New Release: Ailsa Bay Official First Release

The first release from a new distillery, unexpectedly a peated malt. Ailsa Bay AILSA BAY OB 48.9% The aroma features green apple, fresh orange, vanilla, strong smoky peat, youthful barley notes with a touch of greenery, nuts, and oil. On the palate, it starts softly before gradually becoming spicy, with immature orange, young barley with a hint of immaturity, root vegetables, diluted honey sweetness and acidity, strong smoke, and an oily finish. [Good] The new Ailsa Bay distillery built by William Grant & Sons in Lorn is located alongside their Gruvelstone Distillery, which produces grain whisky. This distillery only began distilling in 2007, and I imagine it has significant production capacity to secure sufficient cask strength whisky for increased output. I had assumed it would be a distillery like Kininvi, focused on securing cask strength whisky. Given that it's Lorn Malt and typically doesn't release much single malt, I was surprised by how quickly this first release appeared. This bottle is the first official release of Ailsa Bay single malt, with no age statement and an unusual proof setting with added water. The biggest surprise was that it's a peated malt, which is characteristic of Lorn Malt. I suspect the cask strength whisky was specifically prepared for single malt. Peated malts mature quickly, which makes sense given its youthful profile. The aroma suggests bourbon cask influence with green apple, fresh citrus, and vanilla notes. The base has youthful barley and greenery characteristics, but these are masked by a strong smoky peat. On the palate, I sensed some immaturity in the barley and root vegetable notes, but the smoky flavor makes it drinkable. The slight oily nuance in the aroma and the absence of seaweed or dashi-like elements despite its smokiness are typical of Lorn's peated malt. Based solely on the current flavor profile, it's hard to call it exceptionally delicious, but it's refreshing to see such a distinctive single malt released with an eye on enthusiasts. It's exciting to wonder how it will age in the future and whether other types will be released, making this distillery suddenly feel more accessible. #Ailsa Bay (AILSA BAY)