Style: Malty and Dry spices
Nose:
Fresh ginger, cut grass followed by dry spices and malt cake. Plenty of dryness, nutmeg with a touch of turmeric. Lemon balm and carrot cake as sweetness emerges. Peppermint grip is still pretty strong from the side, needs some breathing even it is around 50%. Soft tropical fruits and aloe vera honey towards the end.
Palate:
Trio of malt, dry spice and earthy tone playing on the palate. Big slice of malt cake served with plenty of dry spice mixed into it. More nutmeg, fresh almonds outlining subtle vanilla, yellow flower and ester fruits. Slightly creamy, beer batter cupcakes. Earthy tone ringing again with beetroot and ginger slices. Milk chocolate finish.
Finish:
Malt syrup trickling, milk-turning-to-dark chocolate while tropical fruits treading over gently. Sweet and calm finish.
Thoughts:
My first Allt-a-Bhaine, quite malty and earthy with less fruits involved which is not very common for a Speyside distillery, probably not a profile that everyone will grow to like it… Very devoted to blends I heard, but this little gem is quite easy drinking once you blow of the spice. Fairly nice.
✓ [Recommended if you like the style/ distillery]
[50.2% • 2015 Bottled • 1993 Distilled • Independent Bottling • Single Cask • Cask Strength • Non Coloured • Non Chill Filtered]
-Esmond
Tasted at Whisky & Alement, Melbourne.