Whisky: Michel Couvreur 12 Year “Peaty Overaged Malt Whisky” for K&L

Country/Region: Scotland/France

ABV: 43%

Cask: Spanish Sherry Cask

Age: 12 Years

Nose: Mild brine with fatty pork and brown sugar barbecue rub, caramelized tomato paste, honey, black pepper, caramelized fat and sugar, smoked meat, mesquite wood.

Palate: Medium-bodied, brown sugar, maple, mesquite wood, pears and cider, hints of bacon, black pepper, caramelized fruit sugars, subtle earth.

Finish: Medium-length, slightly drying with pears, subtle earth and smoke.

Score: 5-6

Mental Image: Cider Mill Barbecue

Narrative & Notes:  The aroma of this mystery malt from Michel Couvreur was fabulous, with a rich array of complex and meaty notes. Yet the nose made promises that the palate could not keep, and though I described the whisky as medium-bodied, it felt a bit thin after the nose. The lightness of the palate bore none of the meatiness or charred sweetness that ran throughout the aroma. The experience was slightly disjointed in that respect; if the nose took me to a barbecue in process and offered a maple candy to chew on while the meats cooked, the palate took me to a cider mill and the preparations for a barbecue, blending pears and spices to use as a meat rub.

Overall, I could see this being a nice dram to sit and sip on rather mindlessly. The aroma was complex and interesting, but the flavor profile was straightforward and perfect for fading into the background of an evening with company or food. Few whiskies fit that mood so effortlessly, so while my score might not seem that high, I thought there was much to recommend about this whisky.

Image Credit: Whiskybase