Totoro scored this whisky 80 points 
This is a comparative tasting of the 10 and 11 year old bourbon matured bottlings from 2018 and 2020 (WIDs 113367 and 166633, respectively).
Long story short, both are outstanding bottlings (for their age) on the nose and the palate, but the 10-year-old crashes and burns on the finish due to (what I perceive as) some musty/moldy wood. I've retried it on multiple occasions to make sure, and it's unmistakably tainted.
The 11-year-old is clean, though, and therefore vastly superior. 55 € for an 11 y.o. at drinking strength may seem like a lot, but I think it's justified in light of the quality on display here.
Long story short, both are outstanding bottlings (for their age) on the nose and the palate, but the 10-year-old crashes and burns on the finish due to (what I perceive as) some musty/moldy wood. I've retried it on multiple occasions to make sure, and it's unmistakably tainted.
The 11-year-old is clean, though, and therefore vastly superior. 55 € for an 11 y.o. at drinking strength may seem like a lot, but I think it's justified in light of the quality on display here.
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The 10 could easily pass for an unpeated Glen Scotia. It has that certain funky mustiness (somehow pleasantly sour/lactic), plus some damp wood. But, it has to be said, it's also an overachiever for its age, with an extremely rich and creamy and fruity ex-bc nose that seems a good deal older than ten years. I get yellow fruits (sour plums, apricots), grimy hessian, packed dirt floor, old and slightly musty wood as well as some beeswax and olive oil. There's also something indistinctly herbal, maybe juniper? It's an all-bourbon nose, but I'd say it's more autumnal than summery, if that makes sense. Impressive! 87 points.
The 11 incorporates a similar funk, but generally comes across as somehow "cleaner" and better composed – the oak in particular seems more crisp. This leaves more room for the waxiness / oiliness and a citric side (grapefruit, lime, kiwi) that the darker, dirtier wood influence of 10 apparently smothered over. Definitely also beeswax here, while the oiliness may go more toward sunflower oil and a lovely dustiness (old wine cellar or attic, but not a damp one). This, too, seems older than its age statement. Certainly propelled by some really good ex-bourbon barrels and hoggies, but I wouldn't call it cask-dominated. The oak is never peppery or herbal or tart or any other word that comes to mind when there's over-the-top first-fill action going on. Instead it's just creamy and sweet and oily. An outstanding nose for an 11-year-old! I prefer it to the 10 and am tempted to go to 88 points on the nose. -
The 10: Creamy and oily mouthfeel right from the get-go. Nicely sweet as well, like a bourbon minus the overactive oak. It's only halfway through that some fruity acidity and more pepper enter into the mix. Here you get something like redcurrant or kiwi alongside some white pepper and grated ginger. The last third belongs to the wood, and this curious funk that reminds me of Glen Scotia. Which wouldn't be bad in and by itself, but after a few sips the cumulative impression is that there are indeed some substandard, musty barrels that have found their way into this vatting. I had the palate at 86 initially, but I'm subtracting a point for the weird woodiness at the end. So, 85 points.
The 11: Acidic, yet simultaneously creamy/waxy start, then the oils keep building and reaching all through the flavor development. Oscillates back and forth between creamy/waxy/oily and fruit/citric on the tongue. Man, what a texture! I am again seriously and pleasantly surprised. Flavorwise, you get maize, golden syrup, sour/sweet yellow stone fruits, buttered and salted popcorn, chamomile tea, shortbread, and vanilla crescents. Crazy good, 88 points again. -
The 10: Yeah, there's something wrong with the oak, sadly enough. For me, it ruins the experience and depresses the score below the 70 mark. Too bad, otherwise this was a great bottling. But it has to be said that I'm sensitive in this regard and have, in the past, "disqualified" bottlings for their moldy oak that other aficionados have found totally okay. So whether or not you can get on board with this finish might depend on your taste in oak flavor. For me, this moldy note makes for 69 points at most.
The 11: Not insanely long, but certainly more pronounced than it would have any right to be, considering the age. Waxy, with mellow bourbon sweetness and still some ripe apricot. Just enough spiciness at the end to make for a pleasant tingle, but not an outright burn. The bourbon casks drive it, yet there is no overt oakiness or questionable wood influence. Super oily. Leaves a slightly salty film on the lips. Really impressive – and really good – again. 87 points.
