Blended Malt… generally this implies completely different distilleries, generally it’s only a approach of disguising a single malt by including a teaspoon of one thing else. Generally they’re supposed to be younger and low cost, generally they’re a pleasant approach of eliminating very previous leftovers.
Whisky-Fässle bottled a collection of blended malts through the years. We’ll take a look at 4 bottlings in the present day. Two are younger day by day drams, one is a 1993 classic, one is an 18 year-old though that’s in all probability only a pretext.
Advantageous Blended Speyside Malt 12 yo ‘Orange Label’ (44,4%, Whisky-Fässle 2021, 50cl)
Nostril: fairly traditional Speyside nostril on all issues oranges, with poached pears, candy malt and porridge within the background. Apples and melons. I additionally detect a mild sherry affect, with earthy spice, honeyed notes, glazed chestnuts, dried flowers and a touch of tarte tatin.
Mouth: fruity muesli, plummy notes, extra golden apples, later additionally toffee and hints of raisins. Toasted cereals coated with caramel. Spices come out after some time, primarily clove and pepper. Too unhealthy for this barely boring malty core.
End: medium lengthy, nonetheless malty, with spicy notes, some grassy hints and a lingering sweetness.
Made to be an easy-drinking day by day dram, I assume. It goes in several instructions and has this malty-toffee mixture that I discover fairly uninteresting. Combined emotions. Nonetheless obtainable from Whisky-Fässle.
Advantageous Blended Malt Whisky 18 yo 2001 (45,6%, Whisky-Fässle 2020, sherry butt)
Nostril: a superb sherry profile, with previous model touches. Fruit cake, crimson apples, walnuts, crimson berries and leathery notes. Then chocolate seems, with shoe polish and a few black tea. Airing makes it much more fragrant, with polished oak and extra distinguished berries.
Mouth: tobacco and leafy notes at first, adopted by a tart woody notice, contemporary herbs and caramelized nuts. Darkish chocolate, somewhat ginger and leather-based. It’s pretty dry, with a coastal sharpness within the background.
End: medium lengthy, on fruit tea, marmalade and wooden spice.
I’ve heard that a part of this mix is approach older than 18 years, even way back to the Nineteen Seventies. I can think about that is true, there’s a sure leanness and natural sherry character that hints at a lot older whisky. Very attention-grabbing. Rating: 89/100
Advantageous Blended Islay Malt ‘Blue Label’ (46%, Whisky-Fässle 2021)
Nostril: a reasonably uncooked Islay profile. Concrete, moist gravel and chalked cellars. Grassy smoke, seashells and antiseptics. Some lemon peels and brine.
Mouth: fairly younger but surprisingly delicate, however there’s a pleasant heat to it. Olive brine, black pepper, with a barely rubbery peatiness. Oysters. Then lemony notes and refined sugar water earlier than it turns in the direction of cigarette smoke and tar. A touch of darkish roasted mocha comes out in the long run.
End: actually lengthy, with cedar wooden, mocha, pepper and cloves.
I feel this might have benefited from a few additional levels, however apart from that it’s a balanced, warming Islay dram. Cardplayers whisky. Nonetheless obtainable from Whisky-Fässle or Whiskybase as an example. Rating: 86/100
Advantageous Blended Malt Whisky 24 yo 1993 (54,3%, Whisky-Fässle 2018, sherry hogshead)
Nostril: very refined, with clear sherry. Oranges and orange peels, plummy notes and berries, raisins and a touch of acidity and rancio that jogs my memory of cognac. Then polished oak and tobacco. Delicate gingerbread and Demerara sugar.
Mouth: once more a barely cognac-like profile. Seville oranges, wonderful berries, bitter cherry and a touch of pink grapefruits. Light peppery notes, in addition to some clove and nutmeg. All the time sufficient sweetness to stability the drier aspect. Getting darker after some time, with a espresso contact and drying natural notes.
End: medium lengthy, on drying tea, mint and bitter berries.
The fruity magnificence and cognac-like rancio make this a particular dram. A bit of dry at instances, however nonetheless I discover this beautiful wonderful. Lengthy gone. Rating: 90/100
