Michel Couvreur 2011/2021 VJ Maturation 10 years old Single Malt Whisky 50 cl 48%

Some whiskies cross borders before they're ready for the bottle. Michel Couvreur 2011/2021 VJ Maturation is one of them - Scotch malt given its final, defining maturation in a French Jura wine cask.

Expert's description

Michel Couvreur 2011/2021 VJ Maturation 10 Year Old is a Single Malt Whisky matured in a Jura Vin Jaune cask and bottled at 48 percent.

The whisky was distilled on 15 February 2011 and bottled on 22 June 2021, giving it exactly 10 years of total maturation. Vin Jaune is a distinctive, oxidative white wine from the Jura region in eastern France, and the cask leaves a dry, nutty character rarely found in Scotch-based malt whisky. Only 3,000 bottles were filled of this release.

Michel Couvreur started out as a wine merchant in Burgundy before whisky caught his attention in 1978. His fresh filling method, where sherry casks are emptied and refilled with whisky on the very same day, means the wood is still damp with sherry when the whisky arrives.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose offers walnut and a light oxidative tang, backed by honey, dried apple and a hint of yeast - a clear sign that a wine cask has left its mark.

Palate

The palate is dry and nutty with sherry and apple, spiced with a touch of pepper and a faint bitter edge reminiscent of citrus peel.

Finish

The finish is long and dry, with lingering walnut and a hint of herbs that slowly gives way to pure malt.

Specifications

Name: VJ Maturation
Distillery: Michel Couvreur
Region/Country: France
Type: Single Malt Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 48 %
Size: 50 CL
Cask type: Jura Vin Jaune cask
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2011
Bottled: 2021
Number of bottles: 3000
Edition: VJ Maturation
EAN no.: 3760150950361

Flavour profile

Cask-driven · Dry · Nutty · Complex

Did you know?

Vin Jaune is made under a yeast veil called 'voile', which protects the wine from oxygen during ageing - a technique reminiscent of Spanish sherry production, but unique to Jura. It makes this cask a rare and original whisky finish.

Frequently asked questions about Michel Couvreur 2011/2021 VJ Maturation 10 år Single Malt Whisky 50 cl 48%

What is a Jura Vin Jaune cask?

It's a cask that previously held Vin Jaune, an oxidative white wine from the Jura region of France. The wine gives the cask a dry, nutty character that the whisky absorbs during its final maturation.

How old is this whisky?

The whisky was distilled on 15 February 2011 and bottled on 22 June 2021, giving a total maturation of 10 years.

How many bottles were released of this edition?

3,000 bottles were filled of Michel Couvreur 2011/2021 VJ Maturation.

Is this whisky sweet or dry in style?

It's predominantly dry with a nutty cask character, balanced only by a hint of honey and ripe apple on the nose.

How should this whisky be served?

Pour it into a nosing glass at room temperature, ideally with a drop of water, to let the nutty, oxidative notes from the wine cask fully open up.

Is it worth it compared to other French whiskies?

The combination of Michel Couvreur's fresh filling method and a genuine Jura Vin Jaune cask makes this a rare finish you won't find at many other producers.