Review by: Raygun

Aerstone is a single malt brand from Ailsa Bay, a new distillery (2007) owned by William Grant & Sons, owners of Balvenie and Glenfiddich as well as a number of blends. Ailsa Bay is a malt distillery located within the Girvan grain site, which used to house Ladyburn. Ailsa Bay produces both peated and unpeated malt, but not too many single malt expressions. Probably most of it goes into Grant’s blends. Reviewed from a sample. Notes from initial blind tasting, with additions in italics a few days later after reveal. Rested about 15 minutes. Thanks to zSolaris.

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Distillery: Aerstone (Ailsa Bay)

Bottler: Aerstone (Ailsa Bay)

Region/style: Lowland single malt Scotch

ABV: 40%. 

Age: 10 years. 

Cask type: Unknown

Color: 1.0 deep copper.

Price: Around $30

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Nose: Get some peat here. More than Benromach, less than Ardbeg. Also some wet dog. A little earthy, and just enough dried fruit to make me think a sherry cask has been in the area at one point. Very peaty indeed. Some coal tar.  

Palate: Hmm. This is a little odd. Medium peat, which is normal enough. Some mint and a bit of anise. Caramel, toast, and again a touch of dried fruit. Something almost burnt about it, which I don’t love. Low-mid 40s I’d say. Stronger peat than I’d first thought. I do think there’s a touch of sherry influence.

Finish: Very little oak. Don’t think there’s much age here, and possibly refill casks. Some cotton candy and a little artificial sweetener. The herbal flavors are toned down, but still tastes burnt somehow. 

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Guess: Heck if I know. Scotch and not very old. Thinking 10-12 years. Quite possibly a blend. The artificial sweetener flavor can come from grain. At least a vatting of casks; there seems to be a little sherry present. Around 43%. I can’t think of too many noticeably peated blends, so I’m thinking JW. Black maybe? I assume Double Black would be even more peated, and I’d hope Green would be better. 

Conclusion: Not great. Drinkable, but only just. The kind of thing where if I had a bottle, I’d mostly use it for cocktails. Just not worth drinking neat. 

Post-reveal thoughts: Pretty good guess. Young, peated, and low ABV. I can see why I thought it might be a blend. First I’ve had of Ailsa Bay, and it’s not something I’ll be seeking out after this. I remember reading somewhere that Aerstone was designed as competition for supermarket whisky brands, which pretty much says everything. It’s cheap, I can say that much. 

Buy a bottle? Nope 

Final Score: 57

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Scoring Legend:

• 95-100: As good as it gets. Jaw-dropping, eye-widening, unforgettable whisky. (Convalmore 36)
• 90-94: Sublime, a personal favorite in its category. (Bruichladdich Black Art 4.1)
• 85-89: Excellent, a standout dram. (Ledaig 13 Amontillado)
• 80-84: Quite good. Quality stuff. (Tomatin 18)
• 75-79: Decent whisky worth tasting. (Glen Scotia 15)
• 70-74: Meh. It’s definitely drinkable, but it can do better. (Aultmore 12)
• 60-69: Not so good. I might not turn down a glass if I needed a drink. (Glenmorangie 10)
• 50-59: Save it for mixing. (Old Pulteney 12)
• 0-49: Blech. (Muirhead’s Silver Seal 16)