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Hammerschmiede Glen Els 4 Year Old 2010 French Connection

Sauternes

0 079

@markjedi1Review by @markjedi1

22nd Jan 2020

1

  • Nose
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  • Taste
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  • Finish
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  • Balance
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  • Overall
    79

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  • Brand: Hammerschmiede
  • ABV: 55%
  • Batch: 1st fill XO-Cognac Casks

Glen Els is not yet very known in our neck of the woods, but in Germany it enjoys high esteem. Next to some spirits like liqueur and gin they now produce four different single malts: Glen Els, The Alrik, Willowburn since very recently the heavily peated Emperor’s Way. I’ll stick to Glen Els for now, of which no less than 180 different releases have been put out so far. This ‘French Connection’ is somewhat special, as maturation took place on former cognac casks with a finish on Sauternes Barriques and Blood Tubs from Chateau d’Yquem.

The nose is quite sharp and alcoholic. I get mostly honey and vanilla, followed by apricots, walnuts and white wine. The sap of pine trees. White pepper. Leather. Finally something chemical that I cannot quite pinpoint.

It’s pretty alcoholic on the palate as well. A bit scorching. Once your saliva glands have extinguished this some, walnuts, peach, apples and apricots appear. The sweet, white wine is unmistakable. Hint of milk chocolate. A handful of hazelnuts. Feisty on white pepper and ginger.

The finish is pretty long, drying and becomes mildly bitter. At the death I think I get some green grapes. That must be the Chateau d’Yquem, I suppose.

I tasted both cognac and Sauternes wine. They overpower the whisky, I think. Feisty, young, sweet, but not exactly my cuppa. And truth be told: 75 EUR for a 4 years old whisky is a bit optimistic, no?

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