Old Ballantruan 'The Peated Malt' Whisky 70cl

Not as smooth as the 10 or 15 year old ones, but still a beautiful dram at a very reasonable price. Loved it!

I love peaty Islay malts but was looking for a change and thought a peaty yet light Speyside sounded unusual. First taste was underwhelming but maybe my expectations were wrong. Anyway, revisited the following evening and I am now a big fan. Complex smoke with a very smooth and rich finish. Will buy again.

A very good peaty dram, the peat is different, not Islay style, not in a bad way, I really enjoyed it.
Beyond the peat it is sweet and tasty.
At 50% and NCF it is well above many .
Blended with Talisker 10, Highland peat is on top and it got more pungent.

Note the negative reviews as well as the positive, they are all relevant. This is a very bold whisky, I am still searching for more texture and layers. I am not yet sure if a lot is being hidden behind the large peat character.

It is very much like the Ileach and Scarabus, these big, bold young Islay expressions. So much so I double checked where each expression is from. I am hoping for more subtlety from this as the bottle sits a while, now it is opened. As a fan of all things Isla, I do actually prefer the straight Tomintoul 16 and that is not cask strength.

It sat forty minutes first, with a splash of water; still it was a neck pour so bear in mind.

I am telling you that after a curry this is the sweetest, smoothest, tastiest dram ever! After a cold day shooting 12 over on the links, a wee dram or three does the trick, to really take the mind off the golf. It really is exceptional stuff, so tasty and moreish. If you like Islay, e.g. Lagavulin 16 or 8 both top notch, but this is around £10 cheaper and gives you a big bang for the buck. I drink it with 1 ice cube (sorry!), and don't touch it for 5-10 mins, then go for it...you will not be displeased. It really is sensational.

Not to bad a malt but would not buy again as it leaves a funny aftertaste on the palate.

So, with an open and eager heart, we opened this bottle on one of our late Friday afternoon tasting sessions. The sting of a young single malt was immediately apparent. Forgivable, some can pull it off, right? We went against Jim Murray on this one and added some water to lighten it up, disperse and diffuse the intensity a bit. Did a bit to open it, but still, the next problem did not disappear. The early taste is alright, clearly a Speyside with an infusion of (or at least a nod to) an Islay bent. But within microseconds, the taste morphs into an almost plastic-like hold. The aftertaste carries on this decidedly unpleasant taste for the remainder of the nip. The most critical of the group said nailpolish and diapers. Final verdict on our end - worth knowing about, there is effort in this, but not a repeat purchase. Belongs in a much lower price range.

I got a sample of this. It’s not often I have to pour a whisky down the sink. There are so many whiskies that are better at this price point.

Very surprising to get such a complex peaty flavour like this from a speyside whisky, if you like port askaig or ardbeg you will love this. Top value for money

Islay beware; you can take the high road but I'm taking the low road to Speyside!!!