Michel Couvreur Fleeting Two Casks

Review by: Raygun

There’s been a single cask version or two of Fleeting, but this one is a combination of two casks. For those who are unfamiliar with them, Michel Couvreur buys distillate from Scotland and ages it in their own casks in their caves in Burgundy. This one doesn’t specify single malt, but with a single distillation date it just about has to be. Malt for sure, because it says distilled from Golden Promise malt. Matured for over 10 years in two Colheita port pipes, then bottled on February 3, 2021. Colheita port is essentially a vintage tawny port, aged a minimum of seven years. Not the usual sort of thing for aging whisky. 2000 bottles (port pipes are big). Rested for 10 minutes.

Distillery: Unknown

Bottler: Michel Couvreur

Region/style: Distilled in Scotland but aged in France. Scottish/French malt, I guess? 

ABV: 54%

Age: 10 years. Distilled on October 13, 2010. Aged in Burgundy and bottled on February 3, 2021. 

Cask type: Two port pipes, 2000 bottles. Port pipes are big but even so these must have been unusually large because they usually top out at 650 liters from what I’ve read. Not enough for 2000 bottles at 750ml. 

Color: 1.4 tawny. Natural color. Non-chill-filtered.

Price: $80

Nose: Cherry pie and maple syrup. Something smells a little sharp, but mostly it smells like a bakery. Fruit leather, cranberry sauce, and raisins.

Palate: Heavy on the port for sure; no surprise with a full maturation. Yet not as sweet as that implies. Lots of cherries and raspberries, dipped in chocolate. Maple syrup, which is a little strange. Powerfully rich. Does feel a touch young, but I like the flavor combination.

Finish: Cherry pie, vanilla, and some cinnamon. Raspberry sauce. Tandoori chicken spice. Still lots of fruit and sweetness, but it’s got an undercurrent of spice. And austere. Slightly metallic.

Conclusion: Peat and port is one of my favorite combinations, but unpeated port maturations often end up one-dimensional. This is port heavy for sure, yet actually not as sweet as I thought it might be. Lots of fruit, and a nice touch of spice to bring a different flavor. Heavily tannic, but with the sweetness and richness it turns into something interesting. Does conjure an image of lingering over port and cigars after dinner.  

Buy a bottle? Not had much like this. Not something I want all the time, but it scratches a specific itch at times. I might.

Score: 77

Scoring Legend:

  • 95-100: As good as it gets. Jaw-dropping, eye-widening, unforgettable whisky.
  • 90-94: Sublime, a personal favorite in its category. (Kavalan Solist Manzanilla)
  • 85-89: Excellent, a standout dram. (Kavalan Solist Vinho Barrique)
  • 80-84: Quite good. Quality stuff. (Green Spot Chateau Leoville Barton)
  • 75-79: Decent whisky worth tasting. (Amrut Peated CS)
  • 70-74: Meh. It’s definitely drinkable, but it can do better. (Taketsuru Pure Malt)
  • 60-69: Not so good. I might not turn down a glass if I needed a drink. (Hakushu Distiller’s Reserve)
  • 50-59: Save it for mixing. (Bushmills 10 Malt)
  • 0-49: Blech.

Published by Raygun

Unknown's avatar

I drank Scotch occasionally (mostly at family gatherings) for years, but started getting more interested after an introduction and tasting from a Scottish acquaintance. That led to buying my first bottle (Highland Park 12). Now 600+ spirits later, Scotch is still my first love, but I drink other whisky and dabble in brandy as well.

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