Meikle Tòir The Sherry One & Meikle Tòir Turbo

Meikle Tòir The Sherry One

Region: Speyside

ABV: 48.0%

Price: £41.00

The Sherry One is a peated whisky produced at the GlenAllachie Distillery, utilising mainland peat sourced from St. Fergus. The spirit boasts a peating level of 35ppm, that underwent a fermentation period of 160 hours. Its initial maturation took place in American oak bourbon barrels, followed by a finishing period in Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry puncheons.

Nose

Upon first nosing, there's a charred sweetness reminiscent of BBQ sauce or marinade, complemented by aftershave, red cola, pine cones, cigar ash, coffee grounds, a hint of tobacco, fudge, and a touch of pepper, though notably absent of any real spice. Revisiting after allowing it to breathe reveals a meaty peat lurking in the background, accompanied by notes of gingerbread and eucalyptus.

Palate

Initially, the palate is engulfed in smoke and ash, with a dominant smoky bacon flavour that then shifts towards cardamom and turmeric spices. It tastes more alcoholic than its ABV would suggest. Amidst this, there's a sweetness reminiscent of toffee apple and a brown sugar latte. The finish is medium, lingering with spice and burnt coffee notes. The mouthfeel is pleasing and subtly syrupy. While the expected sherry fruitiness is lacking, there are additional notes of tobacco and dark chocolate.

Nose (with water)

Adding water maintains the presence of pine notes, aftershave, ash, and the sweetness of brown sugar-rubbed BBQ brisket, though these elements are somewhat diminished. New flavours of ginger cake and Bovril emerge, alongside an increased meatiness reminiscent of beef casserole. For us, the whisky was more complex before dilution and now feels a bit one-dimensional.

Palate (with water)

Adding water makes it spicier and the mouthfeel becomes thinner, akin to drinking dirty water. A note of brown sugar sweetness emerges more prominently on the finish, yet aside from that, the dram remains largely unchanged.

Conclusion

We recommend not adding water to this one. Undiluted, it's somewhat rough, yet it displays potential, especially considering it's only five years old. While we anticipated a sherry bomb, that wasn't what we found. However, what we did experience was perfectly drinkable.

Score: 6.5/10

Value

The price point isn't terrible, but there are certainly better options available for the same amount of money.

Meikle Tòir Turbo

Region: Speyside

ABV: 50.0%

Price: £51.00

Turbo derives its name from the spirit cut boasting the highest phenol content. Like The Sherry One, it employs St. Fergus peat to dry the barley, achieving a phenol level of 71ppm. This whisky underwent maturation for five years in a mix of three medium-toasted and medium-charred American virgin oak casks, alongside five first-fill Oloroso hogsheads. 2,500 bottles were released.

Nose

The initial aromas include pine cones, fresh wood, soft leather, a hint of ash, and flat Tizer. Upon exposure to air, subtle notes of ginger cake, orange peel, butter, cinnamon, Dairy Milk chocolate, cracked black pepper, and menthol emerge. Additionally, scents of caramel strudel and a hint of red fruits become apparent with time. Surprisingly, the ABV isn't as noticeable as we were expecting.

Palate

Initially, a strong burst of smoke and ash strikes, reminiscent of a log-burning fire. Following the peat is a pleasant wave of sweet sugar syrup, complemented by touches of pine cone, smoked almonds, and rice pudding. The mouthfeel is a blend of syrupy and creamy textures. The finish has a medium length, with lingering notes of ash and sweetness. Similar to the nose, the ABV's impact is surprisingly subtle. Upon revisiting, additional notes of eucalyptus, ginger, burnt wood, red cola, and gammon appear.

Nose (with water)

Adding water introduces a bit more smoke and earthiness. Notable flavours include streaky bacon, caramel sauce, an increased presence of pine cones, coconuts, wet earth, and a note reminiscent of muddy water.

Palate (with water)

With the addition of water, the smokiness intensifies, and while the texture becomes slightly thinner, there's a pronounced influence of heavy charred wood. The profile is enriched with ample dirt and earth notes, along with more red cola. The spice character is now predominantly reminiscent of jalapeños.

Conclusion

This dram is enjoyable neat but also holds up well to a bit of water. Despite also being five years old, the full maturation process has notably benefited this release. We are eager to see how a few more years maturation will impact the distilleries peated malt output.

Score: 7/10

Value

It's slightly more expensive than "The Sherry One," but personally, we find the additional cost justified for this release.

• 10 - Perfection. One in a million
• 9 - Outstanding. Exceptional whisky.
• 8 - Great. Would seek this out.
• 7 - Good. Quality whisky.
• 6 - Above average. Happy to have a dram.
• 5 - Average. Drinkable whisky.
• 4 - Below average. Passable.
• 3 - Flawed. Noticeable negatives.
• 2 - Defective. Significant faults.
• 1 - Offensive. Pour it out.

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