White Heather 21 YO

White Heather 21 YO, 48 %

GlenAllachie Distillery is the home of this blended whisky, and their Master Blender, Billy Walker, is the creator. It is said this is a blended whisky with a high single malt content, and GlenAllachie single malt is of course part of the blend. This is truly a work of love from Billy Walker - his take on the ultimate blended whisky.

From the official product page:

“The whiskies began their journey in a combination of 1st and 2nd fill American oak and sherry casks. Once blended, the spirit was filled for secondary maturation in specially selected Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso puncheons, as well as Appalachian virgin oak casks. As the whiskies marry, they also interact with the wood, enriching the flavour experience.”

“The quality of the vintage whiskies we blend is equally as important as the wood. Each single malt contributes its own unique characteristics; GlenAllachie brings rich and fruity notes, the Islay malt contributes subtle hints of peat, and the Highland malt adds a honeyed sweetness. The older grain whiskies are the rich and bold foundations which deliver an extra layer of complexity.”

A total of 8 bottles of the White Heather 21 YO ended up in Norway recently at the - all things considered - very fair price of NOK 1600 (13138201).

Nose: A warm and spicy nose, is my first thought. Ripe apples, dusty attic, old books, dried fruits, cream and earthy vanilla. With time a greener side appears in the form of tomato plant, mustard seeds and dried herbs. Also hints of citrus, white pepper and warm ashes. Coal and floral honey. Very complex, Keeps developing and revealing new sides.

Taste: Full bodied and rich. Peppery ashes, cold peat smoke, honey and fizzy ginger. More pepper in waves.

Finish: Long finish. Richer now. Sweet and floral honey. Fudge. Orange marmalade on buttered toast. Delightful pepper notes all the way. Softly oaky and astringent in the end.

Comment: Wow! I will be hunting down a bottle!

Score 90/100

Sláinte!
-Thomas