Allt-A-Bhainne Single Malt Steps Out From Blended Chivas Regal Shadow

The world of blended Scotch whisky is one which sees a multitude of distilleries contributing aged spirit to a particular bottling. This is especially true of the Chivas Regal blends, and an extremely important malt whisky for it is from the Speyside-based Allt-A-Bhainn distillery. Now Chivas Brothers/Pernod Ricard are looking to highlight Allt-A-Bhainn specifically through the introduction of a single malt under this brand.

The new Allt-A-Bhainn single malt whisky, according to those behind it, is a non-age statement expression that’s said to mix “the smokiness of peat with the fruity sweetness of the Speyside region in Scotland.” This is something of an entry level bottling for those who haven’t tried peated whiskies as of yet, while also targeting “active single malt explorers looking to experience something a bit different.”

“We know that whisky drinkers have evolved,” said Richard Clark, Allt-A-Bhainne Master Distiller, in a prepared statement. “They are becoming more adventurous with their repertoire and want to try something new. That’s why we’ve decided now is the perfect time to launch Allt-A-Bhainne. Convention said we shouldn’t mix peat with Speyside and that smokiness and sweetness wouldn’t work together. But we followed our nose, distilled the whisky in the way we know and trust, and Allt-A-Bhainne is the result. It’s a match that might go against traditional Speyside conventions, but that’s something we’re not afraid to challenge.”

Plans call for this Scotch whisky, bottled at 80 proof, to hit retail initially in the United Kingdom and Australia for a price point of  £37, or close to $50 USD. You’ll find some official tasting notes for it below. For those unfamilar with the distillery, by the way, it was established in 1975 and is described as a facility “for whisky-making, not picture-taking.”

• Nose: Notes of soft red apples, sweet runny honey, delicate smoke (bonfire embers) and toffee.
• Taste: The smoky flavour comes through much more markedly on the taste and gives a delightful mix of citrus fruits (sweet orange and ripe melon), toasted marshmallows, smoke and gentle peaty flavours.
• Finish: Long, smoky, slightly dry and spicy