Ben Bracken 22yo 40% ABV

It seems the 22yo is also from an Islay distillery, and i found one opinion that this could be from Laphroaig, other than that no definitive info could be found. Clydesdale Whisky Co seem to be the bottlers again, at 40% ABV

Appearance

Quite a dark gold here, burnished copper comes to mind, the medium thick swirl line beads up quite quickly and drops slow medium thick legs. #thewhiskeychaps

Nose

Peated, but different to the 19yo, and I’d say likely to be a different distillery too. Much more menthol here, seems sweeter all round tbh. The peat is there, but it isn’t as pronounced, it’s also more botanical for me. #thewhiskeychaps

Eucaluptus, lemoncello, faint seaweed, the peat is lighter for me, this is more Smokey, like we’ll toasted tea cakes. #thewhiskeychaps

Palate

Now the mouthfeel improves, quite nice, and it’s a peat spice dram. The peat is more prominent on the palate, and a salinity joins it for me, it’s also like virgin oak spicy too, they go together quite well I think. #thewhiskeychaps

More seaweed, caramel, rum and raisin, sweeter peat, raisins, black pepper, definitely a chocolate orange thing as others suggest. It’s becoming quite zesty as it develops too, grapefruit, guava, bitter lemon too. #thewhiskeychaps

Finish

Shortish, and slowly becoming diluted. I enjoyed the palate in general, but now it’s thinning out. #thewhiskeychaps

My thoughts

Another most likely Islay peated Ben Bracken, and it tasted different to the 19yo, sweeter with lighter peat for me. Now @whiskytip paid £45 for this bottle at auction, it’s only 40% ABV, but it is 22 year old juice in the bottle, and i think i would most likely pay that for a bottle, i quite liked it, all things considered.

A big thank you goes out to @Jotterface, @pswhisky, @whiskytip, @mentaldrams and @DavidHaldane for joining us on our tasting this whisky was a part of.