Peated Allt-a-Bhainne is increasingly becoming a ‘thing’ and it’s rapidly moving onto my radar. This bottling – exclusive to offers – has spent 7 years in a 2nd fill ex-bourbon barrel.
Nose: Lemon peels, rock pools and chiselled cliffs mix it up with some interesting spicing – curry leaf, garam masala and smoked salt. Industrial gas vapours, graphite and metals are joined by vegetal smoke – peated leaf salad, burning mosses and melting tar/felt roofing. Water adds bromine and fish tanks together with potpourri and chopped kitchen herbs.
Taste: Bold and expressive – combining gooseberries and tart green apples with quartz mines and salt pits. Felt and tar are joined by coal dust, barbeque briquettes and burning logs whilst lemon curd sits with bracken and leaf mulch. Industry meets forest fire. Reduction adds juicy apple together with smooth rocks, gravel and paving slabs.
Finish: Long with fading lemon zest and hints of smoked fish.
Packed full of inland peated character, with some thought-provoking industrial and alluvial spins. Bright, full of vigour and surprisingly drinkable at its pokey bottled ABV.