Ballindalloch Single Cask Bourbon Cask Review: 'Syrup Soldiers on the Palate'

Ballindalloch Distillery from the Speyside is ready to challenge the established Scottish order with it's own single malt whisky. Will the young distillery secure a spot in the limelight of the rich whisky region? Find out in this Ballindalloch Single Cask Bourbon Cask Review.

Ballindalloch is the name of a castle and estate in the Scottish Speyside region. The Macpherson-Grant family has been the owner of this Scottish heritage in Moray county since 1546. Since 2014, single malt whisky has been produced half an hour away from the medieval castle. After nearly ten long years of waiting, the moment is finally here when the first bottles are ready for distribution, which certainly includes a tasting.

On the uniquely shaped bottles, the word SAMPLE is written in large block letters. It's clear that the official bottles of Ballindalloch have not yet appeared in the Netherlands. The whisky served at the Alkmaar festival are sample bottles meant to whet our appetite for the moment we can add one of the eventual bottlings to our collections.

We taste, in this review, the Ballindalloch Single Cask Bourbon Cask whisky that was bottled at cask strength. The drink comes in a tiny sample bottle that has been tapped from a larger tasting barrel used for the launch in the large church in Alkmaar.

For this special Ballindalloch whisky, we choose a 1920’s blender’s glass from the cabinet. This onion-shaped glass often pairs well with whiskies with a higher alcohol percentage. This dram indeed has an alcohol percentage of 59.2 percent.

As we pour the golden liquid from the sample bottle, the released aromas confirm that the choice for this sophisticated-looking glass was a good estimate. The first words that come to mind are tropical fruit, freshly baked shortbread cookies and the typical vanilla notes of a former bourbon cask.

After recovering from the first, very attractive, impression, it's high time to calmly analyze all the fragrances. The previously mentioned aromas of tropical fruit most remind us of papaya and a fresh variant of mango. We continue sniffing and associations keep coming, such as lemon cake, pear, and shredded coconut.

Perhaps you still remember the syrup soldiers from yesteryears? We also recognize those in the rich nose of this exciting Ballindalloch whisky.

The elixir of life from the Speyside tantalizes the olfactory nicely. We're not surprised by this, as the expectations for Ballindalloch's first offspring were high. Would the flavor be as promising as the lush aromas that we just found so appealing?

The drink flows velvety smooth into the mouth, leaving a warming sensation on the lips and tongue. What a magnificent dram this is. The higher alcohol percentage is noticeable but not distracting. Better yet, it gives the whisky more body, thereby an added dimension of taste which we did not expect after the sweet and fresh scents during sniffing.

Vanilla, honey, and cinnamon are all around. This is what you hope for when you purchase a single cask whisky from a bourbon cask. The flavor goes on and on, shifting from sweet to malty and fruity. The taste sensation continues on the palate with homemade granola, Haribo peaches, and dried apricot.

Tip: add a drop of water to the whisky, which is common for whiskies with such a high alcohol percentage. After not one, but two drops added to the whisky, the drink becomes even livelier. The fruitiness is highlighted more and the freshness of green apple and pear returns, but vanilla and honey also peek around for the finale. The finish is long, fruity, and warming.

With its rich aromas and full, complex taste, this dram is likely to appeal to almost every lover of the divine drink. Every breath over the glass and every sip bring new flavors, all in a more than pleasant manner.

Ballindalloch steps onto the podium with this Single Cask Bourbon Cask shortly after its release, in our opinion.

+       Rich aromas

+       Smooth taste despite the higher alcohol percentage

+       Complex and tasty

-        140 euros is, despite this Ballindalloch being worth it in our opinion, a lot of money