Old Ballantruan ‘The Peated Malt’ ~ 50% (Angus Dundee Distillers)

• Peated Speyside single malt scotch whisky
• 50% ABV, £36.95
• Score: 83/100

What they say:

“Old Ballantruan” owes its name to an exceptional source of the purest of waters, the Ballantruan Spring, nestling in the Cromdale Hills close to Tomintoul, the highest village in the Scottish Highlands.
After ‘sleeping’ for many years in hand-picked oak barrels, this whisky has been bottled at 50% volume and without any chill-filtration in order to retain its layered and integrated peaty flavours.

Staff Tasting Notes
Nose: Youthful, malty, chocolate, wet turf.
Palate: Soft creamy / oily mouthfeel (mostly at fore), Sweet malt and peat.
Finish: Cold haggis, bitumen, touch of thick cardboard.
Overall: With water more tar and bitterness evolves. Good value!

Official Tasting Notes
Colour: Warm gold
Nose: Heathery smoke balanced with subtle floral notes
Taste: Gentle “peat reek” flavours with hints of citrus tones malty nuttiness
Finish: Lingering smoke and peat with touch of malted barley sweetness

What I say:

And finally to Tomintoul in Speyside to try the antithesis of speyside whisky – Old Ballantruan ‘The Peated Malt’. This no-age statement, heavily-peated malt arrives at 50% ABV and hits you like a steam train straight off of Islay. This had oodles of peat smoke but was also sweet like dry roasted peanuts with hints of cereal flavours. The finish was long, sweet and peaty and I found it very enjoyable as this was fire in a glass but with no harshness to it. The overriding flavour was frazzles [salty, smoky bacon flavour corn snacks]. This week the peat-freaks had turned, opting for the Yoichi, I however really enjoyed this one, possibly having recently reviewed the Tomintoul 10 Year Old I really appreciated the elegant poise of both the peated malt and Speyside elements complexing in this.

Originally sampled at Water of Life Society Tasting Event #2 The exception to the rule