Allt A Bhainne 16 Year Old 2008 Milroy’s Vintage Reserve 64% 70cl

A gorgeous third-fill sherry butt here from celebrated but lesser-seen Speyside giant, Allt-a-Bhainne. Its a fascinating maker built in the 1970s to be a super-slick, single-operator site and today it is renowned for its light, zesty spirit. Aged for 16 long years in a third-fill sherry butt, all that brightness remains in this Vintage Reserve bottling, but with thick, sticky, dried fruits and dense spice notes amped up. A perfect autumn whisky.

Tasting notes:

Nose: The nose opens with luxurious tiramisu and milk chocolate notes, backed by rich tea biscuits and a smattering of fresh ginger. With time, floral honey, nutmeg and cinnamon doughnut notes arrive, as well as raisin, sticky toffee pudding and fig rolls. Honeycomb and a hint of tomato leaf add depth.

Palate: Sweet pastry notes, figs and raisins continue on the palate, alongside red fruits, cola cubes and festive spices. Cream icing, speculoos and vanilla sponge cake contribute a decadent sweetness, while white milk bottle sweets bring in a confectionery-driven top note.

Finish: Long with aromatic earthiness and orchard sweet fruits.