This Allt-a-Bhainne (pronounced ‘Olt-er-Vane’) is from Murray McDavid, the independent bottler related to Bruichladdich. After the normal maturation in American oak, it was ACE’d in new French oak casks.
Allt-a-Bhainne was founded in 1975 under the Chivas Brothers flag and mothballed in 2002 with production re-starting in 2005.
Allt-a-Bhainne 12 yo 1996
(46%, Murray McDavid 2008, 1500 btl.)
Nose: a very cereal kind of nose. Notes of malt and bread. Biscuits. A few musty elements. With some hand warmth, brighter and slightly tropical fruity notes step forward, but they seem to disappear really soon. A bit disappointing, not much happening here besides the malty core.
Mouth: again full of cereal notes. Now clearly fruity: pear, apple, kiwi… but a little flat as well and the same kind of dustiness. Moreover it’s too focused on the spicy flavours from the new oak.
Finish: rather short, with a simple sugar cane sweetness.
Not exactly bad, but there are plenty of other 12yo drams to choose from, so don’t bother.
Available for € 40.
Score: 68/100