Balmenach 30 Year Old Berry Bros & Rudd

30 year old refill hogsheads #155 & #156 distilled 1979.

2009 bottling of the rarely seen Speyside single malt.

Balmenach 

James McGregor built Balmenach Distillery on his farm in Cromdale in Scotland’s  Speyside whisky region in 1800. An ideal location with plenty of chilly peaty water flowing off the slopes of the imposing Hills of Cromdale. By 1897 a branch line from the Strathspey Railway enabled Balmenach Distillery to profit from the boom in demand for fine Speyside scotch whisky. Balmenach is one of  just a small number of Scottish distilleries to have retained its cast iron mash tun complete with internal cogged raking system, wooden washbacks, worm tubs to cool the new spirit from its six copper stills, round red brick chimney and dunnage warehouses. A gem in the Inver House Distillers portfolio.

The nose is engaging with some classy fruity depth and ancient polished oak. Certain smokiness appears with a brazil nut note. The palate delivers some oily, creamy intensity with smoke seeping through the fruit-cake layers. The final flavours trail off slowly with a firm handshake.