One of the first official whiskies spirits from Abhainn Dearg released in 2011. They can’t have many releases since they only started distilling in 2008. I have bought a couple of bottles from the first spirit they released at first and haven’t been too thrilled with that. Easy, since I generally don’t like the new make of any distillery. It’s interesting to taste, but I will never spend any money on it (not anymore at least).

Lewis is one of the Outer Hebrides and doesn’t have much going for it unless you want calm and peace at the cost of barely being able to do grocery shopping. Of course, I’d like to visit the place, but I don’t think it’s going to happen anytime soon.

Anyway, let’s just try this whisky! I picked up a sample from a bottle on the table at Maltstock since I was curious to it.

The Spirit of Lewis – Abhainn Dearg. Image from Whiskybase

Sniff:
Aargh…. I already know I am not going to like this one. It’s incredibly young and spirity, and while that is not necessarily an issue, it is here. There’s the scent of rotting wood and wet dirt, with vanilla custard and spirit. The spirit is not the new make, but the stuff you use to fuel a burner, the blue stuff. It’s incredibly feinty and heavy with shoe polish and oil.

Sip:
I did manage to take a sip, but it continues in a much similar fashion of raw spirit, rotting wood and just not enough age by far. I can’t even seem to pick up the vanilla anymore.

Swallow:
Here there are minerals in the mix suddenly. I think it has to do with the muddy scent I got earlier. The spirit and wood flavours are here too.

I threw the rest of the glass out. While I love everyone who builds a distillery for their efforts and love for the product and process, I think the guys in Lewis have a long, long way to go.

Abhainn Dearg – Spirit of Lewis, 40%, cask # 102010, by now it is worth around € 122, but I don’t know the price of newer releases.