Old Alliance is produced with four different barley malts, including caramelised malts, the typical British hops East Kent Golding, and black molasses. A brown beer in an Old Ale style, somewhere between a barley wine and a stout, it combines richness, complexity, and woody oxidative notes that reflect its aging in barrels previously used for Arran whiskies matured in ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks.
Tasting Notes
Colour: Brown with red tinges.
Nose: Complex, progressive. On the first nose, gentle oxidative notes evoke the umami of soy sauce and woody spices. Allowed to breathe, the palette becomes smother and round, imbued with regressive fragrances (bonbon, caramel, toffee) no doubt created by the molasses. This malty and spice ensemble gradually takes on beautiful fruity (nuts, candied fruits) and honeyed notes, like a winter cake.
Palate: Woody, tangy. The spicy and tannic attack gives way on the mid-palate to stewed notes of sun-soaked red wine (prune, grape, liquorice). The malty flavours of the Old Ale style, seeped with slightly burnt salted butter caramel and intense dark chocolate, join toasted noted of American oak in a rich and subtly acidic finish.
Finish: Ashy, toasted. A tannic wood continues to dominate the start of the finish, here evoking the spicy astringency of the banana leaf found on a Cuban cigar. The return of a mineral freshness (wet stone), then more toasted freshness (grilled bread, smoke) at the end of the tasting recalls the maturation’s influence while creating a fascinating loop with the first notes on the nose.