Michel Couvreur 12yo Overaged Malt Whisky...

Michel Couvreur 12yo Overaged Malt Whisky (43.0%): Michel Couvreur... One of the best kept secrets of the whisky world. Even today the brand manages to reach its followers without any advertisement or a properly functioning website. Michel Couvreur was a Belgian wine and spirit merchant who in 1950s decided to spend his life between Burgundy and Scotland. Besides many great pleasures of life he loved his sherry cask matured Scotch whiskies, especially the ones matured in ex-PX and ex-Palomino casks and he wasn't particularly happy about the ex-bourbon cask matured whiskies slowly but surely taking over the market in 1970s... So, he came up with an idea: He managed to buy bulk whisky from his favorite distilleries in Scotland, brought them to Burgundy to vat and then started to age them in hand selected high quality ex-sherry casks brought from Jerez in the caves of Bouze-les-Beaune.

The result was spectacular... Whisky lovers from all over the world fell in love with his whiskies and a legendary brand was born. Sadly he passed away in 2013 but his son-in-law took over the brand after a short break and the bottles started to take their places on the shelves again. This particular blend on my desk contains 54 different Scotch malt whiskies aged between 12 and 27 years. Because the whisky is not matured in Scotland the label says "Distilled in Scotland" and "Product of France". Well, here we go... Color: Medium dark amber, chestnut honey with very slow legs around the glass. Nose: Surprisingly mute first... Like a high proof cask strength whisky. Airing it a good minute or two does the trick: Natural rubber sneakers, latex gloves, golden raisins and sage honey. Rose petals, marzipan and sticky toffee pudding. Chocolate pipe tobacco, old and disintegrating leather upholstery and dried flowers potpourri. Very old school feel with hint of sweet peat somewhere in distant. Motor oil, smoked kippers and sugar molasses. A few drops of water brings some struck matches and old leather wallet. Rich carrot cake with a thick layer of frosting. Palate: Incredibly thick and syrupy... Almost chewable. Refrigerated Pedro Ximenez, honey, nutmeg and cinnamon. Cooked prunes, zante currants and beef stew. It lightens up nicely with a few drops of water... The texture thins out and hint of sulphur emerges. Not at a disturbing level but definitely there. Roasted unsalted nut mix: Almonds, Brazil nuts and cashews. Candied orange peel, quince jam and ginger dusting. Finish: Quite short with vanilla extract, custard and coconuts flakes. Overall: First of all you have to be prepared that the bottle is corked like a wine bottle. Don't forget your corkscrew "tire-bouchon" if you are bringing it to a trip... And also be careful with the cork. Because if you damage that cork you better have a wine stopper or an old cork you saved from another whisky bottle somewhere to save the bottle. Otherwise I am afraid you will be finishing the bottle that day... The whisky in the bottle is quite a heavy treat. Thinking that every single component in the blend spent its entire life in a sherry cask it's not that surprising though. If you like your Macallan and Glendronach you will definitely enjoy this French boy. Perfect dram to close the night on a cool night with or after your dessert. I am not a regular cigar guy but even I can see that it will pair great with cigars. And I love the bottle design... I should also get a peaty expression from Michel Couvreur...