Blended Scotch with a twist by Living Souls
Living Souls are one of these bottlers that do not mind mixing things up with interesting variations in the bottle. Not afraid to provide whisky enthusiasts with categories that are considered beneath the quality and stature of single malt whisky, we get something interesting to drink. The Dutch importer Hogshead provided Long Pour Amour with a few samples. Thanks for that!
Living Souls Solera System 15 years old, bottled at 46 % abv
First things first: Batch 1 of this expression. A quick look on internet seems to suggest this is a combination of only Glenrothes single malt and North British single grain. That last one matured in bourbon and sherry casks, the Glenrothes only in sherry casks. Bottled in October 2024.
Upon Sipping: A very decent age statement here, and I feel this shows on the nose immediately. Nice hints of plums and raisins, fruity waves of fruit, some glue (from the grain, no doubt) and then a tinge of flowers. Works fine for me like this. The liquid feels a tad sticky in the mouth, like a toffee slowly melting and sticking to your teeth. Lots of caramel. The sherry casks are very noticeable, and we once again learn why Glenrothes works so well in blended Scotch, like Cutty Sark, for which it used to a flagship malt (don’t know if this is still the case these days). The finish is very soft, maybe even lacking some punch, but as a blend this is rather entertaining. It turns a bit too nutty for me upon repeated sipping, but it remains a clean experience.
Word to the Wise: A good blend of sweet, fruity whisky making for a perfect everyday dram.
Score: 82 points.
Living Souls Ninety-Nine & One, bottled at 46,3 % abv
First things first: A mostly heavily peated blended Scotch consisting of bourbon and sherry matured whisky. Batch 1 was bottled in late November 2024. This is apparently an 18 year old single malt from the island of Mull, “accidentally” mixed with one cask of 3 year old grain whisky.
Upon Sipping: Whatever the story behind this blend, it smells just fine to me. More than that. Dirty, farmy, with Spanish influences from the sherry casks. Sundried tomatoes, spices, olive oil and warm baguette. The peated element creates a smoky dryness, the olives return here, and very nice wood. It is suggested that only 1 % of this blend is grain (hence the “One” in the name of this whisky), but it seems to have mellowed this peater. A bit too much perhaps? Adding a little water brings out more fruitiness, which is a welcome asset to the nutty character that dominated until now. It is a short whiff, before the whisky returns to freshly dropped manure straight from the source (the cow’s behind). We whisky nerds must be crazy to like smells like these, but farmy notes have a following!
Word to the Wise: Again a solid offering by Living Souls. It is a lot more complex compared to the easy-going solera, with a decent backbone. The grain does seem to have influence on it all, but most of all you are drinking the soul of single malt whisky.
Score: 85 points.