Maison Benjamin Kuentz Verre Printanier 46°

This is “single malt from the Mirabelle plum country,” aged in a combination of cognac and bourbon casks — though not for long, judging by the colour of the spirit. The nose pops sharply with notes of vanilla, lemon, cut grass, and some tobacco notes. There’s plenty of malt here, giving it a significant cereal character, but those secondary overtones dominate more clearly. On the palate, the whisky is soft and silky, again showing an ample malt/biscuit note, but cut nicely with vanilla and sugar cookie notes, giving it a golden, sunny composition. The finish is a bit rustic and a touch boozy, though notes of toasted coconut and malted milk emerge to give it some more nuance and a nice kick of sweetness. Aged in Cognac and Bourbon barrels.

Benjamin Kuentz is a French whisky publisher, an independent bottler who works with craftsmen and women, grain farmers and distillers who work with passion and ethics from all over France. Benjamin chose not to have his own distillery, but rather to work with several of the best all over the country, in order to create premium and unique products. This choice has allowed him to create completely different whiskies, each having no similarity to the next, aside from the high-quality manner and thought-out way in which they were produced.

An innovative approach driven by the desire to shake up the codes, approach and flavours specific to the world of whisky, while preserving what tradition has brought best. Benjamin is not only the publisher but also the author of his whiskies whose starting point is the writing of a recipe in order to account for sensations or olfactory memories; deep, authentic and surprising encounters. The many people he works with; crafts people, cereal farmers, distillers all collaborate with Benjamin in the edition of his whiskies and contribute to the passion and taste of the beautiful work.

The whiskies of Maison Benjamin Kuentz therefore have literary roots . They are whiskies which are elegant and true, each with their own vibrant personality. His products can be summarised in a single line of conduct: to create true and contemporary whiskies, with elegance, balance and suppleness as their watchwords.