ralfy review 1017 - Torabhaig Allt Gleann single malt @61.1%vol:

[@Simbay138]

We chose Torabhaig over Talisker for a distillery tour when we visited the Isle of Skye last October. So pleased we did, they really conveyed their passion, similar to another comment I waited til I returned home before I purchased a bottle. Side note ... we also took the short ferry across to Raasay a few days later, another good decision. I think a score of 83 is a fantastic rating for young release, onward and upward!

[@WhoeverNevermind]

This has to be one of the most endearing, informative, funny and well put together videos of yours, Mr. Ralfy. An actual masterclass on how to talk to an internet audience about a topic as potentially complex as this particular bottle could be.

[@brentkasl6510]

Been anxiously awaiting this review from Ralfy, we toured Scotland in 2022 for our 42nd wedding anniversary and had several distillery tours mapped out as we made the clockwise loup from Edinburgh and back via Skye Torabhaig was a great tour, history of previous farm, location excellent and building grounds clean and impressive I enjoyed the tour and was able to source a bottle when back in US, glad Ralfy agrees with its future

[@terrortower666]

If they watch their prices and maintain a good wood policy, Torabhaig could become a bit of a contemporary favourite of mine. Glenwyvis was another young distiller that really impressed me, but in an entirely different way. Also, another thing to note, the amount of scotch mist I got from this was insane!

[@RebMordechaiReviews]

Hi Ralfy. I haven't tried the Cask Strength version but have gone through two bottles of their 46% abv editions. The first thing that I noticed was that even at 46% abv and only three years old, unlike your experience, there is absolutely no alcohol nip whatsoever. Immediately, I became aware of this really strong smell of sweet earthy grainy malted barley. (Obviously from the peat). Initial nosing brings aromas of raw wet farmyard malted barley in husks. This barley cereal-ness comes out on the palate as well and is obviously the result of the long gentle peat drying process. *Aroma and Taste* Creamy peated barley. A hint of Menthol which reminds me of Golan Heights Single Malt (without the peat of course). The smell of fresh timber from a newly built Log cabin, with some still wet wood resin. Vanilla pods, white heather honey, baked apple, spices and caramel fudge on the finish. Sweet Peated grains and sea breeze air. Yeasty Raw Wholemeal Flour Bread Dough. Sweet Hay, newly built barn yard made from freshly cut wood. Rose petals and green leaves in the rain. New Leather Gloves. White freshly squeezed Grape juice, cut open green grapes. Baked Garden Red Apples. Russet Apples. Sweet Lemon juice. A slight sourness like “sweet” stewed Rhubarb. Copper Kettle, Copper Pot. Sweet, cakey, sour, tart and tangy. *Tasting notes* Quite barley oily rather than creamy barley. Soft peat in the background adding to the wet Barley flavours and spices. Despite it not being nippy straight from the bottle, you really must add water or you are missing out on a whole load of flavours. Smokey Barley and chocolate breakfast cereal chewy bar. Heather Honey. Golden Syrup, Treacle. Walkers Shortbread biscuits. Bitter 80% Cocoa Chocolate. Burnt Golden Fudge. Raw Bread Dough Russet Apples. Macadamia nuts. Baked Apples, Rhubarb and caramel custard. *Finish* Slightly briny, drinking chocolate powder, Sour Savoury at the back of the tongue.* This quickly dissipates in the mouth leaving a Russets apple, Shortbread, honey and a slight copper pots flavour at the end.

[@trevorbrown389]

Torabhaig is wonderful. Their 2017 legacy series blew me away. The regular Alt Gleann is also superb. Of all the new cats out there, including Adnamuchan, Torabhaig excite me the most.

[@fishsurfer1]

Huge fan of this initial release. In a few years i think this will be really splendid.

[@alexk3088]

Kudos to Torabhaig and Mossburn. I enjoyed Mossburn's two blended malts - Island and Speyside, with young Torabhaig being a component in the Island - and I look forward to their new expressions of blended malts with more mature Torabhaig, and hopefully with age statements. Mossburn is also an indie bottler and I have a couple of their bottles for later (Mannochmore and Glentauchers). Loved the inaugural Torabhaig and have a bottle of 46% Allt Gleann stashed.

[@johnandrus3901]

I've always enjoyed Mossburn. Unfortunately, they don't carry it anymore, where I live, in the States. If I find it during my travels, I'll be sure to pick up a few bottles.

[@bryanabrams5916]

Torabhaig is making great stuff. Ive had the 2017 Inaugural Release and the Altt Gleann 46% edition. I think the Altt Gleann is far better than the first bottling. It was good enough to buy multiple bottles for roughly $60 per bottle, especially knowing this particular bottle is being discontinued locally. Talisker is definitely NOT the only distillery on SKYE now! The tasting experience was very close to Laphroig QC, which I also really enjoy! I think this is a bargain at $60. Obviously, I love my peat and still somewhat of a newcomer to the world of Scotch.

[@mvv1408]

I tried the regular version (@ 46% abv, distilled 2017/2018). It's still a bit rough and young, like you said, but the distillate is very good, as are the casks, and it's already quite enjoyable. When this hits 10YO, it will be a belter!

[@jimmypaul9424]

Good rewiew. You got to love RALFY 'S comments on the removal of the lid. Priceless .

[@WhiskySlayer-kw3hu]

Ralphy love this stream. No editing just straight from the heart ♥️.

[@gatorjak]

Hello Ralfy, I purchased a bottle of this 10 months ago while visiting Isle of Skye. I thought it was nice. Thanks for reviewing this, I agree your review. Being newer in my whisky journey I didn’t get as much as you did from it.

[@joestarkie5597]

I had one of these last Christmas and would definitely buy again.

[@EllieDe]

I visited last year. I done the north coast 500 starting from Essex in a old Mini. Was brilliant. That distillery was great. Great location and nice people

[@jfgenie]

The visual presentation, and smell and taste review reminds me of Morrison's Mac-Talla Mara Islay Single Malt. It is my absolute favorite peaty whisky now, even more so than Octomore, and rushed out and bought quite a few bottles before they disappeared! ;)

[@WhiskeyKnows]

Thank you for the teaching today Ralfy!!

[@jillleon55555]

Ive got the 46% and the cask strength edition, love both.

[@bosswardrop]

I love Torabhaig whisky - great distillery, lovely people with a brilliant future ahead of them.

[@AN-om5to]

I love it as well. The best new distillery in my opinion

[@jonasmehr7622]

I had the pleasure of visiting them at their distillery last autumn and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Really looking forward to some of their more aged stuff once it's ready, though I quite like the young bottlings they already have out too

[@TJO1913]

I also like what I'm seeing from the early releases of Torabhaig. Certainly young, spirity and rough around the edges, but the distillate has good bones. I suspect that with more maturity of their stock this distillery will be the subject of serious conversation among enthusiasts. Thanks Ralfy.

[@alexk3088]

Some enthusiasts actually like the untamed roughness of a quality spirit, not to be confused with rotgut roughness of low quality. I'm not saying that it's absolutely better than the refined aged malts, but I do enjoy "difficult" malts. I thoroughly enjoyed the inaugural Torabhaig, even though I still love Talisker.

[@peatbull3426]

​@@alexk3088welcome to the club 👌🤠🥂🙋🏻‍♂️

[@grahamokeefe9406]

This stuff is going to be amazing at 10 or 12 years.

[@Koby616]

Bought it few days ago. Looking forward to try it. They give so much information on the box and bottle. I love how you inform people about the product, how they should look at it and who should buy it. Gooj job Ralfy 😊

[@enotrilogy]

Their national brand embassitor is visiting us tomorrow. I love this Batch Strength bottling. Looking forward to the future versions from them!

[@nicktheflybradley]

What a great review Ralfy! Well done. I will look out for it locally. Nick from York

[@christinecamley]

I’m thrilled to listen to this review of a single malt scotch that I very much want to try - the sooner the better! Fabulous ABV! Amazing comprehensive review Ralfy! A heavily peated bruiser sounds outstanding!! I can’t wait to add this to my list to explore! It’s definitely an expression to add water to and experiment!! Thanks so much Ralfy!! Cheers!!

[@grahamokeefe9406]

I don't think you'll be disappointed.

[@j.r.lalancette4588]

Very timely review as the new release is out in two weeks - Cnoc Na Moine. It will have a wee bit of sherry in it, and even better it will be sold at the same price as the Allt Gleann at 46%. Excellent work they do at that distillery and very much flying under the radar as their bottlings scream quality.

[@grahamokeefe9406]

My shop hasn't got it yet, but the proprietor was talking up the Allt Gleann. I didn't want to pay the extra freight for the cask strength because I also picked up a Signatory bottling of Bunnahabhain

[@Alfred-KnowYourRights]

I watch your reviews with much interest. They are always a delight to watch from the U.S. perspective. Although some are not available here, I always try to find the whisky you speak of. For instance, I really feel that your reviews of the OSWAs winners are winners in my book. Torabhaig I would love to try, even though it is young and new. I love peated whisky and this one sounds good. I wish I could buy it; well maybe soon.

[@sandrofazzolari8833]

Never tried this one dear Ralfy, but I will definitely keep an eye out for it. Thanks 🙏 and kind regards, S.

[@ishaanbhardwaj8992]

Torabhaig is surprisingly available in the US (at least the west coast) but I've only seen the standard 46% abv bottling

[@grahamokeefe9406]

On the east coast as well.

[@alyr9640]

Drinking this whisky reminded me of an old candy commercial here in the US for Reese’s peanut butter cups, where two people run into each other - one holding peanut butter and the other holding chocolate. When they collide the two foods get mixed and the people exclaim: “you got chocolate in my peanut butter”. “ no you got peanut butter on my chocolate!” I felt like if you switched out the chocolate and peanut butter for Islay and island whiskies you could make the same commercial now for Torabhaig. It really was the best of both worlds.

[@colindoan4135]

Happy to see youre talking about this one Ralfy, I am a huge fan of this whisky! Young but very well put together in my opinion.

[@GlenLossie]

I have to admit to having bought a couple of bottles of the Allt Gleann Batch Strength on the basis of Serge's notes. As a wine geek I find myself seduced by notes referring to wine and, in this case it was "a lot of fern-type notes, then peppered clams and winkles and whelks and cockles. And a good glass of petroly Alsatian riesling." How could I resist? Plus it was on sale for less than the regular Allt Gleann. As far as youth is concerned I am well and truly over the age statement obsession. Having enjoyed the Ardbeg 5 (which some critics thought better than the 10), the Lagavulin 8 (again some critics preference to the 16), and the lovely North Star Caol Ila 8 year old charity bottling, I have no issues with youth provided the whisky is good. And let's not forget the excellent Octomores which are both young and high proof. When I get to opening my bottle I will indeed keep an eye out for Ralphy's savoury sounding mustard notes.

[@chrisgwhisky]

Awesome review Ralfy. Maybe this whisky isn’t quite ready but I’m so glad you reviewed it and it’s clear that you did so out of sheer interest and excitement about the distillery. Kudos!

[@Mikego55]

Unfortunately in the USA in my neck of the woods, it’s only available @46 ABV

[@dane5896]

Cheers Whisky Wizard 🥃

[@WhoeverNevermind]

6:44 I have a budget, and I am a peathead, soo I bought it immediately. Thanks Ralfy!

[@55Mrgraham]

Thanks for this Ralfy, great review and full of knowledge for my whiskey journey! Cheers 👍🇨🇦🥃

[@pfalzgraf7527]

Good to hear from one of these. I understand your take on not introducing too many new ones - but, as someone in mainland Europe, I am interested in your take on those. Just for info.

[@maticzupancic943]

Plenty of love & appreciation for your contributions dear Ralfy! Your loyal flock of Moon-struck Malt-maniacal mad-men (which can also be a Malt mention suggestion)

[@cantbendknee]

I was actually looking at the 46% one last night. Thinking, has Ralfy reviewed it.

[@Balkonwhisky]

Hello Ralfy, i had the 46% Version about 2 Years ago and i really enjoyed it. Fair Price, High Quality, Honest Presentation. 👍 It surely wasn't the last Bottle i will have from this Distillery.

[@grahamokeefe9406]

It's only going to get better. The basic spirit is great. With good care, the ten year old is going to be fantastic.

[@funkyskypilot]

Speaking of supermarket malts, I noticed that M&S have a Kilchoman exclusive release on sale for £40 at the moment; 46%, non-chill filtered and no colour added. It looks interesting.

[@thewhiskybothy]

. . . quality is not good.

[@funkyskypilot]

@@thewhiskybothyAh, shame. Thanks for the heads up.

[@grahamokeefe9406]

I just picked up a bottle of the 46% version. Will open it tonight!

[@grahamokeefe9406]

I quite like it! It's surprisingly light. The smoke is aggressive, but not unruly.

[@yusufsayed1583]

Good Evening 😊 Thanks for another Good review 👏🏼👏🏼 Have a great day and Cheers 🍻 From South Africa 🇿🇦

[@rkostyantyn]

It would be interesting to compare Torabhaig with Mossburn's Caesteal Chamius Blended Malt, which also seems to have Torabhaig in it and additionally finished in different casks and much cheaper)

[@laspiraledesvinssnb7587]

the CC is of very good quality and quite close to the Torabhaig in terms of quality to my palate (tasted side by side in whisky shows). The aromatics are less original due to the Caol Ila share.

[@HebrideanBBQ]

Pretty good on the pronunciation. Got it all covered. 👌🏻 A respectable mark. I’m looking forward to sampling it myself.

[@valterkaugust8511]

Hm, surprised to see positive revues on this one, had a bottle i think 2 years ago that i didn't like. It had clear tones of sewer i remember. Perhaps i should give it another chance, might have been a bad batch or something. It did make a nice whisky souer tho...

[@HistoryNut-1701]

I doubt we’ll be seeing this on the shelves here in the States anytime soon…

[@IWillSayMyPeace]

Ralfy should write a book. Though I disagreed with some of his findings. For instance what was said about the sweet, warm, friendly go to of mine JW Black Label. Other than that, great stuff dear old Ralfy.

[@mark5ization]

@15:21 - You're being too kind, Ralf dear. Some would call it after what comes out a baby when s/he has an upset tummy 👶🤢

[@andreasinobelarusmcewen5000]

If you mix achotshen with gin it bring,s out fruit notes.

[@Mike__hock]

I have got to ask, do you purchase all the whisky you review or do you get distilleries seeking you out?! Long time subscriber finally asks a question!!

[@thewhiskybothy]

. . . buy it. Keeps things 'clean'.

[@MortAllachie]

Would love to try this one, but until it comes out under 60%, it won’t show up over here.

[@terrortower666]

Older batches are under 60%. Although you may not be able to purchase those where you are any longer. Worth checking out anyway

[@MortAllachie]

@@terrortower666 I checked. Nothing available at the moment, but will look out for it in the future.

[@alexk3088]

My bottle is 46%. I feel cheated 🙃

[@velviaman3206]

Sky second largest U.K. off shore island.

[@barryhamilton7845]

Ralfy ,can you do reviews on "Dumbarton Rock" blended malt and also Loch Lomonds "Noble Rebel" three editions, when you have time, please. Some people say they're decent blended malts, and they're at affordable prices. Is "Poit Dhubh" whisky not made on Skye??? P.s,il becoming joining your Patreon channel soon Ralfy, ive watched you religiously for the last four year,and learned plenty,so its time to become one of the Patreon lads ,which il do sometime this week.

[@pesto12601]

"Pink Grapefruit" no less.... Lol... I can barely tell the difference between Yellow Grapefruit and Pink Grapefruit when EATING grapefruit.. but Ralfy can SMELL a distinct difference... in WHISKY?

[@alexk3088]

Yes and it's rather trivial, just comes with practice. If you can't tell pink and yellow grapefruit, then perhaps your senses are impacted for whatever reason. I don't mean that as insult of any kind, I just meant some people have poor vision or hearing, etc. Pink grapefruit is sweeter and a bit more aromatic and fragrant. Yellow is more bitter and the aroma is flatter, at least to me. As for whisky, it's not the idea of detecting notes, it's not an exam. The idea is to describe to others, by association, what you're experiencing. I used to scoff, until I started writing down my observations, as I was tasting, and it's possible to come up with a number of "notes".

[@daveangelovici9486]

100%, when I smell my whiskey I just smell the alcohol. To get all the things he said I probably need to smoke a Crack pipe prior to the smell test

[@alexk3088]

@@daveangelovici9486 curious, then why are you here? It would be cheaper to drink vodka - you'll smell the same alcohol. Gotta love the argument "I can't feel it, therefore it must be fake". I suppose all those musicians and composers who hear tonalities and chords are also just full of it, because I know I can't hear what the key and chords are.

[@RAUSCHofficial]

@@alexk3088side note, the minor-major 7 chord is gonna save the world. That is all 🎶

[@alexk3088]

@@RAUSCHofficial good point :) I might not be able to tell you that it's a min/maj 7th, but it still obviously evokes a certain emotion vs. other chords. Just like people are able to enjoy music without knowing music theory, people are able to discern whisky or wine notes. To say it all smells like alcohol is to say all music sounds the same.

[@andreasinobelarusmcewen5000]

i,m planning to buy a bottle of monkey shoulder whisky later this month. i might have whisky with tequila sometimes.

[@richardjarratt4921]

Hi ralfy how does it compare lagg

[@thewhiskybothy]

. . . better. At the moment.

[@mrnosebear7406]

Thanks for reviewing a whisky from a new distillery. In my opinion your malt mark is a bit to high compared to what you have said. Cheerio from a pat-pal in Germany

[@JazznRealHipHop]

Curse these cofounded packaging puzzles!!!!!

[@swedishburrito5073]

❤🤘🥃

[@neilmattos2756]

😁

[@lisovenkoev]

Thanks for the review. Torabhaig is flooding the Russian market now and it seems they have somehow spoiled whiskybase with fake positive reviews. For its price in Russia of about 70-75 pounds this is very bad.