Almost done with these belated reviews from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society ("SMWS") October outturn. Sorry to all, it's been a busy month. This is a 10 year Allt-a-Bhainne, whose single cask offerings are always wacky as hell. Peated, botted at 62.1% ABV after a decade in a second-fill barrel, I am willing to bet it will be quite crazy.
Here are the official notes:
A genie emerged from the bottle – wafting ethereal, fragrant, heathery smoke everywhere, but with a genie-al smile that showed his sweet, gentle nature – whipped cream and honey, lemon, lime, apple and tonka beans. The palate had a similar duality – sweet melon and pineapple, golden caster sugar, shortbread and cinnamon buns against pencil shavings and medicinal, shamanic smoke. The reduced nose uncovered ash, Germolene and herbs tossed in the kiln, with some white wine, tangerine and ice tea acidity. The lip-smacking palate now found wine gums, rhubarb rock, lemongrass, liquorice and eucalyptus – a dram of unusual character, with a charming and disarming side.
"Duality" is a good word for this. I really like the mention of "shamanic smoke," which is surprisingly imaginative. Let's see:
Nose: Peat, cedar, pencils, smoke, salt, tar, iodine, surprising streak of vanilla sweetness.
Mouthfeel: Very viscous.
Palate: Industrial oil, pencil shaving astringency, coal smoke, weird floral and fragrant around the edges of the mouth.
Finish: "Garden" - peat, flowers, roots, earth, iodine. Long.
Verdict: Another weird-but-interesting offering from Allt-a-Bhainne. I am curious what something like this taste like after 15-20 years, and lets the peat die down a bit. At 10 years, it's pretty brash and wild, but good if you liked peated/industrial whisky. It's so strange that this comes from the heart of Speyside territory, in Dufftown!
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