Vita Dulcis 9 – France’s Armorik Double Maturation 46%

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I first tried this whisky in 2017 at Whisky Live Singapore as part of a trio of Armorik’s standards – Blended Grain, Classic, and Double Matured.

Since then, I’ve been curious to try more if and when the opportunity presents. When I purchased the Vita Dulcis 2020 Whiskey International Advent Calendar, it was specifically for the strong European representation in the offerings. My hope was this Armorik would be something new, however I was equally happy to revisit the Double Matured too.

Same approach as before – the whisky is double matured between local french oak barrels and ex-sherry casks for an undisclosed number of years.

What did I find the in 2020 version?

France – Armorik Double Maturation 46%

  • Nose – Much like I found before – light cereal, apples with a citrus twist, honey sweetness
  • Palate – Oh! This was unexpected! It started off good and spicy. Then settled down, woody, apple sauce with light cinnamon
  • Finish – Spice comes back, mellowing into honey with almost a touch of smoke or bitterness at the tail end

Is it complex? No. But is it interesting? Yes.

I sampled this a night after being introduced to another trio from France – courtesy of Maison Benjamin Kuentz. I couldn’t help but compare the two “Bretagne” offerings – Aveux Gourmand (sheer divine decadence!) and the more restrained Armorik Double Maturation. More on Maison Benjamin Kuentz in the coming weeks but suffice to say… my interest in French whisky is fully re-piqued!

As for Armorik? After 20 years, their bottle label design got a nice refresh in 2018 – clean, straight forward and far more elegant than their earlier label.

And the price? It has risen a bit – now in the EUR 48 – 58 range – however not something that will ‘break the bank.’

Curious to know more? Just check out what the folks at Armorik have to say. Or check out my encounters with Warenghem distillery:

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Vita Dulcis 8 – France’s Bellevoye Peat 43%

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This is my first introduction to Bellevoye from France, thanks to my purchase of the Vita Dulcis 2020 International Advent Calendar.

As the label only identified this as “tourbée” (peaty), I reached out to find out more. Steven Baily Gibson from Les Bienheureux kindly helped confirm that the “tourbee” edition is “Noir”. More on that after my tasting…

France – Bellevoye Tourbee 43%

  • Colour – Golden hay
  • Nose – Sour cherries, almost liquor like, sweet spices of cloves, all spice and most of all cinnamon
  • Palate – Surprisingly smooth, a delightful and pronounced cinnamon, spiced apple crumble, fruity
  • Finish – More cinnamon spice, quite fruity

Overall this was a cinnamon candy – with peat! A promising start and after looking at their other profiles, would be interested in exploring further.

So what more do we know about Black? It is a blend of three ‘peaty’ Single Malt whiskies from Lorraine, Alsace, Nord, aged for 5-10 years in French Oak casks and then a secondary maturation – nine to 12 months post-blend – in French new oak casks particularly prepared and selected for this whisky.

The peat levels are not intense – around 45 p.p.m – and the distilleries are also not disclosed. My guess would be for Lorraine – Rozelieures – which is certainly putting out directly and indirectly some whiskies well worth exploring further.

As for Alsace? I couldn’t say for sure – so far we’ve only sampled one AWA Pinot Noir which wouldn’t be a good indicator for the profile in this Bellevoye expression. There is also Lehman’s, Meyer’s, plus an assortment of others.

And North? It all depends on whether “North” in this context also includes Bretagne with Werenghem and Glann ar Mor…

Which ever the distillery, the plan seems to be to continue to work with three, crafting two batches per year, blending together with an aim to achieve a profile of:

“Complexity, fullness, balance and length.”

And what do the folks at Bellevoye share in their official tasting notes?

  • The intense nose reveals empyreumatic notes that evoke both ashes, toast and moka. Subtle touches of spices (cinnamon, nail clove) and liquorice reinforce its complexity.​
  • The mouth is thick, mellow and oily. Its salinity gives it a fresh and harmonious balance. Its structure is coated thanks to its elegant tannins.
  • The finish is long and persistent on aromas peat characteristics.​

It is available in Germany for EUR 48 – 59, depending on distributor. For my part, I was happy to have a chance to have this included in my miniatures explorations.

Curious about other encounters with French whisky?

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Vita Dulcis 7 – Germany Slyrs Oloroso 55.9%

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Our 1st encounter with Slyrs was a few years ago as part of Whisky Ladies European evening with the Slyrs 51 51% – not really our tipple.  Fast forward and we quite enjoyed the Sild “Crannog” 3 year Single Malt 48%.

So I approached the Oloroso from the Vita Dulcis 2020 Advent Calendar with an open mind, curious to see what I would discover!

Germany – Slyrs “Worldwidespirits” Limited Edition Vintage 2012-16 Oloroso Cask 55.9%

  • Nose – OMG no! There is something rotten, frankly foul, if I’m charitable I would compare it to blue cheese… I’m so sorry… I just couldn’t get past the nose… Several times I went to take a sip and was turned away by the aromas…
  • Palate – But trooper that I am, eventually I managed to take a sip. Yes it was better than the nose but… other than vague over ripe prunes… sigh….
  • Finish – Yes… there is one… mostly dates

I could not even go back for a 2nd sip, no attempt to try with water… none of the normal things I would do even with a ‘challenging’ whisky.

I tried to find out more but didn’t have much luck with English language searches.

Honestly, I don’t remember the last time I was turned off by a whisky. I really don’t mean to be uncharitable but….

Just no.

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Vita Dulcis 6 – Swiss Säntis Malt Himmelberg Edition 43%

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From Beer to Whisky, Säntis Distillery started experimenting in 2002. Säntis Himmelberg is the distillery’s fourth standard bottling. After beer barrel maturation, the malt was matured in a wide variety of wine barrels such as port, sherry and merlot.

So what did I find with the Vita Dulcis 2020 Advent Calendar mini?

Switzerland – Säntis Malt Himmelberg Edition 43%

  • Nose – Its starts off like wine, then pears yet a bit on the sour not sweet side, and something roasted, a bit sharp and smells a bit like you’ve wandered into a brewery
  • Palate – Even on the palate it has a distinctly beer and lemon element, throw into the mix some ginger, spice
  • Finish – Short, dry and lightly spiced with more ginger

Don’t laugh, but I couldn’t get a Radler out of my mind – a refreshing combination of lemonade and beer found in Bavaria. Except this wasn’t really a Radler… and there was something just… well… different. It is hardly like a whisky at all… more and more it reminded me of sipping on a wine shandy or… yup… back to that Radler!

Distillery official tasting notes?

As with all of our whiskeys, the spring water for our Säntis malt “Edition Himmelberg” comes from the Alpstein. Julia Nourney characterizes it as follows: “Light and fruity, which shows its true face on the palate with spicy and woody aromas.” The secret lies in the transfer of the beer barrel into different wine barrels.

Other encounters with Swiss whiskies:

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Vita Dulcis 5 – Israel’s Mik + Honey Classic 46%

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I first encountered Milk and Honey (M&H) with an early pre-launch sample shared with an industry insider friend. To be honest, I don’t recall years later what we thought, however I was interested to try it properly.

Started in 2013, M&H calls their whisky “ultra kosher” and take advantage of the warmer climate of Israel to accelerate the maturation.

In short, I was quite curious to see what I would find in the Vita Dulcis Whiskey International 2020 Advent Calendar sample…

israel – Milk & Honey Classic Single Malt 46%

  • Colour – Light gold
  • Nose – Hit of spice, then honey, there is something almost earthy about the aroma, some oats, a bit yeasty, hint of raisins
  • Palate – Again – back to being a real zinger with another hit of spice that blazes all the way to the back of the throat, a bit bitter and woody
  • Finish – Cloves, nutmeg, maybe a bit of apple cider?

Overall I found this quite direct, uncomplicated, young and a bit brash. While it may not be the most remarkable whisky, I couldn’t help but remember a trip to Israel in 1988 that truly was remarkable. For that alone, it was worth the experience.

What more do we know? It is matured in a combination of bourbon, virgin oak and shaved, toasted and re-charred casks. Beyond that, I wasn’t able to find out much more…

I also didn’t find the distillery official tasting notes, however Billy Abbott from The Whisky Exchange had this to share:

  • NOSE – A big hit of honey and lemon leads to brown-sugar topped porridge. The oaty notes get biscuity, with vanilla and more zesty lemon. Flapjacks develop, with hints of sultana and raisin.
  • PALATE – Layers of honey kick things off: sweet runny honey with a hint of manuka. Dark chocolate sits behind, studded with candied lemon peel. Grainy notes develop: the flapjacks from the nose are joined by oatcakes and vanilla shortbread, all drizzled with honey.
  • FINISH – A burst of barrel char is overtaken by toasted granola, even more honey and bittersweet dark chocolate.
  • COMMENT – An excellent balance of distillery character and cask, with layers of citrus, grain, vanilla and darker notes all covered trademark honey notes.

Would I agree? Hmm… to be honest Billy clearly found more going on than I did in my wee sample. However it is certainly in a similar vein.

And with that, my wee trip around the world continued another day with another dram..

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Vita Dulcis 4 – Scotland’s The Dalmore 12 year 40%

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The Dalmore was the ONLY Scottish whisky in the Vita Dulcis 2020 International Whisk(e)y Advent Calendar… really!

I didn’t mind revisiting one of their core expressions. In this case – the 12 year.

Scotland – The Dalmore 12 year 40%

  • Colour – Golden caramel
  • Nose – Slightly doughy, once the yeasty element settled down, the cherry sherry quality, rum raisins, figs, plum cake,  sweet spices
  • Palate – A spicy bite to warm things up, clear sherry stamp, and is that marmalade? Yup!
  • Finish – Light but lingers, slightly bitter
  • Water? Honestly, didn’t even try

Overall, not a bad dram with a sherry flourish!

What do we know? It spent most of its 12 years maturing in ex-bourbon casks then finished in Oloroso sherry.

Distillery official tasting notes?

  • Nose : Citrus fruits, chocolate and aromatic spices
  • Taste : Seville oranges, dried fruits and hints of vanilla pod
  • Finish : Roasted coffee and dark chocolate

Would I agree? Overall, yes.

Obviously this wasn’t my 1st Dalmore! Here are a few other expressions that made it into tasting notes…

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Vita Dulcis 3 – Hellyer’s Road Original Roaring Forty

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Next up from my Vita Dulcis 2020 International Whisk(e)y Advent Calendar was Hellyers Road from Tasmania.

I remember being blown away by the intensity of flavours and character of the Hellyers Road 12 year when first tried it – some five years ago.

This is the Original “Roaring Forty” expression, named after the 40km/h winds which blow in the rain-clouds. It’s aged in American white oak barrels and was the 1st Hellyers Road sampled at 40%.

What did I think?

Australia – Hellyer’s Road Original Roaring Forty 40%

  • Colour – Bright straw
  • Nose – Distinctly different. Almost rancio, not paint varnish but something a bit paint-like and funky.  Nuts… Some over ripe bananas, almost banana cream pie, tartar
  • Palate – That nuttiness continued on the palate, some dark fruits
  • Finish – A bit of spice

Frankly, it was a bit peculiar… There was none of the intensity or bursting with flavours of the 12 year.

Not sure this one is for me, to be honest…

I came back to revisit just to see if it changed character… Nope!

I couldn’t find any official tasting notes on Hellyers Road website, however the chaps at Master of Malt have this to say?

  • Nose: Creamy lemon and vanilla – a bit like Lemon Meringue Pie. Hints of banana and toffee.
  • Palate: Grassy at first, before juicy notes of pear and plum appear.
  • Finish: Peanut brittle, cedar.

I’ve found it online in Germany for EUR 45.

Over the years, we’ve enjoyed our Ozy whisky explorations which has covered quite a range! Specifically with Hellyer’s Road, we’ve tried

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Vita Dulcis 2 – Teerenpeli Kaski Sherry Cask 43%

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So what next in the  Vita Dulcis 2020 Advent Calendar?

This wasn’t my first time sampling a Teerenpeli Kaski. I remember quite enjoying it however much has changed since I first tried it – namely a new Teerenpeli distillery opened in 2015 next to the Teerenpeli brewery rather than the original distillery in the city centre. They still use pot stills, just now with enhanced capacity to 100,000 litres / year. Not bad!

What matters most… did memory serve me well?

Finland – Teerenpelli Kaski Sherry Cask 43%

  • Colour – Dark gold
  • Nose – Apricot, cinnamon spice, honey sweet, light curl of peat topped with brown sugar
  • Palate – Sherry with peat, has a nice chewy quality, prunes, lots of character and frankly just delicious
  • Finish – Yum!

There is something a bit zesty and cheeky about this whisky. I wouldn’t call it ‘brash’ but it definitely has a perky character. Each sip is more and more enjoyable.

I set it aside to see how it was after some time…. it didn’t disappoint! Except for 2 cl being insufficient!

What have I tried from Teerenpeli?

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Vita Dulcis 1 – India’s Amrut Fusion 50%

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What a way to kick things off! With a dram from my much missed home – India!!

Over the years, I’ve sampled many an Amrut Fusion… however it has been some time since I ‘properly’ sat down with one – particularly the international version that helped catapult Amrut to global attention.

My first taste was in 2010? (I think!) at a spirits exhibition in Mumbai with father and son Neelakanta Rao Jagdale and Rakshit Jagdale. I was impressed by their passion and commitment to bring Indian whisky to the world – by establishing their credibility outside India. At the time, I found the concept of “Fusion” interesting but was personally more drawn to their “Two Continents” – yep that was the 1st edition.

After that, I had a mixed experience with the Fusion version which became available in India – with a very clear caveat that the conditions under which these bottles are stored likely varied considerably.

The most memorable was an evening in 2015 with N R Jagdale and Jim Murray.

I next properly sampled Fusion 50% at Singapore airport and went – huh?! This was NOT the same Fusion available in India. True – the alcohol percentage is different as Amrut must abide by the state regulations on strength for domestically produced alcohol. But it was more than that…

So what did I find with the Vita Dulcis 2020 Advent Calendar mini?

India – Amrut Fusion 50%

  • Nose – Hmm… is that a hint of bacon? Shifts into toffee apples, oatmeal, cream and honey with a light peat chaser
  • Palate – Full warming spice, some oak, tannins, definitely more spice, chocolate
  • Finish – A nice cinnamon spice, slightly bitter
  • Water? Nope! Not a drop…

Well? Thumbs up or down?

This version, this day… its a yes. Particularly the way the cinnamon spice interplayed with the sweet subtle peat.

And Amrut’s official tasting notes?

  • Nose : Heavy, thickly oaked and complex: some curious barley-sugar notes here shrouded in soft smoke. Big, but seductively gentle, too
  • Taste : The delivery, though controlled at first, is massive! Then more like con-fusion as that smoke on the nose turns into warming, full blown peat, but it far from gets its own way as a vague sherry trifle note (curious, seeing how there are no sherry butts involved) – the custard presumably is oaky vanilla – hammers home that barley – fruitiness to make for a bit of a free-for-all; but for extra food measure the flavours develop into a really intense chocolate fudge middle which absolute resonates through the palate
  • Finish : A slight struggle here as the mouthfeel gets a bit puffy here with the dry peat and oak; enough molassed sweetness to see the malt through to a satisfying end, though. Above all the spices, rather than lying down and accepting their fate, rise up and usher this extraordinary whisky to its exit

What about some of my other encounters with Amrut?

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Vita Dulcis Whisk(e)y International Adventskalendar 2020

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Let me admit upfront that I really enjoy whisky “Advent” calendars with their range of minis.      However I tend to purchase them ‘off-season’ – preferably on sale – as my purpose is to taste throughout the year rather than a specific time.

However this year, I purchased the Vita Dulcis Whisk(e)y International 4th Edition in time to taste from 1st December. When I set out tasting, I had a goal to complete before year end, but was also fine if unsuccessful. The plan was to try in ‘groupings’… primarily on the weekend.

I also was expecting to be in Dubai for Christmas so intended to bring along any I hadn’t yet tried to open and sample there. Then plans were derailed by COVID – as they have derailed so many plans for so many people around the world.

So I found myself remaining, alone, in Nurnberg, Germany… thankfully with the distraction of a worthy ‘target’ to complete not only tasting but also tasting notes of 24 whiskies from around the world! For after all… if I couldn’t travel to see the world… why not let my palate be a tourist. Did I succeed? You bet!

So what is part of this wee whisk(e)y world tour?

Australia – Hellyer’s Road Original Roaring Forty 40%

Asia

Canada – JP Wiser’s 18 year Blended Whisky 40%

India – Amrut Fusion 50%

Israel – Milk & Honey Classic 46% – Single Malt

Europe 

Scotland – The Dalmore 12 year 40%

Ireland 

Wales – Penderyn Madeira Finish 46%

USA

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