So, it’s batch three of whisky number one? What’s the story there?

Apparently, at least according to Master of Malt’s website, they named it Blended Whisky #1 because in 2015 at the World Whisky Awards it was chosen as the world’s best blended whisky. To automatically assume that the follow ups are just as good might sounds a bit presumptuous but that’s how marketing works. All the big guys do it, so why not the little ones?

Anyway, a 35 year old blended whisky, fairly warm on the heels of Murray McDavid’s one from Monday sounds like a happy coincidence to me. A happy one since I generally don’t mind sipping a 35 year old whisky at all.

Contrary to Murray McDavid, TBWC hasn’t disclosed what the components of the whisky are for this one, and I think they’re staying true to the That Boutique-y Whisky Company approach. If you don’t disclose it, you don’t have to explain when or why you change it.

Sniff:
It’s light and dry with quite a lot of grain on the nose. Not as much wood as you’d expect from something that’s older than me. Some sherry and a very light trace of smoke. A tiny hint of cardboard. Lots of American oak, en therefore quite a lot of vanilla too.

Sip:
The palate is soft and fruity. A tiny bit of spiciness, with white pepper for some heat. Peach, apple, banana, brown banana peels. It becomes quite dry after a while but it stays sweet. Not too sweet, mind. Pretty rich.

Swallow:
The finish is quite lovely and rich. More wood than before, dryer, older, even slightly bitter because of the dryness and oak. Long.

The finish ‘saves’ this whisky. Not that it needed saving, but that’s there my opinion of it increased. It’s a very, very lovely dram, it just gets slightly better on the finish.

The fruits and spices work well together, although it does feel a bit like a jumble of flavors on the palate. There’s a lot going on there, and while it’s hard to keep track of things there, it’s also what keeps a whisky interesting for a while. There’s some stuff to discover there.

It’s a real blended whisky. It has a lot of complexity and all areas of flavor are ticked off, except maybe the feinty area of the flavor wheel. There’s fruit, spices, oak, some smoke. It’s sweet, bitter and fresh. Very well done by That Boutique-y Whisky Company!

87/100

Blended Whisky #1, Batch 3, 35 years old, 46.5%, That Boutique-y Whisky Company. Available from Master of Malt for € 153.

Thanks to Master of Malt for sending the sample!