Break the Mould 2003/2023 - 20 yo - Artist #13

Volume: 0.7 litres | Alcohol content: 53.9% | Chill filtration: No | Colouring: No

Special Features:

A First Fill Oloroso Hogshead shapes this single-cask release in the Artist #13 series. Distilled in 2003, the single malt matured for twenty years before being bottled in 2023. The Spanish oak cask had previously held Oloroso sherry. Its fruity, floral and spicy aromas range from tropical fruit to ripe dates, figs and honey notes.

Artist #13 SMWS was created through a collaboration between La Maison du Whisky and The Scotch Malt Whisky Society to mark the Society’s fortieth anniversary. Scottish artist Claire Barclay created the visual artwork for the collection. Break the Mould bears the cask reference 9.289, and the release comprises 175 bottles. The whisky was bottled at 53.9%, without chill filtration or added colouring, and comes in gift packaging.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: The nose combines lime blossom and pine with guava, mango and hawthorn. With aeration, apricot, orange and melon emerge, accompanied by cardamom and ginger. Mushroom and moss nuances complement the fruit; strawberry and blackberry appear later.
• Palate: The whisky is lively and elegant on the palate. Ripe dates and caramel lead the opening. Coconut, quince jelly and freshly squeezed orange then introduce a fresher fruitiness.
• Finish: The long, expansive finish opens with nutmeg and cinnamon, alongside notes of cherry brandy, faded roses and petunias. Pine resin and notes of lavender and heather honey mingle in the lingering aftertaste. A powdery cocoa impression and delicate woody notes remain at the end.

Distillery/Bottler:

The whisky comes from Glen Grant. Brothers James and John founded the distillery in 1840. Its equipment includes Oregon pine washbacks; during the 1970s, the number of bell-shaped stills increased from four to eight in two stages.

La Maison du Whisky launched the Artist series in 2011. It pairs single-cask single malts bottled at cask strength with artistic labels that change each year. Its selection takes the distillery, maturation, age and alcohol strength into account. For Artist #13 SMWS, it worked with The Scotch Malt Whisky Society.

Facts: