Bladnoch Alinta takes its name from an indigenous Australian word that means fire and flames. Remember the distillery is owned by an Australian entrepreneur. Launched in April 2022, it is their first smoky expression.
Alinta is a combination of first-fill bourbon barrels (around 12 years old) and first-fill Pedro Ximénez casks (around 4 years old). It is rather heavily peated at 60ppm.
Bladnoch Alinta (47%, OB 2022)
Nose: quite a buttery and musty start. In all honesty, I didn’t do my research before starting this review and I didn’t expect the peat. It’s not very smoke either, at first it came accross as a dirty Highlands style. Later there is toffee sweetness, worn leather and a mix of minty notes with metallic hints. Then also burnt vanilla and more obvious smoke.
Mouth: still a bit off. There’s a youthful alcoholic edge, a brown sugar sweetness and some peppery heat. Yellow apples and barbecue ashes. Sweaty notes. Light hints of fruit cake as well as a refreshing touch of mint and pine needle. Eyebrows are frowning.
Finish: short to medium length, with herbal notes, very light chocolate and vegetal smoke.
Except for the (slightly overdone) sweetness, this Bladnoch Alinta doesn’t show a classic PX influence (such a contrast to the lovely Bladnoch 14 Year Old). In fact it isn’t classic in any way. If you’re aiming for a harmonious composition, then a 4 year-old and a 12 year-old are possibly a bit too far apart? Especially the youth comes out. Available from The Whisky Exchange or Master of Malt for instance.