Living in Europe means I’ve sought out new and different European whiskies to try. However I don’t always want to commit to a full bottle! Enter this pretty trio of 200ml whiskies from Bellevoye.
What are they? Single malts? Nope! They are instead a “triple malt” – meaning a blend of single malt whiskies from three different whisky distilleries – possibly from Brittany (Distillery Clauessens de Wambrechies?), Alsace (Maison Ledai – Distillery Hepp) and Cognac (Maison Brunet – better known for Brenne).
I earlier tried their peated “Black” as part of a Whisky Advent calendar so it was a perfect chance with the Blue, White and Red trio to try the balance.
We kicked off our tour of France’s Bellevoye “Flag” trio with the Blue – “fine grain” finish in a French Oak cask.
Bellevoye Blue 40% (French Oak Grain Finish)
- Nose – Started with a hint of prune from the fresh cork after it popped open! Then in the glass – sweet hay, faintly floral, a dash of black peppercorn, some cherry chocolate with red chilli, followed by pear and charan
- Palate – Warming on the surface, terribly easy to drink, imagine have this to spike your pani puri!
- Finish – Certainly lasts in the mouth
Not such a bad start…whilst it isn’t complex, it makes for a nice pre-dinner malt. Simple and pleasant.
On the revisit, the aromas added a lovely vanilla flowers and spice… really quite nice!
What more do we know? The different single malts started their life in French oak casks, maturing for three to eight years followed by nine to twelve months post-blend in French new oak fine grain casks. No peat is used.
Here is a rough translation of their tasting notes:
- The nose reveals notes of cereals, sweet spices, honey and white flowers.
- The mouth is round and balanced with aromas of yellow fruit, cooked apple and gingerbread.
- The finish is long on fresh notes
So what’ll is in the Bellevoye range?
- Blue 40% (French Oak) – This one
- White 40% (Sauternes)
- Red 43% (Grand Cru)
- Black 43% (Peated)
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