Introduction I was intrigued by this 22-year-old Allt-a-Bhainne right from the start, mostly because independent bottlings from this distillery don’t appear all that often—especially ones with such a decent amount of age. Distilled in 1998 and matured in an ex-bourbon hogshead, it was bottled by a respected independent label at natural cask strength. I didn’t expect anything loud or heavily peated—just hoped for something clean and well-aged with the kind of subtlety that long bourbon maturation can offer. Nose On the nose, it opens in a lightweight, slightly shy manner. I gave it a little time in the glass to open up. Once it did, I picked up soft orchard fruits—think green pear and apple skin—with hints of lemon peel underneath. There’s also a fresh barley note, and a mild waxiness that reminded me a bit of older Speyside malts. A soft honey note lingers in the background, balanced with some cut hay, making for a clean and quite consistent aromatic profile. Nothing extravagant here, but it felt natural and unforced. Palate The palate carries a slightly firmer texture than the nose suggests. It comes through with a lightly oily mouthfeel, coating but not heavy. There’s a mix of vanilla pods, lemon zest, and shortbread biscuits at first, followed by some grassy dryness. I also detected a very faint mineral edge—almost chalky but not distracting. It’s not sweet but also not overly dry—somewhere in between. With a couple drops of water, the fruit opens up a bit more and introduces a soft melon note that wasn’t there before. Finish The finish is medium in length, leaning toward the dry side. White pepper warmth appears briefly but fades fairly quickly. The lingering impressions were mostly grassy, slightly herbal, and clean. There's no real oak bitterness, and the integration is smooth overall—evidence of the slow maturation over two decades. It may not be a complex ending, but it wraps things up in a gentle, composed way. Price and Value As with many independently bottled single casks, the price isn’t exactly entry-level, but considering the age and natural presentation, I didn’t feel it was excessive. For someone looking to experience a clean, bourbon-aged Speyside malt with over two decades under its belt, this was a satisfying pour. It’s not one to grab for thrills, but if you’re into calm, natural whisky with a quiet elegance, this one justifies its shelf space. Background Allt-a-Bhainne was established in 1975 and is typically used in blends rather than bottled as a single malt. That's part of what makes a bottle like this more interesting to me—seeing a distillery’s quieter side, left to age on its own, without heavy cask influence. It's located in the Speyside region and is owned by Chivas Brothers. This particular expression was distilled in 1998 and matured in a single ex-bourbon hogshead before being bottled at 52.8% ABV, unchillfiltered and natural in colour. If you're interested, you can find more information about the distillery on the Chivas Brothers website. Final Notes Would I buy this bottle again? Probably not for daily sipping, but I appreciated the clarity and maturity it offered—so yes, if I were building a shelf with space for subtle, long-aged malts. Is it suitable for newcomers? Only if they’re ready for something understated; this whisky isn’t shouting flavours, it’s showing restraint. What kind of moment fits this whisky? Definitely a quiet evening or a contemplative dram; it doesn’t demand attention, but rewards a bit of patience. And in terms of how it compares with other Speyside malts? It’s more subtle and less rich than sherry-matured options—you really need to be fond of that clean, barley-first profile to enjoy it fully.