Ending our March 2022 coverage with a peated Allt-a-Bhainne. Clocking in at 59.4% this one has been matured in a 2nd fill ex-bourbon barrel for 10 years.
Nose: Wellington boots join unlit fireplace coals for the merest hint of smoke. Pinecones, ferns and brackens sit with lemon gel whilst meats are airdried alongside clove oil and scorched kitchen garden herbs. Took a while to pull all these notes out – it’s a little shy at first. Reduction offers gentle ashiness, field flowers and a drop of balsamic alongside canvas sacks and plasticated rainwear.
Taste: An agreeable slightly oily arrival of smoked apples, spiced toffee and gentle burnt leaves. Spent coals and pumice stones sit alongside sugared lemon peels whilst the meatiness from the nose translates across as Serrano ham. Water adds considerable sweetness (too much?!) with ginger and chilli spice along for the ride with oak bark.
Finish: Medium to long. Cider apples and earthy spices – together with suggestions of roast dinner.
Whilst the nose of this Allt-a-Bhainne requires a touch of patience, the palate offers far more instant gratification. A little too sweet when dilute, but overall there’s plenty to enjoy here – particular from those who prefer their peated whiskies to be soft and caressing as opposed to hard and imposing.