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Bank Note is a 5-year-old blended Scotch from independent bottler A.D. Rattray. A mix of 40% malt whiskies from Speyside and Highlands, with 60% grain from the Lowlands
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Bank Note 5 Year Review:
Nose: Light, sweet, fruity, overtly sweet with dried fruit, shortbread cookie and a hint of deep vanilla.
Palate: The sweetness continues, a bit of wood tannins and a smooth gentle taste that is incredibly easy to sip on.
Finish: The faintest hint of smoke, chocolate milk, sweet.
Bank Note 5 Year Review:
Sum up my thoughts on Bank Note Scotch, imagine if you took the 1yo scotch you’d drink to enter a college fraternity and multiplied it by ten, and then you’ve opened up some fine rich oak barrel dining room with old oak furniture and a large fireplace.
A splash of water and/or a cube of ice will enhance the initial nose and taste, but will not improve the finish. A neat sip is best for this dram.
Bank Note Scotch is a very pleasant scotch offering. The nose is mellow, fruity and sweet. The palate is slightly floral, with a very sweet finish. Though the whisky is rich and full, the smoothness takes care of a lot of the alcohol that you’re drinking. I think it is well priced and very drinkable. I would look for A.D. Rattray to have more scotches for us to try in the future, and will be particularly interested in seeing what 10 and 12 year glasses of their Scotch may bring.
Bank Note 5 Year Review:
Bank Note Scotch has a rustic nose comprised of sweet, flowery notes. Gentle spices and fruit are present in the glass. In addition to tastes of oak, molasses, and dark, stewed fruits, a slight whiff of smoke emanates from the glass. A respectable amount of heat and a lack of breadth distinguish Bank Note Scotch.
Once the nose wafts away, Bank Note Scotch flourishes on its palate. Lightly-bodied and drinkable, the whisky reminds me of an 87-point wine in the sense that it is mature and refined, yet lacking the sense of adventure. A faint smoky peat bite, as well as hints of wood, linger after the taste vanishes. Additionally, the taste leaves behind a sweet taste that must be washed away with more Bank Note Scotch.
Sadly, the burnt, fruity flavors that once were present in the glass disappear after the nose exits. All that is left is the taste, which is nondescript and can be compared to the liquid version of Wonder Bread.
This malt displays a sweet and fruity nose followed by a palate of medium length with plenty of earthy flavours. There is a suggestion of smoke within this spirit’s body as well as a slight tang and a short dry finish. Exposures to air do not encourage the emergence of woody notes. This malt is a good talking point, and can be a nice one to enjoy in quantity.
Bank Note 5 Year Review:
The nose of Bank Note Scotch is comprised of high amounts of the toffee, limes and a hint of a dark caramelized fruit alongside some stone fruits peeks through too. The palate is rich, and has a distinct dryness to it that you’d expect in a 5-year-old whisky. The malty sweetness of the Bank Note doesn’t completely deliver the hit you’d expect immediately but the hints and the fruit notes on the soft palate will provide a nice sweeter slide back into the finish.
This dram has a pronounced smell of hazelnut and butter. It has a taste of dried fruit along with a taste of orange peel, green apple, and grapefruit. It is pleasant enough, and while I normally don’t go for this type of whisky, it wasn’t as bitter as I was expecting. The finish was as you’d expect from Scotch. It was a bit harsh, without much in the way of caramelized dark fruit. It was more woody and bitter.
Bank Note 5 Year Review:
Bank Note Scotch is a blend of 40% malt whisky from Speyside and Highlands, and 60% grain whisky from the Lowlands. I tried the bottling at 8 year old with a medium body. My first taste is rich and smooth with the rich tones of a peaty flavor. The mouth feel is a bit cloying and I would cut it with a bit of water. The spiciness of the whisky comes through at the end with a nice amount of fruit that is a little sweeter than I would normally like it.
