Michel Couvreur Cap a Pie Release 2018
With the Cap à Pie, Michel Couvreur expands his portfolio with a bold new blend. This assemblage combines whiskies aged between 4 and 12 years, all of which spent an additional four years finishing in ex-sherry casks. Bottled at 45% ABV and without an age statement, this whisky keeps its origins a secret—but the influence of its maturation is unmistakable.
Tasting Notes
Nose
The first impression is surprising—espresso? For a moment, you might think someone mixed up whisky and coffee. Intense roasted aromas dominate, followed by a slightly musty cellar note, nutty tones, and a touch of dried dates. Leather, dark chocolate, and a hint of licorice complete this complex nose. It’s not designed to please—this one challenges the drinker.
Palate
On the palate, Cap à Pie continues its dry and earthy journey. Oak is front and center, joined by date-like sweetness and a hint of dark berry fruitiness. Particularly striking is the impression of fermented grapes, which lends the whisky a wine-like character. The sherry cask influence is undeniable—but expressed more through depth and spice than sweetness.
Finish
The finish stays true to the overall profile: dry, spicy, and oaky. A touch of pepper brings a subtle heat, before a faint mustiness echoes back—like a final glance into an old cellar filled with wine casks.
Thoughts
Marcel 77/100
This is not a whisky for collectors, but for connoisseurs who crave an unusual, robust tasting experience. Cap à Pie surprises with its dry, almost rustic character and challenges the brave to embrace its dark cellar aromas. If you’re into sherry bombs, you’d better look elsewhere – this dram is honest, distinctive, and definitely a conversation starter at your next tasting.
Sascha 75/100
The Michel Couvreur Cap à Pie impresses with its complex structure and the successful interplay of dry sherry notes and earthy oak. Despite its quirky mustiness, it remains balanced and reveals an intriguing depth that is well supported at 45% ABV. Not an easy introduction, but a fascinating blend for lovers of sophisticated whiskies with character.
Value for Money: Fair
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Why does Michel Couvreur not state an age on the Cap à Pie 2018 release?
Cap à Pie is a blend of whiskies aged between 4 and 12 years, all of which have undergone a four-year sherry finish. Michel Couvreur deliberately omits an age statement (NAS) to highlight the complexity of the blend without being confined to a single age.
What role does the sherry finish play in this whisky?
The minimum four-year finish in ex-sherry casks is a defining factor for Cap à Pie. It imparts spicy depth, dry sweetness, and complex aromas of dark berries, leather, and spices, without becoming overly sweet.
Why does the flavor sometimes remind one of fermented grapes and wine?
The wine-like character comes from the sherry finish, which gives the whisky a fruity note reminiscent of dark berries and fermented grapes. This nuance adds a special depth and complexity that sets Cap à Pie apart from classic whiskies.