Blended Scotch and Blended Malt Galore!
In the course of months, we accumulated a bunch of samples of blended (malt) Scotch and one Irish. So, we collected here, blends galore! Without further ado, let us dive in.
Monkey Shoulder blended malt Scotch whisky, Smoky Monkey, bottled at 40 % abv
First things first: From William Grant & Sons of Glenfiddich and Balvenie fame, Monkey Shoulder is actually a blended malt dominated by the much lesser known Kininvie malt distillery. Around since 2003, Monkey Shoulder is a huge seller. It was only a matter of time before a smoky variant would be released. This bottling is called “batch 9”, bottled in 2024.
Upon Sipping: The smoke is upfront when you put your nose in the glass. Nice earthy peat, with hints of sizzling butter in the pan. Some ashes, and virtually no fruity character compared to the fresh regular Monkey Shoulder. I wonder how someone who regularly drinks the one, will appreciate the other. Taking a sip, what shows is the weakness of the abv, making it little more than a mouthful of liquid ashes. Lots of wood notes, tree bark, with now subtle hints of some orchard fruit, that brings somewhat of a balance, but mostly makes me long for a normal and unpretentious Monkey Shoulder. After some breathing, smoky oranges do come out, redeeming some of the moody character. All in all, it remains rather thin.
Word to the Wise: I am sure it sells, but I wonder who asked for this product. It has quality, but it is not my cup of tea.
Score: 78 points.
Wolfcraig 14 years old Premium Blended Scotch Whisky, bottled at 46,1 % abv
First things first: A batch of 4500 bottles matured in a combination of Amontillado, PX and Muscatel casks. Hence this being an entry in the Triple Sherry Cask Finish Series. Wolfcraig Distillers is the love child of legendary “nosers’ Richard Paterson and Ian Macmillan.
Upon Sipping: Well, you can certainly notice this blend was created by true masters, as the nose opens up with classic whisky smells like old dunnage warehouse, red fruit, beautiful oak and a whiff of smoke. The cherries and Mirabelle are very pronounced. On the tongue, the liquid coats the taste buds with sugar sprinkles, before moving on to the more sturdy fruity notes, like overripe cherries with a sour tinge. As a malt drinker, you will miss a little of the backbone that is disturbed by the grain content of a blend, but I have to say that it is minimal in this whisky. The richness of the finish makes up for a lot. It really is a very rewarding dram.
Word to the Wise: An expert creation of a blended Scotch, where the casks have a thing to say, but also show great integration. Harmonious blending at work here.
Score: 85 points.
Campbeltown Loch Blended Scotch Whisky, bottled at 40 % abv
First things first: A sample from an older Campbeltown Loch, gifted to me by my good friend Robbert. This expression is still a blended Scotch, instead of the current day blended malt, so this one still contains grain whisky. Bottled around 2015 in a tall bottle.
Upon Sipping: Bleak white wine in colour, and rather bleak in aroma as well. There is still the typical Campbeltown funkiness, but a tad too much subdued if you ask me. Limestone and lemon, diesel, and grain. A far cry from the very rich current day Campbeltown Loch. On the tongue, rather industrial, which seems loyal to the Campbeltown style. There is a raw, clean grain element that is pleasing and certainly not commercial. It underlines that this blend was never meant for the masses, and an excellent creation true to this Victorian town. Having said that, it feels dry and slow, at times watery, which also feels like the ultimate argument to change this brand into a blended malt.
Word to the Wise: A decent blend, but it suffers from comparison with the newer expressions. Still, a nice time machine moment to a more innocent time in Campbeltown whisky history.
Score: 81 points.
Cadenhead’s Creations Blended Scotch Whisky, bottled at 55,4 % abv
First things first: In the Cadenhead’s Blending Lab you can create your own blended Scotch or blended malt (should you choose not to include a grain whisky). Every bottle is totally unique, because you choose the ingredients yourself. Just for fun, I tasted one that was created by my good friend Rowald. His recipe: 300 ml of 12 year old Speyside on bourbon cask, 150 ml of a 21 years old grain from the highlands, 100 ml of a 12 years old highland from rum, 80 ml of 10 years old Speyside from a Sauternes and 70 ml of peated Islay (age unknown).
Upon Sipping: From my own experience, I know that the peat can make a meaningful difference no matter how little you use. In this blend, it is however modest. What hits me most is the fruity side of the dram, with beautiful vanilla and creamy candy. Only after some breathing, do I pick up on some lemons. In the distance lurk some more exotic elements, that are indeed the rum and Sauternes adding complexity. The nose is just excellent, leaning towards a orchard fruity side. On the palate is where things go belly up. There is a rough and rubbery side, that feels dry and coarse. Only on the finish does a hint of tropicality linger. It needs water to balance that out, and that works very well. The nose bursts open with more fruit, and the taste feels more at ease. It is still quite a heavy dram, but I am sure this is to the taste of the creator.
Word to the Wise: Blending is a job that requires skill. It is delightful that Cadenhead’s offers this to try for yourself, as an amateur, because you will gain tons of respect for people who do this for a living. The biggest challenges are finding a delicate balance, and (in my opinion) having restraint in adding too much exotic stuff, like rum, Sauternes, wine, port or even peat. But fun it is!
Score: 81 points.
Sailor’s Home Irish Whiskey – Journey, bottled at 43 % abv
First things first: A blended Irish Whiskey consisting of malts and grains that matured in Virgin American Oak and American Oak Bourbon casks, before being finished in Jamaican Rum casks.
Upon Sipping: Immediately the dreamed off signature of an Irish Whiskey. Very vibrant and fruit forward, mixed with a bag of candy gummi. A pleasure to nose, so that box is checked. Then, on the palate, we are not disappointed either. Quite a nice mouthcoating liquid, with luscious fruity notes with as only weakness an overly vanilla’d character, due to the virgin oak no doubt. On the finish, there is a bitterish note, but all this together prevents that this is a weak blend. It just stays too much in once corner, that offers elements of the cinema on a Saturday night. I fear the rum casks did not add much to the final product.
Word to the Wise: Considering the price, this is a more than decent offering. Ticks all the classic boxes of what you look for in a Irish Whiskey.
Score: 81 points.