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Balmenach
distillery is situated in Cromdale,
Grantown-on-Spey, Morayshire (Speyside) and was founded, or at
least obtained an official license to operate in 1824.
It
remained in the McGregor family until 1922 when it was sold
to a blending company and then sold onwards various times over
the next 40 years.
In
1983 United Distillers bought the distillery, only to
mothball it ten years later in 1993. |
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United Distillers became Diageo but they sold the distillery
onwards again, this time to Inver House Distillers in 1997 who
restarted production in the Spring of 1998.
Balmenach has a capacity of around 2 million litres of pure
alcohol per year.
General whisky characteristics: Smooth, fresh, herbal |
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Balmenach-Glenlivet, 14y,
57.5% ABV
Typical cost of
this bottle; Unknown |
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Glass:
lClassic Malt
Colour:
lRich and dark, teak.
Nose:
Initially furniture polish over warming bread dough. It's very
aromatic and after a few minutes in the glass it turns quite
herbal.
Palate:
Rich and warming, peppery tingly. It's
mouth-coating with a suggestion of that furniture polish and
(black) pepperiness.
Finish:
Everlasting.
Overall Impression:
Fantastic, "Great", just how whisky should be. |
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G&M,
Balmenach,
distilled 1989,
43% ABV
Connoisseurs Choice
Typical cost of
this bottle; €€€€€ |
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Nose:
Immediately fresh malty grass.
Palate:
Very
smooth with hints of popcorn and liquorice in a basket of fresh
herbs.
Finish: Long.
Overall Impression:
My first Balmenach
and I like it.
Smooth and long
with a distinct freshness.
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Maltbarn,
Balmenach,
32y, 1979-2012,
53.1% ABV
Matured in a
Bourbon Barrel, Maltbarn Edition 4, one of 209 bottles
Typical cost of
this bottle; €€€€€
Tasted (blind)
for MMA 2012 |
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Glass:
Classic Malt
Colour: 9ct
yellow gold
Nose:
Nicely aromatic but just a little dry. There's an
almost light leafiness initially present, maybe grainy bread,
maybe even porridge oats? Also a gentle musky perfumed quality,
lightly prefumed bread dough? Very pleasant and very different.
Palate:
That perfumed bread dough-iness really comes to
the fore on the palate alongside a fruitiness of apples, pears
and cherries. It's quite mouth-coating too, chalky? Not really,
coconut?
Finish:
Long
with some coconut right at the end.
Overall Impression:
Excellent, very enjoyable. Gimme more.
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