MaltMadness believes that Banff is the funniest distillery name in all of Scotland, and perhaps they are right. Since we are funny guys, we add a notch to our rifle and we taste a Banff, distilled in 1976 (what do you say? no, we were not born jet, not at all) bottled by Cadenhead’s in 2010 after 34 years of aging in an American oak barrel. As you may know, we will be at Cadenhead’s stand at the Milan Whisky Festival tomorrow and Sunday, and we will probably have this bottle with us! The color is golden.
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N: immediately very complex and very intense. General characteristics: an overflowing wax
(almost like a Clynelish), a light ‘earthy’, oily, mineral peat; clean, granitic and very pleasant honey notes. Do not think of an austerity ending unto itself: a great fanfare of ex-bourbon cask notes, creamy and fruity, is released next to the waxy side. It starts with a vanilla custard, and moves on to yellow apple, panna cotta, candied citrus fruits … His age shows only by the slight spicy woodiness which, however, hasn’t taken over jet (eucalyptus, or
maybe fresh flowers?). Slowly, a really lovely ‘dirty’ smoke grows. Orgeat syrup? Brazilian nut (Pecan nut)? Coconut? Complex, in continuous oscillation between creaminess and austerity. You could really find anything inside it…
P: fire to the powders! Basically, it seems consistent with the nose: it certainly seems less peaty, but that sense of oil, wax and honey is strongly confirmed. Very large orange, and very large citrus, in general; then again cream, vanilla, a stunning dried fruit note (it’s raining Brazilian walnut!), banana, very creamy yellow fruit … Even if we try to section it and describe the different nuances, everything is very compact and proudly united.
F: long and persistent; infinite. Here the smoke returns. You can also taste wood, vanilla, cream, wax … and an astonishing note of bitter chocolate.
“ccezzionale!”: compact, wax-cream-oil: surprisingly, we do not recommend adding water, which in this case does not benefit the malt, but on the contrary it does weaken the majestic compact palate. As the first Banff in our career, we really can’t complain! The mark will be 93/100. See you tomorrow at the festival, then?
Recommended sountrack: David Byrne e St. Vincent – The Forest Awakes, e grazie a Tombino.
