Balmenach is one of those "hidden" distilleries that generates spirit that is almost exclusively used in blends; in this case, MacArthur's and Hanky Bannister. It's owned, ultimately, by Inver House, who also owns Balblair, Knockdhu/anCnoc, Speyburn, and Old Pulteney. There is no formal single malt release from the Balmenach distillery, although I have seen (and tried) some independent bottles of it. This young-and-sprightly Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) 7 year bottling spent all its life in an ex-bourbon cask, and is bottled at a wonderfully vigorous 60.6%. SMWS nicknames this "Trekking in the Jungle" and some of the official tasting notes include cilantro mint chutney, jalapeno, garlic (!), vegetable samosas (!!), and tom yam soup (!!!). Can it be so? Let's find out...
Nose: This is, indeed, quite herbal - but also sweetish, with a backbone of that distinct Speyside pear note I so often find. Mint/menthol, parsley, green peppers, hot peppers (ok, I'll accept jalapeno). No garlic, though.
The ultimate result is something akin to Thin Mints cookies atop a bed of fresh garden herbs. With the addition of some water, I get a scent like those Andes mints my grandmother had laying around in small dishes: a warm, minty-chocolate scent that is informed by some herbal notes and some fruity notes (still pear, but now unripe).
Mouthfeel: Wonderfully thick, swirly, silky.
Palate: Quickly distinguishes itself from the nose by a chocolate boost: mint chocolate chip ice cream; the official SMWS note is "Kendal mint cake," which is pretty close. Sweet mint for days and days. Chocolate splashes.
A distinct pear flesh note, that counterbalances the rest a bit. A slight savory angle at the end of the development: perhaps this is the samosas? Quite pleasant - and this from someone who doesn't love mint desserts; this is quite refreshing and "crushable."
With water, a nice sweet vanilla note comes out, and something like pastry sheets; with a bit more water, some bubble-gum! The classic pink Bubble Yum variety.
My friend Rob Martin, co-conspirator on many a Scotch journey, nails this palate with "chocolate zucchini bread."
Finish: While I never did quite get the note of tom yum soup, the finish is both faintly herbal and quite sweet, although a bit short-lived.
Verdict: This was an interesting bottle - despite the heavy heavy mint-and-herbs description from SMWS, it proved even herbier and mintier than I expected. The SMWS notes describe a certain savory element that I didn't quite get - garlic and Thai soup - but I found this young, sprightly (and it is certainly both of those) spirit to be quite refreshing: I'm not sure I've ever encountered so much sweet mint in one dram. Fascinating bottle from a little-known distillery.
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