January 2, 2015

Allt-A-Bhainne and compadre

Crikey, WF’s procedures don’t always work, as I’m having this newish Allt-A-Bhainne in front of me, while I don’t seem to find any other yet-untasted Allt-A-Bhainne in my library at this very moment. And yet I do not want to wait until another one rings at my door bell, that could take months. Well, perhaps I’ve got an idea…

Allt-A-Bhainne 18 yo 1995/2014 (59.2%, Chapter 7, bourbon hogshead, cask #166300, 264 bottles)

Chapter 7 are a relatively new Swiss bottler that’s using a pretty lovely minimal design. Let’s only hope the name isn’t related to Chapter 7 of the Title 11 in the US Code ;-). Colour: gold. Nose: it is a little hot and burning at first nosing, but that may be the very high strength. What’s sure is that there seems to be a rather lovely fruitiness mingled with some vanilla and butter cream in the background, let’s try to seek confirmation… With water: it’s funny how it became a traditional fruity unsherried Speysider, full of fresh and tinned fruits. Mainly apricots and mirabelles. Mouth (neat): its quite hot again, and a little acrid as well. Grass juice and butterscotch? Water seems to be obligatory. With water: and it works very well. An average – in a good way – Speysider with fruits, cakes and a little grass. Medium body. Finish: medium length, with some liquorice on top of the fruits and grass. Comments: I think this is pretty good and classic, it just needs water. Certainly one of the better middle-aged Allt-A-Bhainnes in my book, most never made it to… SGP:451 - 81 points.

So, the sparring partner. Wouldn’t a little Braeval/Braes of Glenlivet make sense?

Braeval 1991/2013 (52,9%, The Pearls of Scotland, cask #95119, 228 bottles)

Colour: gold. Nose: super-grassy and quite dusty at first sniffs, with some chalk, quinine, then rather dried mushrooms. All that tends to become better civilised after just one minutes, with now notes of orange cake and raspberry jam. Hints of old wine cellar as well, before more and more tinned pineapples start to come out. Then tobacco and leather! This baby changes a lot within minutes, which is very entertaining. With water: it’s really funny to see that this Braes comes very close to the Allt-A-Bhainne when reduced. A very similar fruity style, with ripe plums and apricots. Mouth (neat): a very rich fruitiness plus many spices, this is rather Christmassy (how convenient) and yet it’s not really heavy. Some natural vanilla plus peach jam, apricot jam and quite some gingerbread and pepper. With water: good, with rather more body than the Allt-A-Bhainne. Similar style yet again. Finish: quite long, grassier, spicier. Good fruity and almondy signature. Comments: very honest and loyal. SGP:451 - 82 points.