The Distillates Michel Couvreur Tasting

The Distillates Tasting #16: The Art of Aging Whisky with Michel Couvreur

We have a truly unique opportunity to explore the cellars of Michel Couvreur and the touch a maitre de chai brings to the careful aging of spirits. These aren’t newcomers. They have been nurturing world class whisky since 1978. Which is a pretty solid run for a startup. When we think of independent bottlers, there are the eagle eyed pickers and the master blenders. But there is another category of artisan who plays the long game. If you asked him directly, Jean-Arnaud, the maitre de chai at Michel Couvreur would not consider themselves an independent bottler. He has finite control over the life of the product.

He directly sources only new distillate (Scotland, Ireland, Guadeloupe, Martinique…) and brings it home. Borrowing from their long history in the world of wine, he has access to one of distilling’s most coveted commodities: real, incredibly high quality, and very old casks. And then he carefully shapes the spirit throughout its life in their cellars in Bordeaux.

A massive thanks to Dowon Lee, mensch that he is, we have been given a very rare opportunity to pilfer the coffers and hang out and talk about aging and wood. Our tasting also has 3 special surprises. Due to the humidity of their cellars, you will rarely if ever see a release from Michel Couvreur over 54%. And we have three of them. I love a good warehouse tasting.

Tasting Lineup

• Single Malt Whisky 2010 Colheita Port Pipe @ 52%
• Single Malt Whisky 2015 Fino Cask @ 56%
• Single Malt Whisky 2015 Manzanilla Butt @ 51%
• Single Malt Whisky 2015 Pedro Ximenez @ 58%
• Single Malt Whisky 2016 Moscatel Cask @ 61%

HOW TO PARTICIPATE
Price: 35,00 €  (German VAT Included) plus shipping from Germany (between 5€ to 45€ depending on where you are located).

Set: 5 samples @ 50ml - 30 sets available

Timing: tasting Late Oct / Early Nov (ish), to be scheduled as soon as it sells out and we coordinate.

Pay: Order in the Armagnac.de shop :)