Michel Couvreur Hexanobile French Blended Malt Whisky 70 cl 46%

Somewhere under Bouze-lès-Beaune, tunnels run into the Burgundian rock, cold and damp and threaded with springs. Old sherry casks have sat down there for more than eight years, slowly working on French malt. The box says the village lies halfway between the Andalusian vineyards and the Scottish Highlands. Fair enough.

The Expert's Description

Michel Couvreur Hexanobile is a French Blended Malt Whisky matured in old sherry casks and bottled at 46%.

This is a blend of malt from three different French distilleries, which sets it apart from the rest of the Couvreur range. Most of his whiskies begin life as Scottish spirit shipped to Burgundy for maturation. Hexanobile was distilled in France too, and it is the house's first fully French cuvée. The malts spent more than eight years in old sherry casks in the cellar at Bouze-lès-Beaune, and the casks have held four styles of sherry: fino, Pedro Ximénez, amontillado and oloroso.

It is bottled by gravity alone and without filtration. No pumps, no filters, just what comes out of the casks.

The house is named after Michel Couvreur, a Belgian wine merchant who settled in Burgundy in the 1950s. He held that oak and wine do the real work of turning grain spirit into whisky, and that sherry and barley get along beautifully. Hexanobile is that idea in a bottle, only with French spirit instead of Scottish.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Dried figs, candied grapes, honey and sherry. Give it time in the glass and walnut, almond and beeswax appear, along with gentle spice and a hint of blond tobacco.

Palate

Soft and silky, sweet with caramel and candied fruit. Cocoa and mild spice follow, then an old, slightly oxidised sherry note. A lively acidity keeps it from getting heavy.

Finish

Long and warm, with coffee, cocoa, walnut and dried fruit, and a faint oxidative edge that lingers.

Specifications

Name: Hexanobile
Distillery: Three French distilleries
Bottler: Michel Couvreur
Region/Country: Burgundy, France
Type: French Blended Malt Whisky
Age: Over 8 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Old sherry casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
EAN no.: 3760150951375

Flavour Profile

Sherry-matured · Dried fruit · Walnut · Caramel · Spicy

Did you know?

The box describes Bouze-lès-Beaune as "appropriately named". Say it out loud in English and you will see why.

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Frequently asked questions about Michel Couvreur Hexanobile

What does Michel Couvreur Hexanobile taste like?

Sweet, soft and full of dried fruit. Figs, honey and caramel lead, with walnut, cocoa and an old sherry note behind them. The finish is long and ends on coffee.

Is Hexanobile distilled in Scotland?

No, it is distilled in France. That sets it apart from most other Michel Couvreur whiskies, which start as Scottish spirit. Hexanobile blends malt from three French distilleries and is matured in Burgundy. If you want more from the same country, have a look at our French whisky selection.

Why is Hexanobile matured in sherry casks in Burgundy?

Because Michel Couvreur believed the cask matters more than the spirit. Sherry casks add fruit, nuts and spice, and the cold, damp rock cellars at Bouze-lès-Beaune give slow, steady maturation. For more on what happens inside the wood, read our article on sherry casks.

How should you serve Hexanobile?

Neat and without ice, so the sherry notes can come through. A tulip-shaped glass concentrates the aroma best. We have a good selection of whisky glasses if you need one.

What food goes with Hexanobile?

Dark chocolate, walnut tart and aged Comté are the obvious picks. All three echo what is in the glass: cocoa, nuts and dried fruit.

Who was Michel Couvreur?

A Belgian wine merchant who settled in Burgundy in the 1950s and later became a whisky producer. He matured Scottish spirit in his own rock cellars at Bouze-lès-Beaune and insisted on old sherry casks. Hexanobile is the house's first fully French cuvée.