Lord Elcho is a rather posh sounding name for a blend. But as with most whiskies, there is of course a story behind it. Wemyss Malts created this blended whisky named Lord Elcho, after David Wemyss, the eldest son of the 5th Earl of Wemyss. He was a supporter of Bonnie Prince Charlie during the Jacobite Rebellion of 1745.
As punishment for his part in the uprising, Elcho was stripped of his lands and title and forced into exile in France. He was never able to return to his native Scotland. If you’re now wondering why he was nicknamed Lord Elcho, I’ve no idea. What I do know is that this blend is made from 40% malt whisky and 60% grain whisky. There is also a 15yo version that has been released in 2012. This NAS-version is from 2014.
Lord Elcho Blended Scotch Whisky (40%, Wemyss Malts)
Nose: Very sweet but also a light mineral note. The sweetness expresses itself through butterscotch, caramel, apple and honey. Also some feint white fruits and lemon merengue. This nose is pretty excellent!
Taste: Hard to pinpoint the taste. Much spicier than the nose. The sweetness remains with a honied palate, but there’s also some aniseed and licorice.
Finish: Bitter, oaky, tannins and the tiniest bit of smoke at the end. The finish is on the shorter side.
Rating: 83
This is a very good blended whisky with a very appealing nose. Very drinkable and the price is also right. It’s available for around £25. You won’t find many better blends for this price.
This was tasted as part of a Wemyss Malt Tweet Tasting hosted by The Whisky Wire, for which I was selected.