Adelphi Private Stock Blended Scotch Whisky 70 cl 40%

Adelphi is known for saying no. Of the casks they get offered, very few are approved to carry the name. Private Stock is the house blend, the place where they show what they can do with an assembly rather than a single cask.

The Expert's Description

Adelphi Private Stock is a Blended Scotch Whisky bottled at 40% by the independent bottler Adelphi. It is the house's own blend and differs from Adelphi's single cask releases by being assembled to hit a particular style rather than to show one cask's character.

Adelphi was founded in 1826 as a distillery on the Clyde on the edge of Glasgow. It closed in the early twentieth century and the name lay dormant for almost a hundred years. In 1993 it returned as an independent bottler when Jamie Walker, great-grandson of the former owner Archibald Walker, started the firm again. Donald Houston and Keith Falconer took over in 2004 and later built the Ardnamurchan distillery on the Scottish west coast.

Adelphi’s selection is famously strict: only a small fraction of the casks the house tastes make it through. Private Stock is the bottle where that philosophy meets everyday drinking.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Bright and straightforward. Malt, honey and a touch of green apple first, then vanilla and a light cereal sweetness. There is a clean thread running through it all, no sharp edges and no smoke.

Palate

Soft and malty. Caramel and baked fruit open, then a mild spiced warmth and a light nutty note. At 40% it drinks easily, and the texture is rounder than you might expect from a blend in this style.

Finish

Short to medium. Malt and honey linger, with a dry cereal note at the close. Clean finish.

Specifications

Name: Adelphi Private Stock Blended Scotch Whisky 40%
Bottler: Adelphi
Region/Country: Scotland
Type: Blended Scotch Whisky
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Edition: Private Stock

Flavour Profile

Malty · Soft · Honeyed · Fruity · Light · Vanilla

Did You Know?

Adelphi today owns Ardnamurchan Distillery, which sits on the westernmost point of mainland Scotland. The firm went from being a distillery in 1826, to a pure bottler from 1993, to distilling again after 2014. Very few whisky houses have taken that road twice.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Adelphi Private Stock Blended Scotch Whisky 40%

What is the difference between a blend and a single malt?

A Single Malt Whisky comes from one distillery and is made solely from malted barley. A Blended Scotch Whisky mixes malt whisky with grain whisky, usually from several distilleries. Blends are generally softer and lighter, because the grain whisky smooths out the edges.

Why does Adelphi bottle a blend when they are known for single casks?

Because the two do different jobs. A single cask shows one particular moment in one particular warehouse. A blend shows what the house believes a good everyday whisky should taste like. Private Stock belongs in the second category.

What does it mean that Adelphi is an independent bottler?

That they buy casks from other distilleries and handle maturation, assembly and bottling themselves. They are not bound by any distillery house style and can pick casks a distillery would never have put its own name to. See more such houses in our range of whisky from independent bottlers.

Can it be used in cocktails?

Yes, and beyond an everyday dram this is where it really earns its keep. The malty sweetness and soft edges work in a Highball or a Whisky Sour, where a powerful single malt would quickly shout over the other ingredients.

Is it peated?

No. There is no peat smoke in the profile. This is a bright, malty and fruity blend, which makes it a calm choice for someone unsure whether they can handle smoke.

What happened to the original Adelphi Distillery?

It stood on the Clyde in Glasgow, was founded in 1826 and closed in the early twentieth century. The buildings are long gone, but the name was revived in 1993 by a descendant of one of the former owners, this time as a bottler rather than a distillery.