Allt-a-Bhainne 20 Year (2000), Signatory Vintage Cask 3
Whisky: Allt-a-Bhainne 20 Year (2000), Signatory Vintage Cask 3
Country/Region: Scotland/Speyside
ABV: 52.4%
Cask: Hogshead, Fresh Sherry Butt (8 mo.)
Age: 20 Years (Distilled 26 July 2000, Bottled 19 April 2021)
Nose: Stewed fruits, cinnamon, anise, baking spices, cola, peppery and spirited, herbal and slightly medicinal (cough drops)
Palate: Medium-bodied, woody and intensely sherried, stewed fruits and baking spices, licorice and anise, cherries.
Finish: Medium-length and drying with a tannic astringency and woody fruit pits.
Score: 6 (78)
Mental Image: Long Shadow of the Sherry Cask
Narrative & Notes: Stewed fruits and cola provided a sticky, sweet introduction with Twizzlers, cherry coke, and cinnamon red hots. Stone fruits poached with cinnamon, anise, and nutmeg appeared with some peppery spirit— this was all sherry cask, all the time. A touch medicinal at times, with antiseptic ointments and herbal cough drops. Medium-bodied on the palate, the flavors were cask-driven and woody with plenty of stewed stone fruits and mulled wine. Cinnamon, orange rind, nutmeg, peppercorns, and anise lingered around the edge, while stone fruit and cherry pits offered a measure of wood. More sour cherries and pomegranate syrup with a touch of Twizzlers arrived near the end with a final wave of artificial fruits. The finish was medium-length and drying with a tannic astringency and woody fruit pits.
Simple fare, this 20 Year Allt-a-Bhainne fell to the sherry blitzkrieg and the cask left little else behind. The flavors were basic, lacking depth and variety on the palate— a real shame considering the aroma had some lovely cola and medicinal qualities. The mouthfeel was surprisingly balanced, while the finish was oddly short. This malt was all over the place, but at least the alcohol was well-integrated. I am not a big fan of these big cask-dominated whiskies, but if you describe yourself as a sherry fiend, you may find a more to love.
Overall, not bad— the pair of sherry-blasted Allt-a-Bhainne I reviewed this week were good enough that I would try more, but not so good that I will actively seek out another opportunity in the near future.
Image Credit: The Whisky World
