Origin: Speyside (Scotland)
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Strength: 57.3%ABV
Ageing cask: Ex-Wine finishing
Chillfiltered: No
Added coloring: No
Owner: Alistair Walker Whisky Company
Average price: € 100.00
Official website: www.alistairwalkerwhisky.com
Vote: 81/100
Fishing through the February 2024 releases of bottler Alistair Walker, here is an uncommon Balmenach, a Speyside distillery officially established in 1824 (although it has been distilling illicitly since well before that), now owned by Inver House which has been using it for its blends since 1997.
A very classic style, and therefore sought after for blends, that has no bottlings of its own and can only be explored through independent bottlings like this one.
Single cask of 298 bottles as always after an undisclosed initial maturation, from an ex-Bordeaux cask from the Moulis-en-Médoc area.
Tasting Notes
Lots and lots of vinosity on the nose, turning to gooseberries and sultanas with berries (blueberries, currants, strawberries), candied lemon, nutmeg and balsamic vinegar. Beneath this oenological blanket is a softer, sweeter layer of fruit (peach, dried apricot), praline almonds, candyfloss, caramel. Incisive.
In the mouth it’s again the triumph of red fruit with a compact and rough texture, with the less overpowering vinous accents that soon shift to darker tones (plum, blackberry, liquorice) acquiring candied ginger, chocolate, brown sugar, nuts (pecans, almonds) and a slight saline hint.
The finish is quite long and spicy, with red fruits, plum, sultanas, chocolate, sweet liquorice and nuts.
The cask devoured the distillate, leaving little room for nuance to emphasise its overpowering vinosity. It doesn’t lack some depth, however, but the mark left by the finishing is decidedly muscular.