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| Hi, this is one of our (almost) daily tastings. Santé! |
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July 19, 2018 |
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Do you already own this whisky encyclopedia??? >>
The answer’s no? Then listen, Emmanuel Dron’s masterpiece is available again. And the book’s very large and sturdy, so should you buy five, you’ll actually be able to build a new whisky bunker out of them. Now indeed, for the same amount of cash, you could also buy six bottles of Haig Club instead. Your choice. |
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In any case, seminal work by Emmanuel that all serious whisky aficionados should own, unless they live in a tiny studio flat. Oh and I know a few distillers who should buy it too, as I’m sure they will learn quite a few things about their own brands. |
Sadly, two or three pages were a little unnecessary, but other than that, the huge book’s absolutely stunning and a joy to browse and read (and to marvel at).
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You can order the book ‘Collecting Scotch Whisky’ over there |
A wee bag of Allt-A-Bhainne |
We’ve had some Braes/Braeval the other day – not sure we’ll publish that before or after this – and what’s sure is that all what’s been said about Braeval could have been said about Allt-A-Bhainne too. Don’t you agree, Pernod-Ricard? What’s really funny with Allt-etc is that no one seems to know how we should write the name. Which gives it a free-rock-and-roll feeling that’s not unpleasant… |
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Allt-A-Bhainne 7 yo 2008/2016 (46%, Hepburn’s Choice, 300 bottles) 
A seven years old Allt-a-Bhainne, not sure we should expect it to be in the same category as that of, say… well forgot what I was about to try to say… And why wouldn’t some seven years old Allt-a-Bhainne be just superb? After all, ages don’t matter anymore, do they… Colour: gold. Nose: good American oak, so good vanilla, over good cornflakes, popcorn, buttered pears, maple syrup, white chocolate, Nutella, shortbread… You just cannot be against that, can you. Mouth: very good, I’m sorry to say. Pears poached in caramel and honey sauce, with drops of late-harvest pinot gris and a just lot of praline. Malt. Finish: medium, but perfectly cake-y. Comments: I don’t know what happened, really, but I think this wee budget bottle just shelters some perfect malt whisky. Even if it’s a tad on the bourbony side, which is where the whole industry’s going to anyway.
SGP:551 - 87 points. |
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Allt-A-Bhainne 21 yo 1995/2017 (49.6%, Douglas Laing, Old Particular, cask #12038, 287 bottles) 
Colour: white wine. Nose: grass and porridge, then bread and various kinds of pastries. That’s pretty all, but really, I don’t feel like I should write a novel about this one… Mouth: it’s okay, it’s just rough, a tad too eau-de-vie-ish, and rather too grassy. Really, this one won’t make it to whiskystardom if you ask me. Finish: medium, raw, grassy. Apple peelings and grass. Comments: in some cases, the wood appears to make the whisky.
SGP:341 - 72 points. |
Good, there’s room for redemption… |
Allt-A-Bhainne 25 yo (51.5%, Douglas Laing, Old Particular, 2018) 
Good, so there is this brand new All-A-Bhainne or Allt-à-Bhainne or whatever, but I just cannot find it on the Web, although I’ve got an official sample, but it’s that difficult to gather any data, that we’ll just try it out of the blue. Yes, whatever this really is, let us just taste it (S., you rebel!)… Colour: straw. Nose: fine barley-y notes, vanilla, hay, cereals, chicory, scones… but also vase water, last year’s hay, stale Guinness… So not too sure. With water: not quite. Old newspapers. English tabloids, so pretty bad. Mouth (neat): very good this time, caramelly, cake-y, malty, chocolaty… Love thee notes of liquorice and hazelnut liqueur. No, of course I’ve never tried that combo, but I’m sure that would be a hit. With water: no particular interest, but water won’t kill it this time. Finish: medium, grassy at time, malty… Stewed apples in the aftertaste. Comments: like this one – and am eager to get the data. Or maybe not, life being so short…
SGP:451 - 80 points. |
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Allt a Bhainne
