“Take Me To Church”
Whisky Review # 1079
Country: Canada 🇨🇦
Region: Vancouver Island
Brand: Macaloney's An Aba - Lightly Peated (11 PPM) - Signature Selection
Type: Canadian Island Single Malt Whisky
Age: NAS
Age: NAS
Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 46%
Maturation: A Mix of Ex-Bourbon, Ex-Oloroso, Ex-PX, Ex-Portuguese Red Wine and Ex American Virgin Oak casks.
Maturation: A Mix of Ex-Bourbon, Ex-Oloroso, Ex-PX, Ex-Portuguese Red Wine and Ex American Virgin Oak casks.
Sample provided by: Graeme from Canada. Many Thanks!
Chill Filtration: No
Price Range: US$ 55-75 (January 2026)
Chill Filtration: No
Price Range: US$ 55-75 (January 2026)
Price/Quality Ratio: 👍 Acceptable at around US$ 60
Buying Advice: 👍 Nice alternative for young, lightly peated Scottish Single Malts
Colour:
Deep Amber with shades of Orange and Brown(Natural Colour)
Nose:
The Sweet influence from the Red Wine - and Sherry casks is certainly noticeable. The light Peat in the background works nicely. The Alcohol is there but does not spoil the Nosing pleasure. Butter Cake and (Dried) Fruit are important drivers. It is a Young Whisky but certainly not as harsh as some of its peers.
Colour:
Deep Amber with shades of Orange and Brown(Natural Colour)
Nose:
The Sweet influence from the Red Wine - and Sherry casks is certainly noticeable. The light Peat in the background works nicely. The Alcohol is there but does not spoil the Nosing pleasure. Butter Cake and (Dried) Fruit are important drivers. It is a Young Whisky but certainly not as harsh as some of its peers.
Main Aromas:
Sweet Barley, Butter Cake, Vanilla, Rum-Soaked X-Mas Cake, Dried Fruit like Figs, Dates & Raisins, Red Wine, Peat, Bonfire Smoke, Orange-flavored Milk Chocolate, Licorice, Dusty Oak, Candied Ginger, Cloves and Pear Drops. Hints of slightly Sour Yellow Plums or Berries.
Supportive Aroma Accents:
Heather-Honey, Salted Caramel, Red Berries and Currants, Banana Bread, Salted Nuts, Grass and slightly Wet Earth/Stones, Slivovitz, Fresh - & Dried Herbs, Floral notes, Cooked Vegetables, Burnt Pine, Papaya Cream, Lemon Tart & hints of Meat or Bacon on the BBQ, Nutmeg and Leather.
Palate:
Creamy and a little Thin but still with a pleasant mouthfeel although the Alcohol is more noticeable now. The Palate is mainly Bitter-Sweet with a few Salty, Sour and Burnt notes for balance. It is a Young Whisky but quite balanced for its age. Nice Peat in the background.
Sweet Barley, Butter Cake, Vanilla, Rum-Soaked X-Mas Cake, Dried Fruit like Figs, Dates & Raisins, Red Wine, Peat, Bonfire Smoke, Orange-flavored Milk Chocolate, Licorice, Dusty Oak, Candied Ginger, Cloves and Pear Drops. Hints of slightly Sour Yellow Plums or Berries.
Supportive Aroma Accents:
Heather-Honey, Salted Caramel, Red Berries and Currants, Banana Bread, Salted Nuts, Grass and slightly Wet Earth/Stones, Slivovitz, Fresh - & Dried Herbs, Floral notes, Cooked Vegetables, Burnt Pine, Papaya Cream, Lemon Tart & hints of Meat or Bacon on the BBQ, Nutmeg and Leather.
Creamy and a little Thin but still with a pleasant mouthfeel although the Alcohol is more noticeable now. The Palate is mainly Bitter-Sweet with a few Salty, Sour and Burnt notes for balance. It is a Young Whisky but quite balanced for its age. Nice Peat in the background.
Main Flavours:
Sweet Barley, Salted Caramel, Vanilla, Dried Fruit like Figs, Apples, Apricots and Dates, Red Berries and Currants (Raspberries, Strawberries), Butter Cake, light Peat and Bonfire Smoke, Red Wine, Orange Liqueur, Charred Oak, Pepper, Cloves, Cinnamon and Ginger.
Sweet Barley, Salted Caramel, Vanilla, Dried Fruit like Figs, Apples, Apricots and Dates, Red Berries and Currants (Raspberries, Strawberries), Butter Cake, light Peat and Bonfire Smoke, Red Wine, Orange Liqueur, Charred Oak, Pepper, Cloves, Cinnamon and Ginger.
Supportive Flavour Accents:
Heather-Honey, Yeast, Salted and Roasted Nuts, Marzipan, Slivovitz, Burnt Herbs and Heather, Lemon Tart, Dairy, Wet Earth/Stones, Licorice & hints of Salted Ham and Leather.
Finish:
Heather-Honey, Yeast, Salted and Roasted Nuts, Marzipan, Slivovitz, Burnt Herbs and Heather, Lemon Tart, Dairy, Wet Earth/Stones, Licorice & hints of Salted Ham and Leather.
Middle-Long and Bitter-Sweet. The Alcohol and the inherent Youth of the Spirit are more noticeable at this point. Quite Dry as well. I get a hint of Plastic right at the end. I also find Sweet Barley, Salted Caramel, Vanilla, Heather-Honey, Dried Fruit like Figs and Sultanas, (Dark) Red Berries and Currants, Red Wine, Light Peat and Campfire Smoke, Charred Oak, Burnt Herbs & Grass, slightly Burnt Toast, Pepper, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Cloves, Ginger, Salted Nuts, Crêpes Suzette and hints of Meat on the BBQ and Leather.
Drinking Advice:
Drinking Experience:
Good
No need to add water to this An Aba.
Rating: 7.5 (*******1/2)
Nose: 7.5 - Taste: 7.5 - Finish: 7
*** Important Note with respect to Rating.
If the Final score is above 8 you can safely buy the whisky in question if and when it fits your Aroma/Flavor profile. If the score is between 6 and 8 you might want to try it out in the form of a sample or if offered at a good price. Anything below 6 should be left alone when you are looking for a nice sipping whisky. You might still like it of course & I realize pricing is an important item for many whisky fans especially when you are used to enjoy whisky in a cocktail or a mixed drink.
Good
Conclusion:
This Island Distillery is equipped with a one ton semilauter Mash Tun, 7 stainless steel wash-backs, a 5500 litre wash still and a 3600 litre spirit still. The first Single Malt was released in December 2020. Part of the Barley is malted on site and the complex also includes a craft beer brewery called TWA Dogs.
This Island Distillery is equipped with a one ton semilauter Mash Tun, 7 stainless steel wash-backs, a 5500 litre wash still and a 3600 litre spirit still. The first Single Malt was released in December 2020. Part of the Barley is malted on site and the complex also includes a craft beer brewery called TWA Dogs.
The Potstill whiskies are traditional Irish-Style triple distilled whiskies. Dr. Macaloney, the founder, is a Scot of Irish Heritage who attended the Midleton Irish Whiskey Academy and learned traditional Irish methods a.o. with ex Master Distiller Brian Nation. Back in Canada he then learned to optimize the traditional whisky process following Dr. Jim Swan's methods. The resulting New Make Spirit won several global awards.
An Aba is Gaelic for The Abbey and remembers Macaloney's Scottish roots. Indeed it's closer to Scotch Whisky than many West-European Single Malts. The limited use of New Oak helps in that respect. I like the lightly peated concept of the An Aba and the mix of casks does provide balance despite its obvious Youth. It is a little Thin on the Palate and it certainly would benefit from a longer maturation but it's still a nice effort by Macaloney's.
Cheers, Jan 🥃 January 7 , 2026
