Banff is a Speyside distillery that has been closed since 1983. I never tried one of their whiskies before, and I am trying to taste something from most distilleries that have been operational since World War 2. I know this is rather impossible, since Malt Mill was active until 1962 and also a distillery like Kininvie seems to be quite hard to get a dram from!

Banff is no longer operational and all buildings have been demolished or have burnt down. During the war it was used as an air force base for the RAF and bombed by a Junker bomber. Major renovations were started in 1946 in order to restart production at the distillery but it was finally closed in 1983.

Nose:
The smell give a sense of age right after putting your nose in the glass. However, there is not too much wood influence. At first the nose seems a bit thin, watered down, but there is a rather typical smell. The light alcohol tinge disappears quickly and it becomes a bit more sweet.

Taste:
It starts of with a bit of pepper but still quite light and a bit warming. Its a strange combination of flavours and mouthfeel. It comes off as a Lowlands whisky, with a slight grassiness. There is also some cake and a bit of toffee.

Finish:
It starts of with a bit of a bit of a lazy sweetness that takes its time to appear. Yes, it still starts with something that is slow to appear. In the end it turns a little bit more peppery and a little bitter.

This is a strange whisky. It doesn’t resemble anything I have tasted before and I am not sure where to find a similar taste or profile. Is that a bad thing? I don’t know. There are some things that I like, but I am not really thrilled. Its a nice dram, though.

Banff 29, 1976-2005, Gordon & MacPhail Connoisseurs Choice, 40%, about 110 euros, but cheap 1cl samples are available at Pat’s Wine and Whisky in Groningen.

Nose: 7
Taste: 7
Finish: 6
Overal experience: 7
Price/quality: 0

Total: 27 points