White Heather 15 Years Blended Scotch Whisky Review

 

Have you heard of Billy Walker? If you’re new to Scotch whisky, perhaps not. But Billy is a master distiller’s master distiller and has been involved in the industry for 50-plus years. He started in 1972 at Hiram Walker & Sons, where he was involved in all aspects of whisky production. From there, he moved on to Inver House and Burn Stewart Distillers.

 

In 2004, Billy and some business partners founded The BenRiach Distillery Company, which operated three distilleries: BenRiach, GlenDronach, and Glenglassaugh. In 2017, Billy acquired The GlenAllachie Distillery.

 

One of the brands The GlenAllachie produces is called White Heather, and its 15-year expression is the subject of today’s review.

 

“White heather is a flowering plant found in rural corners of Scotland. Whilst its pink and purple counterparts are common, discovering white heather is a rare occurrence, and so, according to Scottish folklore, anyone who finds it will be blessed with good fortune. You’d be just as lucky to find a bottle of our whisky, for blends of its quality are as rare as white heather.” – White Heather

 

White Heather was a brand that dates back to the 1930s. It was produced as a 5-year, 8-year, or 15-year expression until the 1980s when it became defunct. The story goes on to Billy tasting White Heather in the 1970s and falling in love with it.

 

Reviving this blended Scotch brand involved using a dual-maturation system for the 53% grain and 47% malt components. The first maturation was in American oak and Sherry casks. The second was in Pedro Ximenez puncheons, Oloroso puncheons, and virgin Appalachian medium-charred, medium-toasted casks. All aging occurs at The GlenAllachie Distillery.

 

White Heather 15 Years Old is naturally colored, non-chill filtered, and packaged at 46% ABV (92°). The source of the component whiskies is undisclosed, although we know that Speyside, Highland, and Islay single malts were used. A 700ml bottle has a suggested price of $89.00.

 

I must thank ImpEx Beverages, The GlenAllachie’s exclusive US distributor, for allowing me to #DrinkCurious. The sample was provided in exchange for my no-strings-attached, honest review.

 

Appearance: I poured this Scotch into my Glencairn glass and sipped it neat. Inside, the liquid presented as dark gold. A thicker rim produced a curtain of medium-spaced, fast tears.

 

Nose: My nostrils discovered apricots, pineapples, pears, raw honey, graham crackers, a gentle kiss of smoke, and a touch of oak. Drawing the air through my lips offered a taste of vanilla and muted mint.

 

Palate: White Heather’s mouthfeel was thin and oily, and the front of my palate encountered orange zest, grilled pineapples, and grapefruits. The middle included honey, vanilla, and toffee. Flavors of mild smoke, mint, and oak rounded the back.

 

Finish: At only 52 seconds, the finish was brief. Smoke and mint were the two standouts, but grapefruits, orange zest, and oak refused to concede.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: Many enthusiasts ignore blended Scotches, citing inferior qualities. That’s a mistake – as I’ve stated many times, blending is an art form, and anything is possible when you have a maestro like Billy Walker holding the brush. White Heather 15 Years is well-balanced, flavorful, and has much to offer. The only real negative is the length of the finish – this was such a lovely pour that it was a shame not to have it last. This whisky takes my Bottle rating. Cheers!

 

My Simple, Easy-to-Understand Rating System

• Bottle = Buy It
• Bar = Try It
• Bust = Leave It

 

Whiskeyfellow encourages you to enjoy your whiskey as you see fit but begs you to do so responsibly.