I right up stole that title from Thijs’ blog…

The Duchess is releasing two new single cask whiskies today. Most likely at noon, which is five minutes from typing this, and probably a couple of minutes ago by the time the post goes out.

Ailsa Bay 13, 2011-2024, Oloroso Hogshead 801396, 54.4%

The first one is a 13 year old Ailsa Bay. It’s a follow up to the one from almost three years ago, which I thoroughly enjoyed and got myself two bottles of. This time around the whisky comes from an Oloroso sherry cask, instead of the very light bourbon cask it came from in 2022.

Nowadays there are more Lowlands distilleries than there have been for quite some time, but you don’t get to see many releases from them, given a few exceptions. Of course there’s the Auchentoshans, Bladnochs and Glenkinchies. Those have been around for ages. Apart from that, since Fife is a Lowlands area as well there is Lindores Abbey and Kingsbarns, and some distilleries that are not yet releasing bottles, or the bottles that are out there are rare. Much like this one, because how often do you see an Ailsa Bay?

Anyway, let’s do tasting notes, and find out if this one is as true to the regional style as the earlier one!

Sniff:
A very light and straw forward character with a good dollop of sherry on top. Not overpowering, regarding the sherry. A hint of coffee and almond flour. Barley and something floral too. Spring meadows and such.

Sip:
The palate is dry and quite fierce. Barley, straw, some pepper seeds. Oak with a bit of wood spices and fruit stones (dates, cherries, plums). The dryness does not dissipate at all, there’s a bit of a sawdust like flavor coming up.

Swallow:
The finish is far less dry and shows more dried fruits and steeped grains. Warming with a hint of sticky toffee pudding. After the sherry wanes slightly, there are notes of dried flowers and straw popping up again.

So, yes, it’s true to what you hope it to be. There definitely are some floral notes and the sherry is not overpowering the whisky. A rather well integrated combination of spirit and cask. And with this clocking in at € 79, I might be tempted to go for a bottle.

88/100

Currently available at Best of Whiskies

Ben Nevis 12, 2012-2024, Bourbon Hogshead 117, 54.7%

And Ben Nevis as the second one. A distillery with several faces that has been through some ups and downs through the years. Massively fruity in one era and insanely funky in the next. It seems to work best when those two aspects meet in the middle!

Sniff:
This has a dirty nose, and it’s glorious. Leather, vegemite, yeast, engine grease. Somehow pickled walnuts. A bit of sweetness from overripe fruits.

Sip:
The palate continues with the funky notes. It’s rather old fashioned and fatty, not entirely unlike Benromach. The ABV isn’t overly noticeable after a little while, and the fruity sweetness takes over. Quite juicy, but not without some yeasty vegemite-esque notes.

Swallow:
The finish veers right back to the nose and the rather singular focus on the ‘dirty’ notes. It’s rather fatty again, but turns slightly more dry after some seconds.

It’s a rather unique dram with the level of dirtiness, funkiness, whatever you want to call it. For me, it’s really interesting but a tad one directional. If you’re into this Ben Nevis style, you’ll love this, but if you want the fruity one, this might not be it.

Currently available at Best of Whiskies for € 89

86/100

Thanks a million to Best of Whiskies / The Duchess for sending samples!