese whisky from Miyagikyo and malt whisky from Yoichi, both owned by Nikka. The global packaging of this whisky is pure, modern, well designed. Its packaging is innovative and very inspired by the perfume bottle shapes. Nikka differs from others bands, taking distance with more traditional whiskies packagings.

Japan is the second largest whisky producers in the world. Most of the whiskies come from two companies: Suntory and Nikka. In terms of distillate quality, Japanese whiskies are more and more recognised by their peers and distinguished by several World Whisky awards.

Tasting notes:

Colour: Dark amber

Nose: Intense, well balanced. Fruity and floral. Apricots, pineapple and oranges aromas with fresh oak and sherry note.

Palate: Full-bodied. Creamy, rounded. Fruity: apricot and fresh lemon. Spices notes such as almonds, vanilla, cinnamon. Malt and nougat, caramel aromas. A bit salty.

Finish: Quite long. Fruity. Malty and little oaken spice.
ABV: 51,4%

Nikka From the barrel is not easy to define as a blend. Defy your friends connoisseurs, you will see the result! Difficult to not ask for a extra dram of it…

Eimodosakimasu !

乾杯

Sensational, rustic and complex Scotch Single Malt!

A dram of it offers you a short journey to the heart of Scotch whisky distillation. Frankly, we are Springbank 10 years old big fans.

Why? By its history(1828), its location, its production, its taste, Sprinkbank is a cult.

Sprinkbank is a whisky of connoisseur, practice an uncommon double and half distillation, well described on their website (www.springbankwhisky.com). They don’t want to have recourse to advert. It is made in Campbeltown, South West of Scotland, which was one of the most important distillation center and renowned région in the past. It’s a both bourbon and sherry matured whisky. This distillery is considered as one of the most traditional Scotch whisky distillery, most of the production is homemade. Rustic as we like !

Tasting notes:

Nose: Wide range of aromas. Pear, green apple, lemon peel. Then, ocean breeze, leather, dry oak, spices and hints of peat.

Palate: Very peated and salty. Spiced as pepper, cinnamon and nutmeg notes. Cereal sweetness. Exotic fruits and orange peel. Roasted nuts in the background. Very oily. Strangely but not unpleasant aftertaste of vinegar.

Finish: Long and crisp. Peaty, smoke, dry oak notes.

ABV: 46%

We recommend you to match it with fresh fish dishes, such as sashimi, maki, sushi...

Will see, Exquisite!

Sláinte!! 

Bring full sun and heat at home with a seductive Venezuelan Rum

    A real journey to Latin America! Diplomatica réserva exclusiva is a nicely dark rum distilled from « honeys derived from sugar cane » and fermented molasses in a copper potstill before 12 years of ageing. Flavouring and aromatic agents are used in the production of the Diplomatico rums, as authorities allow it at the différence to the French rums for example. Rich, sweet and fruity, just how we like them. Probably, one of the best rum  we have tasted. It is really easy to recommend it, a sensual indulgent rum. This a good value for money (40€). Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva is also one of the most awarded rums with more than 20 awards to its name.  

2012 Miami Rum XP-Gold Medal Winner

Tasting notes : 

Nose:  Big and complex. Fruit cake, cocoa, banana, dried ginger, cinnamon. Toasty oak, vanilla.

Palate:  Very chocolatey initally.  Rich, sweet and full, caramel and tropical fruit flavours from the nose.  The texture is very generous, rounded by the oak. 

Finish: Long, dark chocolate, vanilla.

ABV: 40%

We suggest you to match this rich and luxurious rum with an epiphany cake and you will surprise your guests. 

Delicious, be gourmand!