Ailsa Bay,

Peated Single Malt

48.9% ABV

Ailsa Bay is in the Lowlands, on the Clyde coast looking out towards Ailsa Craig, Kintyre and Arran. Its eight stills however produce a wide variety of styles of makes. This flexibility is deliberate as the distillery was built to both replace ‘Balvenie-style’ malt for Grant’s blends and offer other flavour possibilities. Given this, not surprisingly, the stills are shaped the same as Balvenie’s.

Four different characters are made: estery, nutty, fruity and heavily peated. This particular run shows off a sweet peat character

Tasting Notes

Nose: Custard and some phenolic ash, some Big Red too, becoming more chalky and cereal driven with subtle golden syrup. As the producer's notes state, bacon then emerges.

Palate: Undoubtedly meaty 'n' peaty. More of that chalky cereal (dry muesli?) and golden syrup with Big Red in support.

Finish: Sweet, smoky and drying. More Big Red with vanilla.