Skip to content
  • Home
  • Whisky Top 10
  • Tasting Notes
  • About Thijs
  • Contact
  • Home
  • Whisky Top 10
  • Tasting Notes
  • About Thijs
  • Contact
logo
allt-a-bhainne 1997 23yo whiskynerds 102589

Allt-a-Bhainne 1997 23 Years (WhiskyNerds)

16 November 2020 0 comments Article Allt-a-Bhainne, Scotland, Speyside, Tasting Notes

After the roller coaster that was the Blind Tasting Competition, it’s finally time to pick up my regular reviewing schedule. I’ve a bit of a backlog, which is why I didn’t review the latest WhiskyNerds release earlier. They’re one of my favourite bottlers (this Springbank is fucking up there!), but I’m not sure what they’re up to now. Why would you bottle an Allt-a-Bhainne 1997 23 Years?

Bram and Floris, the WhiskyNerds in question, have shown before they’re not afraid of picking an unknown commodity. Most notably the trio of Inchmurrin they bottled years ago, before it became fashionable to like Loch Lomond. But Allt-a-Bhainne? It’d be generous to call it a second tier distillery. It’s rarely bottled as a single malt, although that might have something to do with availability as well.

I’ve only reviewed one other Allt-a-Bhainne—which was actually pretty nice—and can’t remember to have tasted many more. I mainly know it as the distillery I drive past when taking the B9009 from Glenlivet to Dufftown. I’m always surprised when it pops into view, because I usually forget it’s there.

But enough bashing of Allt-a-Bhainne. Because did it ever really get a chance? There’s barely any official bottlings out there and so far in 2020 only seven single casks have been bottled by the independents (according to Whiskybase). And the WhiskyNerds have showcased many times over that they are very capable of picking fantastic single malts. I should have some more faith probably.

Allt-a-Bhainne 1997 23 Years (52.4%, WhiskyNerds, C#102589)

Nose: Sweet, menthol and chalky makes for an interesting combination. I get red apple skin, apfelstrudel and a whiff of nectarine. A touch of honey too, as well as sweethearts (the candy) and even some breakfast tea. Very pleasant.
Taste: An oily mouthfeel, followed by a slightly spicy arrival (white pepper mainly). Fairly fruity, but not overtly so. A hint of peach and nectarine, as well as clementines. Touches of polished oak too, underpinned by gingerbread.
Finish: Medium. Sweet barley water and a light fruitiness.

Score: 87

A hell of a gamble by the WhiskyNerds. But this Allt-a-Bhainne 1997 is a good and unexpected whisky nonetheless. Now, whether you’re willing to pay the retail price is another matter entirely.

Sample provided by WhiskyNerds

Photo: Whiskybase

Thijs Klaverstijn Kingairloch 3
Thijs Klaverstijn

Thijs is a spirits writer and accredited liquorist from The Netherlands. He runs the blog Words of Whisky and contributes to a number of Dutch and international publications.

Tags: 1997, 23, allt-a-bhainne, speyside, whiskynerds

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Tumblr

Most popular posts

  • Glendronach cask (flickr ti yab) GlenDronach Is A Lot Older Than The Label Says
  • benromach 21yo 2020 Benromach 21 Years (2020)
  • secret orkney 1999 20yo michiel wigman Secret Orkney 1999 20 Years (Michiel Wigman)
  • glenallachie 1995 24yo the duchess 23 Glenallachie 1995 24 Years (The Duchess)
  • caol ila 2008 12yo torsten paul rogers whisky company Caol Ila 2008 12 Years (Roger’s & Torsten Paul Whisky Company)

Recent blog posts

  • Upcoming: Blind Tasting Competition
  • Sexism & Misogyny in our Whisky Community
  • Monologue: Waterford’s Mark Reynier on Biodynamics & Terroir
  • Why The Whiskybase Gathering Should Be On Your Bucket List
  • Visiting Ballindalloch Distillery: Tradition & Patience in Speyside

Most popular posts

  • Glendronach cask (flickr ti yab) GlenDronach Is A Lot Older Than The Label Says
  • benromach 21yo 2020 Benromach 21 Years (2020)
  • secret orkney 1999 20yo michiel wigman Secret Orkney 1999 20 Years (Michiel Wigman)
  • glenallachie 1995 24yo the duchess 23 Glenallachie 1995 24 Years (The Duchess)
  • caol ila 2008 12yo torsten paul rogers whisky company Caol Ila 2008 12 Years (Roger’s & Torsten Paul Whisky Company)

Search Words of Whisky

About

Words of Whisky is the blog of Thijs Klaverstijn, a freelance writer and journalist from Twente, a region in the east of The Netherlands. He's been drinking whisky for quite some time now, but a visit to Scotland in the summer of 2013 has turned his love for whisky into somewhat of an obsession. This blog serves as an outlet for that obsession.

Copyright Words of Whisky 2018