Review by: Whiskery Turnip
Distillery: Annandale.
Bottler: Distillery.
Region: Scotland/Lowland Single Malt.
ABV: 59.7%.
Age: 6 Years. Distilled in 2015. Bottled in 2022.
Cask type: First Fill Oloroso Sherry Butt.
Nose: A big and heady peat and cask combination; coming to it blind the peat stood out even more with charred wood, earth, and meaty smoked bacon; a malty sweetness poked through with slightly burned biscuits and gooey cinnamon rolls; a touch funky at times, rather like a wet dog, though blind it was more traditional rubber with a touch of nuttiness.
Palate: Medium-bodied, sweet and spicy with cinnamon and cherry candies; an oily and slightly acrid smoke carried on toward old tires, dusty earth, and a touch of olive brine.
Finish: Long and ashy with cinnamon candies and a touch of licorice.
Mental Image: Fire Department Bake Sale.
Conclusion: A new distillery for me! For the past few decades not much of anyone has produced peated malt in the Lowlands. Ailsa Bay, the malt distillery set up inside of the larger Girvan grain distillery in 2007, first began producing peated malt, but it has now been joined by a few others including Glasgow Distillery and Annandale.
This made for a lovely introduction to the distillery with the combination of peat and sherry showcasing quite a bit of what you expect to find and just a touch of cask funk. It reminded quite a bit of Ardnamurchan and during a blind tasting that is what I guessed it was. I do not think it is quite at the same level, but it is not far off either. An impressive start!
Final Score: 79.
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 