Virtual tasting: Ailsa Bay Deconstruction Tasting with W Club

The @WhiskyShop W Club organise regular virtual tastings, selling samples for a zoom tasting.

For June this was a Deconstruction Tasting of @AilsaBay's Release 1.2 Sweet Smoke.

The tasting cost £25 and included 5 x 30ml drams.

• Ailsa Bay ex-Hudson Quarter Cask Sample 58.6% ABV
• Ailsa Bay Virgin Oak Cask 62.5% ABV
• Ailsa Bay First Fill Bourbon Cask 59.5% ABV
• Ailsa Bay Refill American Oak Cask 60.9% ABV
• Ailsa Bay 1.2 Sweet Smoke 48.9% ABV

Brand Ambassador Calum Fraser took us through the deconstruction of Girvan Distillery's Ailsa Bay 1.2 Sweet Smoke.

Brief tasting notes:

ex-Hudson Quarter Cask Sample 58.6% ABV 25-100 litre casks 

Appearance: Mid gold in the glass, swirls cling as a thin line, form small beads and fall as slow thin legs.

Nose: Honey, coconut, vanilla, salinity, peppery spice

Palate: Thick sweet arrival, golden syrup,  brown sugar, toffee, salinity : salted caramel? ABV is here but not overpowering. Some tropical fruit: pineapple, coconut, vanilla and lip tingling peppery spice.

Finish: Lingering brown sugar, coconut, vanilla.

Thoughts: Lovely sample, this is used to add the sweet note to Ailsa Bay.

Virgin Oak Cask 62.5% ABV approx 3-4yo

Appearance: Dark gold / bronze in the glass, swirls cling as a thin line, form small beads and fall as slow thin legs.

Nose: Gentle smoke, BBQ sauce, bonfire toffee, brown sugar.

Palate: Thick dry arrival, very warming. Brown sugar, honey, toffee, peppery spice. Some hints of tropical fruit, sherry, berries - interesting!

Finish: Lingering dry ashy smoke, toffee, oak.

Thoughts: The best sample of the night, it really stood out, I'd buy a bottle! This is used to add the dry smoke note to Ailsa Bay.

 

First Fill Bourbon Cask 59.5% ABV 

Appearance: Mid gold in the glass, swirls cling as a thin line, form small beads and fall as slow thin legs.

Nose: Gentle smoke, fudge, over ripe bananas, a little salinity, liquorice, candle wax.

Palate: Stewed orchard fruit to start, ashy smoke, dry salinity, golden syrup, liquorice, spicy pepper and sour citrus.

Finish:  Lingering peppery spice, orchard fruit.

Thoughts: The weakest sample of the 5 but this is probably the backbone of Ailsa Bay before the other flavours are overlaid.

Refill American Oak Cask 60.9% ABV 

Appearance: Pale gold in the glass, swirls cling as a thin line, form large beads and fall as slow thick legs.

Nose: Huge smoke: BBQ steak, salinity, digestive biscuits, rubber, damp wood. A little new makey - obviously very young.

Palate: Thick spicy arrival, huge earthy smoke, bunt toast, orchard fruit.

Finish:  Lingering dry smoke, orchard fruit, huge peppery spice.

Thoughts: Very Caol Ila like! A little of this adds the lovely smoke notes to Ailsa Bay.

Ailsa Bay 1.2 Sweet Smoke 48.9% ABV 

Appearance: Mid gold in the glass, swirls cling as a thin line, form thick beads and fall as slow thick legs.

Nose: Gentle smoke, golden syrup, salted caramel, orchard fruit, white chocolate, vanilla and a little liquorice.

Palate: Thick sweet arrival, golden syrup, orchard fruit, gentle peppery spice, huge lingering smoke. There's also some salinity, toasted marshmallows, citrus zest and marzipan.

Finish:  Lingering sweetness, smoke and some tropical fruit notes.

Thoughts: A lovely dram, it's fairly easy to see where it's component parts come from when you try the cask samples but for me I'd rather take a bottle of the Virgin Cask!