It’s been a lot of single malt recently. Not only recently, but in general. Time to take things a little less seriously with some unassuming blends. Let’s see what we have in the cupboard. Ah, according to my secret files, I acquired some blend samples on October 31st, 2022, though a UK order at master of malt. Let’s have those.
Oh, blimey! These are no ordinary blends!
“Blended Whisky” | 40yo (1976) | 44.1% | Master of Malt
Small sample review
⚡Experience
Nose: Complex and mature profile. Overripe tropical fruits and polished hardwood at the fore. Pineapple, linseed oil, roasted coffee beans, brazil nuts, dried apricots, hint of grass.
Palate: Relatively light in texture, but very flavoursome. Moderately sweet and savoury, with dried fruits, nuts, spices, and a lightly vinous notes: plums, apricots, balsamico.
Finish: satisfying, medium-long, slightly drying. Fruity tobacco, coffee praline.
💡Thoughts
This is an excellent old blend! Very well balanced between the woody and fruity. Not sour or too tannic in taste. Makes me want to sit in a cottage with a warm fireplace and read a leather-bound book.
Rewarding
✔️
“Blended Whisky” | 42yo (1980) | 44.1% | Master of Malt
🌐
Blended Scotch whisky
🪵
hogshead
🔆
unchillfiltered & natural color
💲
£160 (around 2019)
Small sample review
⚡Experience
Nose: Complex and mature. Old wood, dried fruits and nuts, and cream. Rum-raisin, coffee & amaretto, milk chocolate mousse, pine wood, clove, hessian, coconut flakes, dried herbs, heather, menthol.
Palate: Flavourful, full-bodied. Somehow sweet and dry at the same time? Nutty, creamy, cereally. Praline, hazelnut, chocolate, flapjack.
Finish: medium-long, nutty, malty and roasted notes.
💡Thoughts
Not so much tropical fruit on the nose as the previous one. I think there is more malt in this one than the 40yo. Also delicious, and no discernible flaws.
Rewarding
✔️
“Blended whisky #1 – Batch 10” | 40yo | 48.3% | That Boutique-y Whisky Company
Small sample review
⚡Experience
Complex and lively. Confectionary, creamy, citrussy. Vanilla, orange, toffee/butter, violets, cheddar cheese, mushrooms.
Palate: Juicy, creamy, citrussy. Moderately sweet and savoury, a wee bit salty. Malty, confectionary, fruit punsch, a bit of parmesan.
Palate: dram gone before I could really think about it…
💡Thoughts
In a blind test, I would’ve guessed at 27yo malt whisky. But knowing it’s a blend I might perhaps attribute some of the cheesy, mushroomy secondary notes to Cambus. I still think it’s a decently high malt component.
Rewarding
✔️
These three whiskies were all great, in fact outstanding in the grand scheme of things. I’d say the first was my favourite of the night, but all three had their distinct appeal.
DuckDrams 
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