Scotland, Speyside: Single malt whisky through the producing distilleries: history, making, production and tasting notes
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Balmenach

Distillery description Tasting notes

The distillery

(Picture: courtesy of Ingvar Ronde, Malt whisky yearbook)

For information about the distillery, please click on the photo.

Balmenach: independent bottlings

Balmenach

Old Malt Cask, 20 years
Collection
 Old malt cask
Age
 20 years
Alcohol percentage
 50,0 %
Bottler
 Douglas Laing
Cask
 first fill hogshead
Cask number
single cask DL 1322
Dates
 Distil: 01-1984 Bottling: 09-2004
Particularity
 Non chillfiltered
=25 euros=25 euros=25 euros=25 euros=25 euros=25 euros
links & average quote
 86/100
Balmenach Old Malt Cask
Some clear peat hints and a woody smell characterize this promising whisky. After a few minutes, some fruity notes and a touch of acidité (citrus fruits) appear. In the palate, a strange mix of peat and citrus, rather complex where hints of smoke are present without being dominating. A nice finish, marked by the fruits, and smoke is coming back later on.
84/100
A very clear, spicy, fresh nose, with both fruity hints and menthol aromas. Some lemon on the background. Nice complexity. Really a very pleasant nose announcing a great whisky. The mouth is surprising, slightly medicinal, very fresh with aromatic herbs and a touch of wood. A kind of acidity dominates the palate and fine woody notes come and complete it. Some chocolate hints as well. The finish is first woody before developing on malt. A touch of smoke too. It is smooth and rather long.
88/100
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Balmenach

The WitC's Bottlings 1999
Collection
 The WitC's Bottlings
Age
 10 years
Alcohol percentage
 57 %
Bottler
 Jean Boyer
Dates
 Distil: 1999 Bottling: 2008
Bottle
 of 29 btls
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links & average quote
 84/100
Balmenach WitC 2008
A floral nose (heather) and a touch of honey where some yesst hints and dry fruits come in addition.
In the palate, a very nice complexity where bitter notes (unripe walnut) seem to dominate.
The finish is relatively long and prolongs perfectly the mouth.
84/100
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Balmenach: samples

Balmenach

Hart Brothers 1979
Collection
 Hart Brothers
Age
 18 years
Alcohol percentage
 43,0 %
Bottler
 Hart Brothers
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links & average quote
 0/100
A bright coloured malt, deep body, rich and sweet. Aromas of nuts and wild flowers. Balmenach shows very light traces of peat. Dry finish.

(sample received during a visit to Hart Brothers)

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Balmenach

Best Casks of Scotland 1999

Collection
 Best casks of Scotland
Age
 No age statement
Alcohol percentage
 43,0 %
Bottler
 Jean Boyer
Dates
 Distil: 1999 Bottling: 2010
Particularity
 (diluted version do the Witch bottling)
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links & average quote
 84/100
The nose is rather fresh despite some yeast hints. A touch of mint. Discrete floral fragrances.
The mouth is nicely acid, with smooth citrus fruit notes. Some discrete hints of dried fruit.
The finish prolongs the mouth. Rather short but pleasant.
84/100
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Balmenach

Best Casks of Scotland 1999
Collection
 Best casks of Scotland
Age
 No age statement
Alcohol percentage
 43 %
Bottler
 Jean Boyer
Dates
 Distil: 1999 Bottling: 2010
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links & average quote
 75/100
Color: White wine
The nose detects immediately malty notes with fairly strong hints of yeast. This is certainly not the kind of nose that I like, but the nose presented by other Balmenach bottles too.
In the palate, first a mixture of malt and more acidic and fresh notes that seem to compete for the attention of the papilla's at the beginning before evolving into something more balanced where milk chocolate is not absent .
A discrete and rather short final to complete the impressions of the mouth.
75/100
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Balmenach: not in collection

Balmenach

Provenance 8 years: Winter distillation
Collection
 Provenance
Age
 8 years
Alcohol percentage
 46 %
Bottler
 Douglas Laing
Particularity
 (winter distillation)
=25 euros=25 euros
links & average quote
 70/100
Balmenach Provenance

Comment by
Johannes Sauer

Colour: White wine, or better vino verdhe. Nose: Honey and soft fruits. Heather blossoms, almonds and soft malt (vanilla) in the back. Easy and a little unimportant. Taste: Now white chocolate and again vanilla and some malt and caramel. All in all very soft and round. Nothing hurts but there are no surprises either. No trace of smoke neither in the nose nor the palate. Finish: Here now the first soft surprise shows up: Soft traces of milky coffee with caramel syrup can be detected between the even sweetness and offer a bit of complexity. After the a litle bit disappointing nose this is a a conciliatory finish. Conc.: A fine and pleasant highlander to fit any bugdet for those who like it mellow and a great whisky to seduce the lady of your heart who does not appreciate smoky malt whisky.
Tasting date: 10/06/2010 Price in Germany: 28,00 Euro

 70/100
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Balmenach

Flora & Fauna
Age
 12 years
Alcohol percentage
 43 %
Bottler
 Official
links & average quote
 74/100
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