Came across a few blended malts when checking my sample stash. Thought I’d write about them. This post features whiskies from some big hitters (Cadenhead’s and Scotch Malt Whisky Society) and more modestly sized independent bottlers (North Star Spirits and Watt Whisky).
There’s not always definitive word about the provenance of these, but I’ve shared what I could find out below. Some are proper blended malts. Others are more like a teaspooned whisky, so basically a single malt disguised as a blended malt. But I’ll allow it for this once.
What today’s session showcases once again, is that blended malts shouldn’t be ignored, which I’m sure you haven’t been doing, right? Good for you! Now let’s get on with some reviews.
Vega 2000 20 Years (43.5%, OB, 600 bts.)
Rumoured to be a blended malt consisting of Speyside whiskies, this was the 7th release from North Star Spirits in their VEGA range, named after the eponymous star. Despite being only 43.5 per cent, the label states this to be cask strength. That makes me suspect some underproof might’ve been part of the recipe. Of course, i could also be completely wrong.
Nose: Some nicely cooked fruits. There’s orange marmalade and stewed apples. Well, maybe just freshly-made warm apple sauce. You know, with a sprinkling of cinnamon. Also touches of figs, plums and honey, with maybe some burlap and a hint of tobacco.
Taste: Oof, very well done! Earthy, sherried and with a pleasant fennel note. But yeah, mainly just very well seasoned with sherry, which I mean as a compliment. Raisins, chocolate, more tobacco and a faint mushroominess.
Finish: Medium length. Sticky raisins, a minty earthiness and dark chocolate. Nice!
Enigma 27 Years Blended Malt (51.8%, Cadenhead’s, 1140 bts.)
This is a teaspooned whisky, so a single malt that has been deliberately “downgraded” to a blended malt by adding just a tiny bit of whisky from a second distillery. The purpose of this is to protect a distillery’s brand name, preventing bottlers from being able to use it. Cadenhead’s haven’t shared any information about the provenance of the Enigma 27 Years, but it is rumoured to be a teaspooned Glenfiddich.
Nose: Quite a floral first impression, although there’s more to it. Hints of honeysuckle, a tinge of green apples and then key limes. Also a slight chalkiness, some damp oak and just a hint of honeyed breakfast cereals. Then finally some yellow plums, porridge and candied lemons.
Taste: Just a juicy, fruity malt with a hint of tannins. I get pear drops, hints of cloudy apple juice and some lemon zest. Also a good hit of shortbread and macadamia nuts, as well as a few drops of caramel.
Finish: Medium length. Pretty zesty, a hint of oak and some Demerara sugar.
Campbeltown 2017 7 Years Blended Malt (57.1%, Watt Whisky, 246 bts.)
This is the 100th whisky bottled by Watt Whisky, an independent bottler based in Campbeltown. To celebrate they took a cask of Glen Scotia and added a good “ladling” of 28-year-old Springbank to the mix.
Nose: Hints of rapeseed oil, mushy bananas and stewed apples, as well as a ferment-y tinge. There’s something slightly mineral here, but also a good amount of meringues, toffee and other vanilla-esque aromas.
Taste: A moderately oily mouthfeel with flavours of bananas, zesty lemon and crème caramel. Hints of wet pebbles while there’s a pinch of white pepper too. Then some buttery shortbread and charred oak.
Finish: Medium length. A slight nuttiness (smoked pecans?) and a hint of aniseed, as well as some grainy pear. Then a lingering sweetness.
Underwater Barbecue 12 Years Blended Malt (50%, Scotch Malt Whisky Society, Batch 24)
This small batch blended malt consists of ex-bourbon cask and ex-Oloroso cask matured whiskies, using spirit from the islands of Orkney and Islay. Both American and Spanish oak was used.
Nose: Yup, as expected. A hint of seaweed, some burnt rubber, wood smoke and fresh teak wood. There’s a sliver of liquorice root, but also warming notes of cinnamon and orange zest. We’re ending on subtle notes of charcoal.
Taste: A decent salinity with ashes and seaweed, but also rather drying oak-y notes, hints of dark chocolate and some allspice. Also some embers and wood smoke, as well as something slightly vegetal.
Finish: Medium length. The vegetal notes lingers, as well as a tinge of mint. Well, and certainly the coastal peat smoke as well.
