Whisky Review/Tasting: Old Ballantruan

Physical Whisky Characteristics

Origin: Distilled in the Speyside Glenlivet region, which is prestigious for its whisky production.
Type: Single malt whisky.
Distillation and Maturation Process: Distilled using heavily peated malted barley in the traditional manner. It has been aged in hand-picked oak casks for less than 10 years, as there is also a 10-year-old variant available.
Age Statement: No age statement for the reviewed bottle, but a 10-year-old variant exists.
Color and Bottle Design: The whisky has a warm gold color. It is bottled in a brown bottle, at 50% volume, and without any chill filtration to retain its peated flavors. The cork is mentioned to be very dry, indicating a tight seal.

Balance of Flavors: The whisky presents a balance between peaty smokiness and subtle fruity notes.
Unique Characteristics: It has a hefty peatiness with 55 ppm phenols, which is significantly higher than the typical Tomintoul whisky that has none. The flavor profile includes gentle peat smoke, citrus tones, malty nuttiness, and a lingering smoke and peat finish with a touch of malted barley sweetness.
Comparison: The peatiness might lead some to compare it to Islay whiskies, as the reviewer mistakenly placed it in a blind tasting.

Distillery Background: Old Ballantruan is produced by the Tomintoul Distillery, which traditionally produces non-peated whisky. This heavily peated variant represents a significant departure from their usual offerings.
Historical Context: The use of peat in whisky production is rooted in tradition, where it was used as a primary energy source. The review touches on the historical significance of peated whisky in Scotland.

Speyside Glenlivet Region: The whisky's production in this region ties it to a prestigious whisky-making area known for its high-quality single malt whiskies. The mention of Glenlivet in the context of distillery naming practices highlights the cultural heritage of Scotch whisky.

"The Tomintoul, the gentle dram changes to a peated steam engine." - This quote captures the transformation of Tomintoul's character with the introduction of Old Ballantruan.
"It's just a stinky whisky." - A candid description of the whisky's peaty character.
"The people who like smoke will love that one also." - Suggests a specific audience for this whisky.

Old Ballantruan is a heavily peated single malt whisky from the Speyside Glenlivet region, produced by Tomintoul Distillery.
It features a warm gold color, bottled at 50% volume without chill filtration.
The flavor profile is characterized by hefty peat smoke, citrus tones, and malty nuttiness, with a lingering smoky finish.
The whisky's production and flavor profile are tied to traditional Scottish whisky-making practices, particularly the historical use of peat.
The review highlights the whisky's appeal to fans of peated whiskies, comparing its intensity to that of Islay whiskies.

Peat Lovers: Individuals who enjoy the intense smokiness and peaty character of Islay whiskies will likely appreciate Old Ballantruan.
Adventurous Drinkers: Those looking to explore different expressions of peated whisky beyond the typical Islay offerings.
Speyside Enthusiasts: Whisky fans interested in experiencing a heavily peated whisky from a region not traditionally known for peated expressions.