Aultmore 12yr Old

As my job is focussed very much on the Moray coast this Banffshire malt caught my eye this evening. Bought in Gordon & MacPhail Whisky shop in Elgin back in October 21, it cost £58. I thought I'd have a wee dram whilst my better half watched some tv and I pottered about in my study. 

I'd opened it but not had more than one or two tastes previously.

To my nose there it is green, not the smell of cut stalks and leaves in a florist, not of freshly mown grass, but there is a greenness to it and not a lot else. I guess it's quite clean and there's not much flavour to it from either the barrel or the terroir. 

The first taste is pretty bland to be honest, there's not a lot there at all. Caramel, soft in tone does come after the finish and perhaps a pear note too but nothing which is exciting. This is a light whisky, and probably more akin to Glen Grant than other whisky I have. A second sip is better but still nothing to write home about and on the whole I'm left a bit disappointed. 

Chasing the Glen Grant taste, which I do like, I got a bottle of ginger beer from the fridge. And pouring some into the glass did give it that dry highball taste which some might like on a warm sunny afternoon or evening. But it's not as good. 

Looking at the official tasting notes Master of Malt reports - " A refreshing dram, with plenty of vanilla, honey and citrus, alongside a touch of grassiness".  

I guess I wasn't a millions miles off. 

This isn't my thing and probably explains why I couldn't remember it two years after buying.  Id quite happily leave this one out to be plundered by others at a BBQ or house party.