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We already had the French whisky Amaethon final 12 months. I attempted their early launch which had a straight bottle design. Since then they switched to a extra distinctive, barely conical bottle.
They contacted me to tell me concerning the new releases. Again then the spirit was a personalised lower produced at Warenghem. These days they’ve their very own spirit, distilled in Alambic Charentais, between Angoulême and Cognac. We’re making an attempt a latest batch of the single malt along with a single cask launch.
The usual Amaethon remains to be made with pure French barley. The whisky ages in American oak: 50% ex-bourbon and 50% virgin oak (charring stage 3 + 4). They scale back the spirit to 60% ABV earlier than coming into casks.
Amaethon Single Malt (45%, OB +/- 2023)
Nostril: vanilla dough and plenty of flour notes blended with white floral hints and pencil shavings. Then a gin-like component seems, suppose juniper, sage and different vibrant herbs. Refined coppery notes. Mild vegetal touches like inexperienced banana peels and leafy notes, in addition to some plums within the background.
Mouth: very malty, with loads of cereal notes. Ginger, nutmeg and different baking spice – the virgin oak is having its say. Then honey and candy lemons make it rounder once more, main as much as some apricot and buttery pastry. Bread crust. There’s a gritty edge that provides away its youth. Additionally caramelized hazelnut in the long run.
End: medium, with a reasonably generic caramel observe, a little bit of white pepper and loads of cereals.
An honest 3 year-old, though I appreciated the Warenghem spirit higher. It’s an accurate product, however nothing really indispensable (at this age). Accessible from Spiritique. Should you’re outdoors of France, you will get it from The Whisky Change as an illustration.
Amaethon Single Cask (46,5%, OB +/- 2023, Pineau des Charentes cask #0132, 700 btl.)
Nostril: the virgin oak affect makes place for extra sweetness right here, reducing the complexity on the identical time. Hints of apricots, biscuits and orange peels. Mild honeyed tea. Nonetheless faint hints of gin botanicals and copper within the background (maybe the results of the Charentais), however far much less.
Mouth: whereas there’s a pleasant grape sweetness to it, there’s additionally a barely boozy facet. Lemon and unripe pear seem, with hints of rhubarb. Ginger and grapefruit peels. Then the grainy notes take over, with a impartial flavour that I’m not very keen on. Additionally white pepper and a few tannins.
End: medium, bittersweet now, with extra citrus zest, walnuts and clove oil.
I like Pineau and I actually anticipated this to be an asset, nevertheless it doesn’t really feel balanced. Good experiments however there’s an entire vary of fine French whisky so the competitors is hard. Accessible from Spiritique. Rating: 75/100
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