Signatory Vintage 17 yr 22/09/95 – 01/02/13 Two hogsheads
Allt A Bhainne was a distillery that has not been on my radar for very long if I'm honest. To the extent I actually had to look up how to pronounce the name (Ollt-err-VANE). This is a Signatory bottling and it seems most of the spirit produced by the distillery is used for Chivas Regal and Pipers 100. The rest seems to go to Indy bottlers. Apparently the singlemalts not used in blends are stored at the Laphroaig warehouse. Built in 1975 it was mothballed between 2002 – 2005 following the purchase by Pernod Ricard.
This is an extremely pale whisky. You would not believe that its been casked for 17 yrs. I can't think of another whisky that is paler than this off the top of my head.
The nose offers spiced apple, honey, citrus and leather.
The mouth feel is light and crisp. Fruity, apples, banana, floral notes, peppery spice.
The finish is medium or possibly short. It doesn't hang around for long but it is sweet, fruity, slightly spiced and pleasant.
Bang for buck...high!
Thanks for your candor. I looked at this distiller recently. Was also described as green apple like and "moreish". That term seems a bit vapid to me. "Wanting more?" Makes me think of Thomas Hardy and a vagabond running across the Moors, not the Orwellian dumbed down Newspeak of "me want more-ish" At any rate, thanks for the review