Review #449 - Adelphi Breath of Speyside 32 Year
The Breath of Speyside series - this is a range of single malts bottled by Adelphi which don't disclose the distillery they originated at. All we know is the region - Speyside, of course - and sometimes, the cask type. That said, some digging online and clues on the bottle point in the direction of Glenfarclas for this bottling.
This particular bottle doesn't actually explicitly state the cask type either, but based on the tasting notes and the color (which is natural), we're confident it was aged in ex-bourbon casks. It did that aging for quite some time: 32 years, after which there were 169 bottles worth of liquid remaining.
Adelphi Breath of Speyside 32 Year
Scotland/Speyside - Single Malt
Current Locally Available Price: USD 549 (2024)
Age Statement: 32 Years
Strength: 48.6% ABV
Details: Not chill filtered, no color added; distilled 1992, bottled 2024; 169 bottles
Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 1 time; bottle 80% fill level at time of review. Tasted in a Glencairn glass, rested 10-15 minutes
Nose: A very pretty nose - light floral scents, along with subtle fruits of lemon and apple. There's definitely some oak in here, but it isn't too dry, instead leaving room for sweet caramel and honeycomb. There are also subtle hints of cooking herbs and fresh linens.
Palate: The mouthfeel has a medium thickness; it's pleasantly warming, full of cinnamon and apple, subtle polished oak, and white pepper. There's a great weight to this spirit - hefty, oily. Pear and vanilla add more sweetness, and we get a grassy hay flavor in the background.
Finish: Soft and subtle - quite floral, with oak tannins and lavender. The oily texture from the palate lingers, and the linen note from the nose returns; sweetness is added by a honey flavor. It's a medium length finish.
Final Note: This is a classic example of an older ex-bourbon single malt Scotch - soft and subtle, but interesting and intricate. Despite the 32 years in the cask, this never shows any overbearing oak tannins, possibly pointing toward a refill cask; the soft orchard fruits and mellow baking spices were a treat.
Value isn't great - no surprise, as these very old single malts generally come with a huge price tag. That's still the case here, even from an independent bottler... for the right buyer, though, this could be a good pickup.
Our Average Rating: 8.5 / 10
In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price.
Value Rating: 4.15
About Us: We're a husband and wife review team living in the Midwest United States. Generally, our reviews and tasting notes will be a compilation of both of our experiences with a whisky over several tasting sessions.
