Michel Couvreur : Very Sherried Single Cask 2022 Edition 1998

Characteristics and tasting tips for the Very Sherried Single Cask 2022 Edition 1998 by Michel Couvreur

Tasting

Appearance

This whisky displays a deep amber hue, the result of a long maturation in a Pedro Ximénez – Malaga cask placed in the humid zone of the underground cellars of Bouze-lès-Beaune.

Nose

The nose is floral, lightly woody and vanilla-scented, reflecting the harmonious meeting of the malt distillate and the soft notes imparted by the Malaga PX cask.

Palate

The palate is smooth and sweet, while developing a peppery, lightly spiced sensation. Seemingly effortless at first, it reveals its complexity after a few seconds, finishing on a long, vibrant and powerful note.

Pairings and tasting occasions

This whisky is presented by the House as a great companion for long evenings, to be savoured very slowly in order to appreciate its full aromatic richness. Its concentration and length on the palate invite a contemplative tasting, neat or with just a few drops of water, so as to preserve the balance between roundness and tension that characterises this cuvée.

Mixology

No use in mixology is documented for this exceptional cuvée. As a rare and particularly concentrated single cask, it is recommended to enjoy it without embellishment, neat, to fully appreciate its complexity.

Other characteristics

This whisky is bottled without reduction, artificial colouring or cold filtration, in order to preserve the integrity of the aromas developed during its long maturation. It comes from a single Pedro Ximénez – Malaga cask and is released as a limited edition.

A rare Scotch whisky, matured in a Pedro Ximénez – Malaga cask in the underground cellars of Bouze-lès-Beaune, in Burgundy

Michel Couvreur, a Burgundy-based house for the maturation of Scotch whisky

Founded by Michel Couvreur, Flemish by birth and Burgundian by adoption, this house based in Bouze-lès-Beaune in the Côte-d'Or was built from the late 1970s on a strong conviction: Scotch whisky is born in the still, but is truly shaped in the cask. After an initial career as a négociant-éleveur of Burgundy wines, Michel Couvreur transposed this culture of maturation to whisky, selecting distillates in Scotland and maturing them in underground galleries carved into the limestone, using old Sherry, Malaga or Vin Jaune casks. Since the founder's passing, the House has been run by his daughter Alexandra Couvreur-Deschamps and her husband Cyril Deschamps, alongside cellar master Jean-Arnaud Frantzen, who ensure the continuity of this artisanal and singular style.

Very Sherried Single Cask 2022 Edition 1998: a rare single cask matured in a Pedro Ximénez – Malaga cask

The Very Sherried Single Cask 2022 Edition 1998 perfectly illustrates the maturation philosophy of the house of Michel Couvreur. Distilled in Scotland and then fully matured in a single Pedro Ximénez – Malaga cask, placed in the humid zone of the underground cellars of Bouze-lès-Beaune, this single cask develops an aromatic profile of great intensity. This choice of complete maturation in a single cask, with no blending with other barrels, gives this cuvée a singular character and a strong personality.

Bottled at its natural strength, without reduction or cold filtration, this whisky belongs to the House's “Raretés” category, with a limited production, presented in a wooden case. This rarity reflects the artisanal approach of Michel Couvreur, who favours the individual monitoring of each cask over standardised production.

This single cask stands out within the Very Sherried range for its Pedro Ximénez – Malaga cask, less frequently used than classic Sherry casks, and for its position in a humid area of the cellar, which promotes a gradual reduction in alcohol strength while preserving great aromatic concentration. It is now regarded as emblematic of the encounter between Scotch malt and the sweet wines of Andalusia.