This time I got 40 points for being spot on with it being an 18 year old whisky. I was in doubt between Highlands and Speyside, and randomly guessed the wrong side of that arbitrary line.

I’ve not tried many Allt-a-Bhainnes, which is probably because I once or twice tried a not so interesting one in the past. I tend to quickly form an opinion and then need some effort to be swayed from that. This whisky does that, since it’s quite lovely.

Sniff:
Pretty heavy and rich, with some caramel. Some vegetal notes as well. Minor notes of leather and other feinty stuff. Slightly dusty as well.

Sip:
Dry and a bit sharp, cask strength sharp. Sweet with sugared fruits and caramel. Dark, spiced cake. Slightly buttery, like beurre noissette.

Swallow:
Caramel like finish again, with some baked fruit. Not too long, but quite nice.

Strangely, I was convinced this was a sherry cask, but it’s not. Reading back the notes I made it makes sense, but when drinking it I was thinking otherwise.

Still, quite a good dram, only slightly less good than yesterday’s Bruichladdich. And it’s still available. Somehow Ewald (who organizes this communal wail of incompetence) finds these nice drams that are also rather affordable. An 18 year old indie single cask, at cask strength generally clocks in a ways over a 100 bucks!

Note: While typing this, it got sold out at the Dutch retailer that still had it. So, the price is now little over a hundred euros, and you can get it in Germany.

87/100

Allt-a-Bhainne 18, 1995-2014, Bourbon Hogshead 166300, 59.2%, Chapter 7. Available at just under 100 euros.