Review by: Whiskery Turnip
Distillery: Ailsa Bay.
Bottler: Distillery.
Region: Scotland/Lowland Single Malt.
ABV: 40%.
Age: 10 years. Bottled in 2018.
Cask type: Oak.
Nose: Smoked oily fish and caramelized teriyaki sauce, hints of pineapple on the grill with burning pine, hints of more medicinal herbs, rubber sole leather shoes and cigar box lent a classy vibe.
Palate: Light body, soft smoke with burning pine wood, hints of cordite and camphor, grilled peaches, subtle tobacco and herbs, essence of smoked fish with hints of lemon.
Finish: Medium-length finish with toasted herbs and old fireworks.
Mental Image: 2 AM Party Clean Up.
Conclusion: The aroma was beautiful, and the flavor profile featured some nice complexity. I would have scored this a bit higher if it were not so light on the palate. The whisky felt lighter or more watery the more I drank it— there was no crescendo to something fuller or oilier; instead, it all felt more washed out over time. The finish remained lovely, and I appreciated how long it clung to the palate, which was a surprise due to the tiptoeing nature of the palate.
I initially tasted this blind and thought it reminded me of a sherried Kilchoman at maybe 43-46%; I have had a few malts from that Islay distillery with a beautifully complex aroma but a washed-out palate. Looking at the list of possibilities my buddy provided, I am not sure anything sounds right. Maybe Glenglassaugh or Kemet? However, I cannot imagine either of those having quite this type of smoke.
Wrong again! I totally forgot about Ailsa Bay, the malt distillery hidden inside Girvan. This was only my second Ailsa Bay, so maybe I can be forgiven for forgetting it exists, perhaps even more so since this was under the Aerstone 10-Year Land Cask label.
Honestly, I am impressed. Maybe the score doesn’t seem that way, but I enjoyed the aroma and the long finish. If the flavors and mouthfeel were just dialed up a little bit further, this would have been an absolute delight.
Final Score: 72.
Scoring Legend:
- 95-100: As good as it gets. Jaw-dropping, eye-widening, unforgettable whisky.
- 90-94: Sublime, a personal favorite in its category.
- 85-89: Excellent, a standout dram.
- 80-84: Quite good. Quality stuff.
- 75-79: Decent whisky worth tasting.
- 70-74: Meh. It’s definitely drinkable, but it can do better.
- 60-69: Not so good. I might not turn down a glass if I needed a drink.
- 50-59: Save it for mixing.
- 0-49: Blech.
Malt Runners 