Review by: Raygun
Another new experience; never had Allt-a-Bhainne before. One of a few new distilleries built in the 70s, 1975 in this case. Now owned by Chivas Brothers, and mostly going into their blends. There are some IB single malts, but no OBs as far as I know. Most of its production is unpeated, but it does make some heavily peated as well, as this clearly is. Initially tasted blind, with additional notes after the reveal in italics. Thanks to Whiskery Turnip for the sample. Rested about 15 minutes.
Distillery: Allt-a-Bhainne
Bottler: SMWS
Region/style: Speyside single malt whisky
ABV: 63.8%. Cask strength.
Age: Seven years. Distilled on November 11, 2011.
Cask type: Second-fill bourbon
Color: 0.4 jonquil. Natural color and chill-filtered.
Nose: Thought it was peated at first sniff, but now I’m not so sure. Buttered popcorn, caramel, and sage. Get some lemon with time. Sort of dusty. More lemony with water.
Palate: OK, it is peated. About Caol Ila or Port Charlotte level, I’d say. Buttered popcorn, grilled shrimp, and a mineral side that definitely reminds me of Caol Ila. Nice saltiness. Conjuring up a rocky beach with a driftwood fire. OK, now I notice the heat. Caramel comes back. Otherwise not much different.
Finish: Caramel, popcorn, and a touch of lemon cake. More pastry flavor than I’d noticed on the palate. Don’t get much oak. Pretty straightforward. Sweeter with water.
Guess: I always get in trouble second-guessing myself, so I’ll go with my first impression. IB Caol Ila in a bourbon cask, 12 years-ish, and around 50% ABV.
Post-reveal thoughts: Kind of stunned by the ABV. My guesses on that have been off lately, but this was a big gap. Otherwise, I guess I was OK. Never had Allt-a-Bhannie, so no shock that I didn’t guess it. Even younger than I thought, but the simplicity and lack of oak are thus accounted for.
Conclusion: Surprised I didn’t notice the ABV at first, because it was quite hot the second time. Calmed down with water. Still haven’t had unpeated Allt-a-Bhainne, but the peated stuff is not bad at all. Reminds me of Caol Ila, obviously. This is kind of one-dimensional, as I find young peat often is. Knowing SMWS, I expect it’s pricier than comparable young, brash peat, but it would fill that niche pretty well.
Score: 74
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)
Malt Runners 