The Best Blended Scotch Of 2022

The outcomes of the 2022 spirits judging have simply been introduced by the Worldwide Wine and Whisky Competitors (IWSC). A complete of 85, predominantly UK primarily based, judges evaluated over 4,000 entrants throughout a dozen main classes.

Within the Scotch Whisky class, historically one of many competitors’s largest and best segments, a complete of 12 blended Scotch whiskies had been awarded the coveted Gold Excellent medal. The winners ranged from iconic manufacturers like Royal Salute The Malts Mix 21 YO to much less well-known manufacturers like Scottish Chief or The Woodsman.

The IWSC is an annual wine and spirits competitors. Based in 1969, by Anton Massel, it has grown to turn into one of many largest such competitions on the planet. Spirits are evaluated on a 100-point scale and awards are given out for Gold Excellent (98-100 factors), Gold (95-97 factors), Silver (90-94 factors) and Bronze (85-89 factors).

The highest two blended Scotch whiskies had been the

Distell Worldwide, Black Bottle Alchemy Collection Double Cask Blended Scotch Whisky and the J.G. Thompson & Co, Wealthy 23 YO Blended Malt Scotch Whisky. Each expressions scored 99 out of 100 factors.

Black Bottle is a traditional blended whisky that dates to 1879. Following a protracted interval of decline, the model was revitalized within the Nineties utilizing a brand new mixing formular primarily based on Islay and Speyside single malts. Distell acquired the model after they bought Burns Stewart in 2013.

Black Bottle combines Islay’s peaty, smoky spine with the fruitiness and class of traditional Speyside whiskies, duplicating a method harking back to nineteenth century blended Scotch whiskies. The judging panel described the whisky as:

Lemon cake, wheat, bread, citrus and grapefruit aromas on the nostril combining with orange blossom, pomelo, pepper and spice flavours on the palate with a protracted end.

Black Bottle additionally took a Gold Excellent medal for its Black Bottle Alchemy Collection Island Smoke Blended Scotch Whisky. That expression scored 98 out of 1oo. The official tasting be aware described the whisky as:

Mushy and creamy fashion with orchard fruits, delicate stability and ginger spice on the end.

J.G Thompson & Co was the title of a historic, 18th century wine and spirit service provider primarily based in Leith, Edinburgh’s port. The model was resurrected in 2021 by the Artisanal Spirits Firm, the proprietor of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society, as a bottler of distinctive, single cask, “small batch spirits.” The corporate additionally bottles an assortment of rums and gins.

The judging panel’s tasting notes describe the Wealthy 23 YO blended Scotch whisky as exhibiting:

Splendidly expressive, presenting aromas of orange and caramel earlier than complicated and intertwined flavours of mango, brown sugar, banana and cinnamon. There’s a deep earthiness and toasted oak character working all through. Chocolatey and intensely prolonged on the end. Divine!

Hankey Bannister took two Gold Excellent medals for his or her 12 YO Regency Blended Scotch Whisky and their Heritage Mix Scotch Whisky. The model shouldn’t be well-known in the USA, which is a pity because it’s a superb blended Scotch whisky and represents an distinctive worth.

The official tasting be aware from the judging panel described the 12 YO Regency as:

Vanilla and caramel led by a floral, honey and stewed fruit nostril. Good fruitcake nostril on the end.

Whereas the Heritage was described as:

Inviting citrus blossom aromas develop into botanicals, citrus blossom, and coconut. Elegant, aromatic and approachable.

Whyte & Mackay took two Gold Excellent medals for The Woodsman Blended Scotch Whisky and for Waitrose Wealthy and Warming 3 YO Blended Scotch Whisky. The latter is a retailer particular model that’s not out there within the US.

The official tasting notes from the judging panel described The Woodsman as having:

Beautiful vegetal notes greet the nostril, supported by hints of orange peel and turmeric. Fantastically peppery on the palate with flavours of roasted vanilla sugar and a pleasingly grassy end.

Chivas Brothers, Royal Salute, The Malts Mix 21 YO Blended Malt Scotch Whisky additionally took a Gold Excellent medal. The model was launched in 1953 by Chivas Brothers to commemorate the ascension of Princess Elizabeth to the British throne. The mix was primarily based on single malt from Strathisla, the oldest working distillery in Speyside.

The title Royal Salute and the reference to the quantity 21 refers back to the follow of giving the reigning monarch a 21-gun salute. The salute, reserved for a monarch or visiting head of state, is taken into account the very best army honor {that a} state can render.

In contrast to typical blended Scotch whiskies, that are a mix of grain whisky and a number of single malts, The Malts Mix consists solely of single malt whiskies. These sorts of blends was known as “Vatted Malts” however at this time are merely known as “Single Malt Blends”. The Malts Mix consists of greater than 21 completely different single malts which were aged between 21 and 25 years.

The Judging Panel described The Malts Mix as having:

Mild, vibrant, fruity and creamy. Wealthy oak, vanilla and candy banana marshmallow.

Ian Macleod Distillers, Isle of Skye 21 YO Blended Scotch Whisky additionally received a Gold Excellent medal. Though the label references the Isle of Skye, that is really a mix of whiskies from Speyside and the Western islands, together with each Skye and Islay. The mix is centered on the Isle of Skye’s most well-known single malt – Talisker.

The judging panel described it as:

A delicate nostril opens to disclose an inviting, inexperienced savouriness earlier than a daring palate of candy apples, florals and seashell minerality is displayed in centered depth, offset by light smoke.

The 2 remaining winners had been William Grant & Sons Distillers, Grant’s 8 YO Sherry Cask Version Blended Scotch Whisky and Scottish Chief, 12 YO Blended Scotch Whisky. The official tasting be aware described the Sherry Cask Version as:

Peach, raisin, burnt sugar, cherry, caramel, liquorice and heat oak aromas on the nostril. Rounded and candy with drying end and dried fruit, toasted coconut and oak on the palate.

Whereas the Scottish Chief 12 YO was described as:

White grape on the nostril leads right into a smoked cheese character and a touch of mango. The palate shows the breadth of Mezcal flavours with maraschino-like cherry, blackberry and briny notes coming to the fore, with a satisfying diesel end.

Regardless of the persevering with and rising recognition of single malt Scotch whisky, blended Scotch whisky continues to be the best-selling class of Scotch whisky in each quantity and income. Blended whiskies are sometimes dismissed as missing the depth and class of single malt expressions. That’s unlucky and likewise unfaithful.

Blended Scotch whisky can provide the depth, layered nuance and complexity sometimes related to single malt Scotch and sometimes represents higher worth. If you happen to’ve drifted away from consuming blended Scotch whisky or you probably have by no means bothered to strive them, these 12 medal winners are a great place to begin. They signify the most effective of the most effective in blended Scotch whisky.

Sláinte