Alpha Two : 13yo Croftengea

@AlphaWhisky2019 is an independent bottler based in a small shop in Edinburgh. 

Their 2nd release is a heavily peated Croftengea (Loch Lomond) matured for 13 years with a finish in a first fill Madeira Cask.

Alpha Whisky is owned by whisky enthusiasts, based in the Scottish capital, they "aim to excite and inspire fellow lovers of scotch whisky". Starting back in 2019 as s a group of whisky connoisseurs, seeking unique, characterful single malts they have developed into an independent business, with an ever growing shareholder base.

Alpha bought their first cask in February 2020, just before lock-down, a 1st Fill Oloroso Sherry Hogshead from the Auchroisk Distillery - this is yet to be released! But since then they've released 4 bottlings, uniquely in full 70cl and pocked sized 20cl bottles.

Alpha sent me a bottle of their Croftengea Alpha Two to review.

Alpha Two : Loch Lomond Croftengea 2007 Cask #216 13yo FF Madeira Cask finish 55.9%

Bottler info:

Nose:  The nose evokes the atmosphere of a warm greenhouse with leafy tomato plants and mulchy compost.  It has appealing maritime notes of sea bass wrapped in jamon ham, chilli and chocolate.  With water, herbal notes develop, with black olive tapenade, olive oil and roasted red peppers.  After time a comforting chocolate and maltiness emerges.

Palate:  The unreduced flavours are robust with toasted oats and smoky peat.  Reduced, the maritime character develops with a grilled seafood platter and brine washed sea kelp.  With time salted caramel and bitter chocolate with sea salt emerge.

Finish:  The finish is big and bold, hot, toasted and chunky at full strength.  A lovely dram for the end of the night.

My thoughts:

Appearance: Dark gold in the glass, swirls cling as a thick line, taking it's time to bead up and falling as slow thick legs.

Nose: Peat smoke is very prominent, grassy and salty. There are herbal notes, roasted nuts and chocolate. Layers of tropical fruit, salted caramel and damp earth.

Palate: Thick fruity arrival immediately followed by a blanket of maritime peat smoke. Dry spice and berry fruit notes appear with subsequent sips. The salted caramel and roasted nuts from the nose are back alongside salted lemons and white pepper.

Finish: Medium length with citrus, salinity, peppery spice and that ever present peat smoke.

Overall: A lovely dram, a little different to a lot of Croftengea I've had before due to it's maturation. The Madeira finish has added some berry fruit and caramel notes to the thick peat smoke you'd expect.

Alpha's Releases:

Alpha	Distillery	Year	Age	Cask	ABV
Fore	Inchfad (Loch Lomond)	2007	15	Bourbon	53.8%
Three	Deanston	2009	12	FF Bourbon	56.3%
Two	Croftengea (Loch Lomond)	2007	13	FF Madeira	55.9%
One	Royal Brackla	2008	12	FF Oloroso	55%