Ailsa Bay Release 1.2 Sweet Smoke
Ailsa Bay Release 1.2 Sweet Smoke, NAS, 48.9 %
It is time for the second chapter of Ailsa Bay, the peaty Lowland whisky. A couple of years ago I visited the distillery and got to do a thorough decontruction of the Ailsa Bay 1.1.
Time has now come to test the Ailsa Bay Release 1.2 Sweet Smoke, which has the subtitle micro maturation. It has been matured in Hudson casks; remember William Grant & SOns, the owners of Ailsa Bay, also own Tuthilltown Spirits (the makers of Hudson Whiskey) in New York, USA.
The changes from v1.1 to v1.2 are not dramatic. Looking at the labels we see the following:
PPPM (peat parts per million) changed to 022 (was 021)
SPPM (sweet parts per million) changed to 019 (was 011)
So we should expect a sweeter and slightly more peaty product this time around.
You can buy the Ailsa Bay Release 1.2 Sweet Smoke in Norway at NOK 760 (3787201), and online in the UK at around GBP 55.
Nose: Indeed both sweet and peaty. It is a very crisp and earthy smoke, as well as a clean and fruity sweetness. Vanilla and light caramel. Smoked bacon. Mild notes of citrus.
Taste: Full-bodied and packing a peaty punch. The peat is certainly front and center on the attack, then the fruity sweetness catches up and balance is restored. The palate is playing at a bit cooler than the nose.
Finish: Medium long finish. Peaty with wood smoke and warm embers, as well as fruity sweetness still. More apples than citrus now.
Comment: Pretty powerful peat punch!
Score 88/100
Sláinte!
- Thomas
