Balmenach 1979 Berry Brothers & Rudd

Balmenach 8 Year Old 2004 Gordon & Macphail Connoisseurs Choice

Balmenach is one of those noble unknown distilleries for the simple fact that the produce almost exclusively for the blenders. You can hardly find it as a single malt. So we have to look at the independent bottlers. Let us start with this G&M Connoisseurs Choice, which means it is bottled at 46% ABV. The nose is fairly sweet, but with a weird...

Score 81/100

Balmenach 24 Year Old 1988 Signatory Vintage for The Nectar

The Nectar, run by Mario Groteklaes, was able to secure bourbon hogshead 2808 from Signatory containing 24 Year Old Balmenach. I put it head-to-head with hogshead 2794 that was bottled in the same year. The nose starts rather closed, but after a few moments it opens up nicely. A touch vegetal (dried grass), but immediately followed by green...

Score 87/100

Balmenach SMWS 48.88 - Mimosa growing in chalky soil

Seldom will you come across a bottling of Balmenach. Licensed in 1824, this Speyside distillery was sold to DCL 100 years later, remaining in constant production until 1993. A 12-year-old became part of the Flora & Fauna range, but to my knowledge that is the only known distillery bottling. In 1997 it was sold to Inver House, who remain the...

Score 82/100

Balmenach 28 Year Old 1983 A.D. Rattray

I will end this session of Balmenach with a 28 Year Old bottled by A.D. Rattray in 2012. I am comparing it to a sister cask released by Bladnoch Forum. Both casks were single bourbon hogsheads of Balmenach 1983. Frangipane pie on the nose, which also reveals white and yellow fruit. Cardemom and cinnamon from the spice rack. Sweet and malty. Very...

Score 86/100