Ex Libris: The Black Book of Carmarthen 2004
EX LIBRIS - THE BLACK BOOK OF CARMARTHEN (2004)
PENDERYN - AGED 19 YEARS (2004)
With its emblematic labels inspired by book covers, Ex Libris is La Maison du Whisky’s first range dedicated to world whiskies. It scours the world’s distilleries year after year, offering exceptional single casks bottled at cask strength. The collection draws its inspiration from novels and poetry, naming its bottlings after the work of a leading author from the region it explores. This edition is devoted to Welsh whisky, with four versions from Penderyn Distillery. These single malts are named after the titles of some of the most famous and ancient medieval manuscripts of Welsh poetry. The Black Book of Carmarthen is a manuscript dating to the middle of the 13th century
PRODUCTION:
Bottling: 2023
Cask Number: Single Cask n°22/2004
Cask Type: Ex-Bourbon
Age: 19 Years
ABV: 56.6%
Number of Bottles: 148
Opened in 2000, Penderyn, of the town of the same name, is the first Welsh distillery to produce whisky in over a century. The last Welsh manufacturer of this spirit closed its doors in 1903. The distillery is equipped with two Faraday stills and two more traditional 2,500-liter pot stills and work with the Laureate variety of barley which is grown and malted on England’s east coast. This version distilled in 2004, was aged in ex-Bourbon casks and exhibits a generous, fruit-forward character with a great spiciness. The Black Book is a collection of 9th–12th century poetry falling into various categories: religious and secular subjects, and odes of praise and of mourning.
TASTING NOTES:
Nose: Buttery and tangy. Characterized by notes of tropical fruits (coconut, mango), the first nose evolves into white pear, salted butter caramel and bergamot scents. Allowed to breathe, bay leaf and chilli notes appear.
Palate: Generous and spicy. The attack elegantly starts on the same tropical aroma palette (pineapple, papaya). On the mid-palate, it becomes more woody (mahogany), with candied apricot notes and Cayenne pepper at the end of the palate.
Finish: Fresh and fruity. At the start of the finish, flavours of chlorophyll, mango and pineapple highlight the fruity evolution. Revealing orgeat syrup notes, the empty glass returns to a great freshness with sultanas notes.