I know i have been rating high scores lately, and it is because i bought a lot of samples of good renowned whiskies. This is not that case. I bought this full bottle simply because i loved the NAS version of Old Ballantruan, called "the peated malt". It is much better than the NAS, being almost a perfect 100 over 100. Bottled at 50%abv, with a deep gold color. On the nose not complex but beautiful: PEAT, A LOT OF IT. butter and smoke. Simple but great. On the palate, spices, oranges, smoke, a mild but pleasant burn, clove, corn, very phenolic. Finish is so long, smokey and spicy, that makes your tongue to go to sleep. It never feels like a 50%abv dram, very smooth, very balanced. Amazing really. Overall i give this a 98 over 100. Very very very recommended. Slaintè!
About this bottle
Speyside isn't known for its peaty scotches and this Old Ballantruan 10 Year is one of a handful that the region produces. Named after the Tomintoul Distillery's water source, the Ballantruan Spring, this single malt is distilled from heavily peated barley. It spends 10 years aging in ex-bourbon casks made from American white oak, before being bottled at 50% ABV without chill-filtering.
How it tastes
Measured across 14 flavor axes. Tap a note to find other bottles that lead with it.
Reviews
Showing the most detailed of 13 parsed reviews.
Deep and complex. Sharp and heavy at first but then it reveals its full sharm by enhancing the warmth and showing some mildness in character. The nose is mid-peaty and a bit smoky, also some feebly-marked spirituous notes. The malt comes next and so do the various sweet notes (some honey, fresh red apples) but they are all secondary to the nose. At first sip you get all the peatyness and the bonfire smoke but after comes the complex yet sweet taste of baked cake with apples or maybe a cheesecake. A handful of caramel, a bit of toffee. Fruits, a coating of chocolate, surely some citrus. The aftertaste is not that gentle, it contains tons of smoke, peat and a bit of spices.
Upon opening: we have found it to be...very Band-Aid-like....Remember the smell of old Band-Aids, that's what your dealing with. My mouth literally tastes like an ashtray. The flavor is just like that the entire way through. I should mention the overabundance of smoke on the first passing in our mouthed, but this is probably because they wanted to hide the Band-Aids.
The nose is mild, mostly peat, a hint of sweet clover. The palate is smoky, peaty, smooth, with mild tar, black licorice, and salt flavours. The finish is warm, salty, spicy, and smooth.
Hmm. Not really one for me. Quite an acidic sharper peat. One step down from the 16 year Port Askaig. Solid 3 I'll give it.
Smokey, spek vd BBQ, lekkere zilte bbq/rook smaak maar niet overdreven
7 more reviews were collected for this bottle. The longest ones are shown first.
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