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Abhainn Dearg
 scrapes in
 decent
 good
 excellent
 sublime
Abhainn Dearg, Spirit of Lewis (Scotland) 
Just 1,000x 50ml bottles of ‘The Spirit of Lewis’ have been released from Abhainn Dearg distillery on the Hebridean Isle of Lewis, with 500 being earmarked for the UK and 500 for mainland Europe. Each is signed by founder Mark Tayburn. According to a spokesperson for Scotland’s westernmost distillery, which came on stream in September 2008, “The Spirit of Lewis is a traditional Outer Hebridean dram, a relatively young spirit, matured for a short period of time in a Sherry cask. It is then reduced to 40.0% ABV.”
The result is a spirit with a grassy nose of tinned pears, with the emphasis on tin, sweet cereal, and a mildly herbal note. Reduced with water, there is a distinct impression of houseplant cuttings. Quite voluptuous in the mouth, smooth, with plump barley, and very drinkable. The finish is short to medium in length, gently spicy and slightly metallic, with a final fruit and nut chocolate taste.
Too young to be allowed out on its own for long, but this is an extremely promising ‘work in progress,’ and with a few more years behind it Abhainn Dearg could be a serious dram indeed.
40.0% ABV, 70cl, £46.00, distillery website, distillery website.  |  |
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