Edition Five – The Impex Collection was just released! We usually get to taste the latest spirits from Impex Beverages at whisky events, but we missed both President Sam Filmus and Vice President Chris Uhde at one recently. They were gracious enough to offer samples of their new Edition Five for review. These are the five expressions I reviewed alongside my husband, @SipWithMe_LV Ashley Norris and her husband @JBizzleFoShizzle702 Jason Norris – and I believe we all have pretty experienced palates:
2020 3 YO Pokeno, 1st fill Amontillado cask #26, 330 bottles, 58.5% alcohol, RRP $125.
Excited to try the Pokeno again; it’s a New Zealand award-winning single malt whisky that was finished in a bourbon cask. I found it at Trader Joe’s and reviewed it a year ago. This new one had time in an Amontillado Spanish sherry cask, which I expected to add some sweetness over char flavors. We noted marzipan, tropical fruit, melon, citrus, and sawdust, with zero burn – all on the nose. The flavor was hot, spicy, and sweet, with hints of dried fruit, and ash on the finish.
2018 6 YO Spirit of Yorkshire, ex-Madeira single cask #3152, 274 bottles, 52.7% alcohol, RRP $110.
Never had the Spirit of Yorkshire so was excited to learn more. According to their website, “The Spirit of Yorkshire is England’s Single Estate Farm Distillery. The home of the IWSC Gold-winning Filey Bay Flagship, Single Malt Whisky.” Cracking open the sample we agreed that on the nose there was a lot of black licorice, followed by fennel, anise, vanilla, brown sugar and baked Granny Smith apple. On the mouth we found vanilla Crème Brûlée, cherry, apple, and some plum. Overall, it had a nice sweetness and not too hot for our palates. This was a group favorite.
2011 14 YO Dailuaine, Quarter cask #313842, 161 bottles, 54% alcohol, RRP $140.
Another new-to-us was this Dailuaine. From Wikipedia, Dailuaine “is a single malt whisky distillery in Charlestown-of-Aberlour, Strathspey, Scotland.” On this one we were reminded of stone fruit – apricot and nectarine – as well as lemon and other citrus fruits, toasted oak and an earthiness on the nose. The mouthfeel was rich, light, soft, and sweet, with that same citrus fruit.
2008 17 YO Linkwood, Chateau Margaux red wine barrique #14547, 252 bottles, 58% alcohol, RRP $225.
Love old Linkwood bottles – this was a 17 year old – and anything connected to Chateau Margaux. This was one that we were all excited to try. Got some banana, mixed nuts, salt air, and cocoa powder all on the nose. After that, while tasting, we enjoyed a round mouthfeel, banana pudding, lots of spices, and tannins that dried the palate just like a wine would.
2100 14 YO Burnside Blended Malt, Chateau Latour barrique #24789, 261 bottles 63.8% alcohol, RRP $150.
This blended scotch from Burnside was also a surprise for all of us. Never had a Burnside whisky, or a whisky that spent time in Chateau Latour barrels. There was a bit of ocean spray and then caramel, tobacco, and apricot, on the nose. Very slight burn. On the palate we liked the elements of brown sugar, orange marmalade, caramel, and cardamom spice that gave off lots of heat.
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From the website: The ImpEx Collection is a labor of love derived from the heart of Sam Filmus, President and Managing Director of ImpEx Beverages.
He, along with his business partner Chris Uhde, has spent a great amount of time and passion selecting the casks that go into each bottle of The ImpEx Collection that you find on the shelf.
After over 40 years of combined industry experience, you can tell that each Cask is unique and special, offering the best that different categories have to offer.
Whether you find yourself looking for a dram of rare and unique Whisky or you feel you want a special and select rum or mezcal, you can be sure that each bottle of The ImpEx Collection will take your passion for a spirit to new heights.
https://impexbev.com/the-impex-collection-5/#
Eve Bushman has a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET), a “certification in the first globally-recognized course” as an American Wine Specialist ® from the North American Sommelier Association (NASA), Level 1 Sake Award from WSET, was the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video (over 16k views), authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and has served as a judge for the Proof Awards since 2022 (submit via https://proofawards.com) Cellarmasters, LA Wine Competition, Long Beach Grand Cru and the Global Wine Awards. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits. Follow on Instagram and Facebook.
