TRY BLENDED MALTS

 AN EXCELLENT CHANGE: BLENDED MALTS

Blended malts are, as the name suggests, a combination of two or more single malt Scotch whiskies – unlike blends, there’s no grain whisky here. Instead, you have some of the most innovative Scotch whiskies around, from Islay-influenced smoke and seaweed to the typical Speyside character of rich, spiced fruit.

These whiskies are big business in Taiwan, which remains by far the world’s biggest blended malt market. There’s no limit to the number of single malts you can use in a blended malt: while Monkey Shoulder combines only three, Wemyss The Hive comprises no fewer than 16, many of them from Speyside. You might think you’re firmly rooted in Islay when tasting Peat Monster from Compass Box – but peated Speysider Ardmore is a crucial part of the mix. A very large percentage of these expressions are NAS.

Here is my order of priority. A bottle every now and then from the list below would be fine if you could lay your hands on them, but then, many bottles listed are rather difficult to get, unless there is a well-stocked bar close by. Good luck.

• Compass Box Spice Tree Extravaganza NAS
• Compass Box The Peat Monster NAS 46% ABV
• Monkey Shoulder NAS with SMs from Kininvie, Glenfiddich and Balvenie of various ages
• Monkey Shoulder Smokey Monkey NAS, with one peated whisky
• Poit Dhubh 12 YO Uisge Beatha Albannach. An 8 YO is also available
• Chivas Regal Ultis NAS, with SMs from Allt a'Bhainne, Braeval, Longmorn, Strathisla and Tormore
• Johnnie Walker Island Green Label NAS
• Johnnie Walker Green Label 15 YO
• Big Peat 54.6% ABV NAS, an all Islay BM with whiskies from Ardbeg,  Bowmore, Caol Ila and Port Ellen
• Copper Dog, NAS 40%, a combination of eight Speyside single malts
• Johnnie Walker Black Label Islay Origin, 12 YO, 42% ABV
• Naked Malt matured in first fill Sherry casks
• Highland Journey NAS from Hunter Laing 46.2% ABV Highland Malts
• J & B Exception 12 YO using Speyside Malts
• Shackleton's Discovery NAS 47.3% ABV
• Berry Bros & Rudd's Blue Hanger 11th Release NAS 45.6%
• Smokey Joe Islay Blended Malt Whisky NAS 46% ABV
• Sheep Dip 8 YO with 16 SMs from Whyte & Mackay
• Bowmore 12 YO Blended Malt Whisky
• Wemyss Peat Chimney 46% ABV with Islay Malts