In my previous post I indicated that my next post (i.e. this post) would explore the subject of chillfiltration. I’ve subsequently decided to hijack the topic for my whisky column in the May edition of Prestige Magazine. It’ll be re-published here in a few months’ time. Apologies.
You may remember from this post that a friend and I import an artisanal, boutique whisky into the country. Be warned then that the information that follows is not critical or independent – in fact it’s a rehashed press release for the latest offering from French whisky guru Michel Couvreur. You should find it interesting nonetheless. The guys from GlenDronach did something loosely similar at last year’s Whisky Festival, but I think I’m right in saying that this is highly unusual. Let me know if you’ve heard of any other instances.
What is a unique whisky?
A single malt is unique. This style of whisky can only be produced at one distillery. And yet year-on-year each bottling is pretty much the same. A vintage whisky is unique. It can only be made from liquid distilled and put in wood at the same time. However there is no effective limit to how much of it can be churned out. A single cask is unique. All of this whisky must come out of a single cask. Typically though a cask can produce up to 800 odd bottles of the same whisky.
Clearly then “unique” – in conjunction with whisky – is a word to be used with some circumspection.
Michel Couvreur has launched one of world’s only truly unique whiskies: the 1983 vintage single cask…which is individually bottled on request. Every bottle of the 1983 will be inscribed with the name of the purchaser and with the date and time of bottling. This individual bottling process means that each and every bottle will spend a different period of time in wood, and consequently therefore will be a different and unique whisky!
Unique, uniquer, uniquest.
This 29 year-old malt is the ideal gift for the discriminating person who has it all, especially with Father’s Day approaching. The unique and personalized 1983 would without a doubt amplify any celebration, and enhance even the most eminent collection.
Michel Couvreur’s range of rare whiskies was officially launched in South Africa last year to critical acclaim. Couvreur is a whisky artisan of long-standing, based in Burgundy in France, and he enjoys a stellar reputation for his highly cultivated maturation process, in which he employs individually selected Solera sherry casks. He and his small team are the remnants of an almost-forgotten golden age, when craftsmanship trumped mass production. He has been honoured in the press with the moniker “Last of the Mohicans”.
Only 20 bottles of the exclusive 1983 have been allotted to South Africa, and they are available at a unit cost of R4999. Should you be interested in securing a bottle please contact us at info@whisky.co.za
And if you have this type of money to spend on whisky…I can only salute you. It’s inspirational. May the dram be with you!
The Indy 
Very interesting and surely expensive. I do like his palate and think he puts to market some very nice whiskies. They are definitely available in NYC (though not sure about the bottles you’re discussing here) but not terribly common. Looking forward to your post on chill-filtration – one of my favorite “geeky” topics! As I like to say, “chunks, floaties, clouds & haze are great – we should only care about chill-filtration if the pieces are big enough to get stuck in our teeth.” 😉 Such a lady-like thing to say, but hey, it’s the truth!
Haha, I like it, although my article throws up an interesting twist which you might find quite shocking. MC will never be common, his stuff is made in very limited quantities. You should look him up on future trips to France – interesting man, interesting whisky, interesting area.
OOooh YES! I can’t wait!!! I’ll certainly stay tuned for that post.
As for MC, that’s really good to know. I’ll admit I don’t know much about him other than I have seen his products around and tasted one of them once (which was very good). At this very moment, I’m in Cognac which isn’t too far away from Bordeaux! Sadly, though, I will not have any time for another side trip. Perhaps in November, though, as I’m planning on coming back this way. Thanks for the great tip!
Cool, note though that MC is in Burgundy, not Bordeaux. Enjoy the rest of your trip. I was in Jarnac (next to Cognac) not so long ago – beautiful place.
Ah, you are indeed correct. Thank you for that – I really had it as Bordeaux in my head! 😛 That’s what a healthy dose of post WhiskyLiveUK/World Whiskies Conference and some jet lag will do!
French country side is indeed stunning – and how can you not love a place where the cognac easily drops from the vending machines?
Cognac in vending machines! Only in France – brilliant. Hope the trip was a great one.
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