Maison Benjamin Kuentz - Anthem Imports

Benjamin Kuentz, on the threshold of a new adventure: that of a French whisky publishing house

An innovative approach driven by the desire to shake up the codes, the approach and the flavours specific to the world of whisky, while preserving the best of the tradition. An epic story is being written, that of a resolutely French whisky, free of all tradition and always carrying a delicate fantasy. But to be told to the greatest number of people, a good story needs an editor: Benjamin Kuentz. He is also an editor and author of his whiskies, the starting point of which is the writing of a recipe in order to give an account of sensations or olfactory memories, of deep, authentic and surprising encounters. A story is more beautiful when it is shared. Farmers, grain growers, distillers and cellar masters collaborate with Benjamin Kuentz to produce whiskies whose protagonists are passion and a taste for fine work. The whiskies of the House of Benjamin Kuentz therefore have literary roots and the poetry of the words of a story written by four hands

Rating:

Whisky Advocate 2022. 90 points.

Intriguing use of Cognac, Italian vermouth and ginger brandy casks; the nose has lemoon meringue pie, delicate florals, white grape, candied orange, green banana, herbs, ground pepper, mild paprika, tobacco, and new pencils. The palate shows sweet dried fruits, malt, light vanilla, caramels, ginger loaf, peppery spice, and a dry finish of bitter peels, turmeric, and pepper.

Type of Spirit

Single Malt Whisky

Mash Bill

100% Barley

Casks

Ex-Cognac casks, Ex Vermouth Casks and ex-ginger spirit casks

Proof

90

ROUND OF FEVERISH SPICES AND RIPE FRUIT. A COLOUR, A TEMPO, THOSE OF SPICY NOUBA, A VELVET WHISKY, GENEROUS, RHYTHMIC. Delicate, lively, smoky, fruity and slightly peaty at the same time, Latin at heart, oriental in body. Its nose is surprisingly lively. Woody green cereal notes, fleshed out with vanilla essence and candied orange peel. In the mouth, it is a long moment of suavidad. Soft and supple, a slow attack. Vanilla again, mixed with sensual spices, turmeric and sweet paprika, are shaken with a zest of bitterness. It is even more striking in the Old Fashioned version.

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Rating:

Whisky Advocate 2022. 92 points.

Thisline of quaffable contemporary whiskies is sourced from accross the country, and this expression uses cognac cask-finished whisky from Charentes in western France. Cool white fruit, summer meadow, freshly mowed lawn, lemon zest, fruit flavored water, and white pepper aromas. The palate is juicy with lemon, creamy vanilla, malt, fudge, and honeycomb, then tanguy clementine, cracked black pepper-corn, candied orange, and toffee. This is high-quality, refined, and rather irresistible.

Whisky Bible 2022 . 87.5 pts. N22.5 t22 f21 b22 An outline feintiness gets the oils all in a dither.

These work better on the nose, where a sticky getnly spiced kumquat note quiter impresses, than on the ultimately austere palate. Once past the chewy and intense malt on delivery – which appear to ahave a monopoly on the sugars – we are into slightly roughhouse territory. Still, the one thing that can’t be levelled at this malt is dullness. Nor technical perfection. 45%

IT HAS THE FRESHNESS OF A GARDEN SHELTERED FROM THE SUMMER. A festival of floral notes and cereal flavours makes Végétal Musette a whisky of wild youth and vivacity, free to flirt with a sparkling water. On the nose, a swing of malt flavours, wet grass, Granny Smith, crunchy pear and tropical vanilla. The palate, unctuous and light, gently abandons the spice and revives around eucalyptus, lemon and green pepper. Its finish concedes a touch of warmth, between honey and dried malt.