Acla da Fans in Switzerland celebrated its 10th anniversary not so long ago. Now we’re looking at their latest batch of whisky bottlings: four single malts with a Ski Ladies theme on the labels.
Ben Nevis 28 yo 1996 (45,1%, Acla Selection 2024, hogshead #412)
Nose: starts really well. Fruity notes aplenty, like pineapple, kiwi and papaya. Pink bananas. Quite creamy, almost showing a white chocolate note. Then a nice mineral / waxy side and subtle minty herbs. Candles and paraffin food wraps. Pretty great.
Mouth: sweet and fat. More than enough fruits, like bananas and multi-fruit syrup, as well as sweet white grapes. Hints of passion fruits and Cantaloupe melons too. Honeyed and waxy, with vanilla biscuits. Then some pink grapefruits and mineral, gravelly hints. Light herbs and a wee salty edge towards the end.
Finish: long, with bright fruits, chalky notes, lime and wax. Still slightly saline.
Very waxy with a rather thick sweetness, which masks some of the brightest fruit notes. Nonetheless highly attractive. These 1996s are rarely disappointing, but this is a particularly good cask. Available from Acla da Fans.
Highland Park – Whitlaw 20 yo 2003 (54,4%, Acla Selection 2024, hogshead #749)
Nose: typical and balanced, though perhaps a little more peaty than the officials (although it may also be the contrast with the Ben Nevis). Some flints and limestone, lamp oil, a lot of ashes, nicely countered with sweet lemons and limes. Then sourdough, seawater and unripe apple, with chalk and wet fabrics.
Mouth: smoky and intense, slightly austere for a moment, wih chalky notes, some grass and sweet lemon. Herbal infusions with a few drops of medicins, black pepper, ash and a good saltiness. Still a green fruity note in the background, finishing on a nice bittersweet touch.
Finish: long, salty and herbal, fading on pepper and lemons.
Good and typical Highland Park at a fair price. For me it doesn’t really stand out among the recent wave of indie releases, but if you’re looking for a wintery whisky with moderate peat, check it out. Available from Acla da Fans. Score: 87/100
Secret Highland 11 yo 2012 (53,3%, Acla Selection 2024, refill butt #62491)
Nose: a leafy start, opening up over time with some pine needles and a faint resinous / mentholated hint. Then apples and lemon skins, hints of pepper and some maritime aromas like iodine. Fine ashy peat.
Mouth: mild peat again, balanced by a sweetness. Hints of lemons, plaster and iodine, as well as hints of hessian. Then some subtle nutty notes before the vegetal, grassy side comes back (never my favourite part). Some rooty notes. Very ashy.
Finish: quite long, with pepper, a leafy (slightly bitter) note and a vague sweetness from the sherry.
We’ve had a lot of lightly peated Secret Highlands lately, with lots of different suggestions like Ardmore, Jura, Ben Nevis… When forced to choose, I’d go for Ardmore. Overall this one is not extremely complex but offers good value for money. Available from Acla da Fans. Score: 85/100
Port Charlotte 21 yo 2003 (53,4%, Acla Selection 2024, barrel #664)
Nose: oh yes, this very particular kind of farmy notes that I’ve only found in Port Charlotte, Brora and Connemara so far (maybe Ardbeg too). Horse stables with a hint of manure. Also bonfire smoke and sooty notes, as well as pipe tobacco. A glorious combination really. Then some salty kippers and hay, with subtle TCP and smoked herbs. Coastal notes like seawater and seaweed as well.
Mouth: very smoky and sooty, really earthy but less farmy now. Roasted coffee beans, creosote, anchovies in salt, tobacco and drops of herbal potions. Nicely tangy, with a citrusy edge. Then back to herbal honey, with a bit of leather, mint syrup and tarry peat.
Finish: long, on menthol, tar, brine, lemon and earthy smoke.
That’s two fantastic whiskies in this series! Really excellent Port Charlotte, exactly how I like them. I find this very reasonably priced as well, perhaps it is the duty free advantage? Highly recommended. Available from Acla da Fans. Score: 92/100