Monday 23 February 2009

WILLIAM GRANT'S

... BLENDED
... as modernly traditional as it gets.
Lots of variations, and some quality old options,
generally reliable and consistent.
The only blender to 'Ale Cask' mature
a whisky, mmmmm !

78-85/100

WHYTE & MacKAY


... BLENDED
... standard, 12, 15,18,21,30 e.t.c.
big, sweet, gummy stuff.

80-86/100

WHITE HORSE


... BLENDED
... a fine old blend, re-invented for modern times
available as a standard and 12 y.o.
... nice.

80/100

TEACHERS HIGHLAND CREAM


... BLENDED
... lucky to have Ardmore as the signature malt,
and when the 'branding' is eased off ......
........ a very decent dram.

86/100

SCOTTISH LEADER


... BLENDED
... this one has built quite a reputation for itself over the last few years, coming from nowhere to everywhere and proving a real challenge for the established Brands,
......... to taste it is to see why.
Older versions are excellent.

82-88/100

MONKEY SHOULDER

... MALTBLEND
... yes, here it is,
the first whisky to be named after a repetitive strain injury.
...contains Kininvie Malt.

87/100

LOCH LOMOND


... BLENDED
... Captain Haddock's favorate,
and a decent dram,
a real beefy whisky.

80/100

LOCH FYNE


... BLENDED
... small batch, artisan offering from the best
whisky shop in the world, Loch Fyne Whiskies.
.. and jolly good stuff too.

They also have a decent liqueur available and
a rare phenomenon called "The Living Cask"
... well worth a visit, Inverary is very Scottish.


87/100

JOHNNIE WALKER

... BLENDED AND MALTBLEND
red (good)
black (excellent)
green (the maltblend one)
gold (sweet/old)
blue (over-rated)
... the worlds biggest selling whisky Brand
(it's what Diageo do best!)
Good stuff in the Black and Green Label
bottlings showing the providential union of
Caol Ila and Talisker single malts, along with
excellent support from Cragganmore, Glen Elgin and Dalwhinnie e.t.c.
Reliable due to good blending consistency.

82-88/100

J & B


... BLENDED
... rare, jet, reserve, -6 and Nox
... the corporate innovation brand of Diageo,

Blends are what diageo do best.

The Nox is a MALTBLEND

78-82/100

ISLE OF SKYE


... BLENDED
...this is the 'Taliskery' blend,
found at 8 and 12 y.o.
simply splendid,
and recommended.
Blenders skills to the fore !!!

85/100

ISLAY MIST


... BLENDED
... standard, 17 y.o. and deluxe
it's Islay ,
and it is (of course)
peaty, and full of character.
.. pass me the kippers !!!

good value whisky.

83-87/100

INVERARITY


... BLENDED AND SINGLE MALTS
... reliable 'old fashioned' blend which gives an
interesting throw-back to blends from yester-year.
An education and well worth the effort,
the single malt versions are also good value,
especially the Islay which is a softer,
gentler presentation of the peat-thing.

85/100

HANKEY BANNISTER


... BLENDED
... silly name, good whisky.

84/100

FAMOUS GROUSE

.. BLENDED AND MALTBLEND
... that's Gilbert the grouse holding the bottle
... isn't he just so cute and funny too.

You can get ; -
standard grouse
Malt grouse
Islay grouse
Scottish oak grouse
Black grouse
Snow grouse
Vintage grouse
and probably soon, Roast grouse (boil-in-the-bag version)
... for that perfect hot toddy.

I don't drink Grouse myself, .... actually.

80/100

DIMPLE

... BLENDED.
... isn't that bottle just brilliant ?
... when it falls over,
it doesn't roll away.
marvelous !!!

83/100

DEWARS


... BLENDED
... the young 'un is Aberfeldy/custard,
older ones are pricey.
Popular for dinner parties,
and golf clubs.

80-87/100

CUTTY SARK


... BLENDED.
.. a blend of lighter proportions, vanilla, floral, grassy, grainy,
the standard bottle is a good session dram,
whilst older versions are really quite exciting.

Avast there 'ye land-lubbers !!!
'tis a south-westerly that blows the shrouds !

I once had an emotional experience with this Blend in Panama.

82-88/100

COMPASS BOX

... BLENDED & MALTBLENDS
... an intriguing, artisan, boutique whisky blenders who invented this genre for themselves.
Bottlings are subject to regularly good standards, with much innovation and experimentation in evidence, some of which the Industry McMandarins do not approve. (i.e. Spice Tree)
The presentation is exceptional, and range exciting, quality consistent, and this little Brand will become very 'collectible' in time.
I recently tasted the Asyla Blend, and it was superb ! 90/100
..... can be pricey, but worth the educational investment.

86-91/100

CHIVAS REGAL (inc: ROYAL SALUTE)

... BLENDED
... 12, 18, 21, and older !!! (50 y.o.)
a mainstream blend with exotic presentation which carries it along.
The 21 y.o. version is well crafted, and occasionally appears as ceramic flagons, .... lovely.
The Revolve bottle revolves round and round, wheeeee !
and the Chivas Century-of-Malts Brand contains whiskies from 100 Distilleries and is a MALTBLEND.
Fantastic..............

81-86/100

CAMPBELTOWN LOCH

... BLENDED
... "oh! Campbeltown loch I wish y'were whisky
Campbeltown loch, och! Aye!
oh! Campbeltown loch I wish y'were whisky
I wud drink y' dry."
... and so the old song goes,
and younger versions are passable, but it is the older versions including the 21, 25 and 30 y.o.'s which are establishing a reputation as cult (and collectable) blends being comprised mainly of rather good Springbank Malts and also rather good grain component too, concluding in a memorable Blend which puts some other Malts to shame.


91/100

BUCHANNAN'S


... BLENDED
... clean, fresh, articulate blend that I rarely encounter.

81/100

BLACK BOTTLE


... BLENDED
... this is the blend that tastes like an Islay Malt.
Consistently good stuff in all it's versions of ordinary, 10 y.o. and 15 y.o. although I do think the 15 y.o. a trifle expensive at over £50 a bottle.
Great for blind tastings with those who think they know about whisky.
A very well 'engineered' whisky.

85/100

BLACK AND WHITE

... BLENDED
... an honest and very drinkable sweet blend of considerable charm!
and such cute wee dugs too .............

84/100

BLUE HANGER


... MALTBLEND
... Flag-ship Brand of Berry Bros: & Rudd, the choice vintners of London toffs!
This is a careful and sympathetic mix of varied-age malts bottled in age-stated, 'release' numbered batches.
Generally good stuff, I did however notice a dominance of Glen Grant in a recent version,
not that this was a particular problem, with affordable prices for a worth while return.
And it does win prizes,
yipee!

87/100

BELLS

... BLENDED
... usually found as an 8 or 12 y.o. this is a standard jobbing blend for mixing or for chasing down a lager.
I last had this with lots of lemon
and lots of ice
and I drank it quickly.

74/100

BALLANTINE'S

... BLENDED
... consistently good Brand in a traditional style with range going from 12 y.o. to 30 y.o. plus some vintage offerings including 'Finest'.
For me the highlight is the 17 y.o. which is a masterclass in integrating an Islay peat arrival into a rounded spey-side finish, and then some-more.
Altogether recommended.
This is sipping whisky.

82-90/100

BAILLIE NICOL JARVIE (B.N.J.)


... BLENDED
... popular light-natured 'fresh' grassy whisky of a traditional style, well thought of by blend
aficionados, and readily available throughout the U.K.
Personally speaking, ... it used to be better than recent versions seem to be.

79/100

ANTIQUARY


... BLENDED
... a reputable whisky found at 12 and 21, and 30 y.o.
This hovers between a standard and de-lux Blend, laying uneasily in between.
..... too expensive as a normal whisky, not 'exclusive' enough as a luxury whisky.
often over-looked ............ but generally a good, consistent option,
........ and older versions well regarded by blend-afficonados !!!

87/100

Thursday 12 February 2009

.............. this section is a presentation and review of some better quality Blended Scotch Whisky.
I couldn't possibly list all the Blended's as there would be over 400 ! but this little list will be enhanced by the addition of Blended Malts as well as Blended Scotch.
To save obvious confusion, I will refer to Blended Malts as Maltblend.

As for the confusion,
blame the McMandarins.

BLENDED WHISKY ..........combination of one or more pot-still single malted barley spirit with continuous-still single or multi grain spirit in variable proportions. Matured in oak barrels for minimum of three years.

BLENDED MALT WHISKY (MALTBLEND) ................ combination of two or more malted barley spirits, usually from Pot Stills, and matured in oak barrels for minimum of three years.
NOTE - you will often see a Maltblend be refered to as 'Pure' or 'vatted' Malts.