Ballindalloch 8 Years Old Bottled for Benelux Cask 31 59.2% 2016

Professionele reviews

BOW (86)

Tasting Note:
A delightful mix of Pink Lady apple, "All Spice," and Wine Gums dusted with icing sugar, candle wax, and wild heather. Followed by nutmeg, sea salt, peach, and fresh vanilla. Adding water brings out more fruit, nougat, wood, and leather. Rich mouthfeel with orchard fruit, green mango, caramel, and white chocolate. Pineapple and pine cone blend with oak spices. Impressive, smooth finish.

It is rare for a distillery from the heart of Speyside to announce its first whiskies. What's even more remarkable is that these whiskies aren't very young at all.

Ballindalloch Single Malt Whisky:
In the Speyside region, some of the most renowned distilleries are found, their whiskies highly popular worldwide. Ballindalloch Single Malt Whisky will carve out its own distinct place.

Ballindalloch Single Malt Whisky:
Ballindalloch Distillery is considered a (very) small distillery. Production capacity has been 100,000 liters of pure alcohol per year in recent years and average fermentation period of 130 hours ensures the stills are filled with very pure wort. The stills are slowly heated, and the boiling point is tightly controlled to ensure that the alcohol vapors are light and pure as they pass over the tops. All this is done to impart maximum flavor to the eventual whisky on a pure base.

The whisky then matures naturally in the finest casks in a warehouse on the estate. Given the production capacity of this small yet highly refined distillery, we will receive few or no other bottlings this year. So, take advantage now of these very first releases, specially crafted for the Benelux countries.

Words of Whisky (86)

The higher strength translated to more richness without any additional harshness.
Nose
Opening up on juicy pears and apples, but also some oak spices. Then notes of caster sugar, just a sliver of wet pebbles, grape must and just a twist of lemon. I get a subtle waxiness too, accompanied by tired leather, cinnamon, vanilla and just a touch of marshmallow.
Taste
Good oily mouthfeel. Rich. Initially spice-forward. Ginger, white pepper. Also somewhat leafy, but the notes of butterscotch, floral honey and white and yellow fruits are very convincing. Grapes, apples, lemons. Finally just a tinge of eucalyptus.
Finish
Medium length. The fruitiness persists. Also sweeter, more sugar-y notes.