Black Bottle "With A Heart Of Islay" 10 years old Finest Blended Islay Malt Scotch Whisky 40%

A whole island is folded into this bottle. Not as a claim on the label, but as a note that lingers after the glass is empty. Black Bottle with a heart of Islay — that was the promise, and it held.

Expert description

Black Bottle "With A Heart Of Islay" 10 Years is a Finest Blended Islay Malt Scotch Whisky bottled at 40%.

This is the green bottle from the years before the relaunch, when Black Bottle still carried the Islay line straight on the label. The recipe drew malt from every Islay distillery operating at the time, tied together with grain whisky and a running seam of peat smoke. The expression has since been discontinued, which has made it one of the more sought-after older Black Bottle releases.

Ten years of maturation settles the blend. The smoke is still there, but it has had time to sink into the malt sweetness rather than stand apart from it. The Aberdeen house of Gordon Graham & Co. created the blend in 1879, and this release sits closest to the smoky style the house built its name on.

Tasting notes

Nose

Fresh and lightly fruity at first, with yellow apples and a twist of lemon peel. Underneath sits a clear but unhurried peat smoke and a hint of wet seaweed.

Palate

Honey and malt fill the palate first, soft and almost round, until the smoke rises from behind with soot, black pepper and a touch of salt.

Finish

Long and warming. The Islay character arrives last and stays put alongside dried grain and ash.

Specifications

Name: Black Bottle "With A Heart Of Islay" 10 Years Finest Blended Islay Malt Scotch Whisky 40%
Distillery: Black Bottle
Region/Country: Scotland
Type: Finest Blended Islay Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 5029704111466

Flavour profile

Smoky · Malty · Soft · Maritime · Honeyed

Investment potential

Medium. A discontinued bottling in the original green glass with an age statement, and demand for older Black Bottle releases has climbed steadily since the range was reworked.

Did you know?

The black bottle the brand is named after was supplied from Germany. When that supply stopped during the First World War, the Graham brothers switched to green glass — and green it stayed for close to a century.

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Frequently asked questions about Black Bottle "With A Heart Of Islay" 10 Years Finest Blended Islay Malt Scotch Whisky 40%

Is this whisky heavily smoked?

No, the smoke is clear but restrained. Peat sits as a layer beneath the malt sweetness, which makes it a good way into smoky whisky without going straight to the heaviest Islay malts. For more smoke in the glass, browse our Islay Whisky selection.

What does "With A Heart Of Islay" mean?

It was the brand's slogan during the green bottle era and refers to the blend carrying malt from every working Islay distillery. Islay malt forms the core, while Speyside and Highland components plus grain whisky build body and sweetness around it.

How does it differ from the current Black Bottle?

This is the older green expression with a 10 year age statement. After the relaunch the whisky moved to a black bottle without an age statement, and the smoke profile was adjusted. The older release is rounder and more malt-driven.

Is it still in production?

No. The bottling has been discontinued, and what remains comes from retailer stock and private collections. That is why it turns up less and less often.

How is it best served?

Neat at room temperature is a good starting point. A few drops of water open the peat smoke and pull the honey notes forward. It also holds up to a single ice cube without falling apart.

Is it a good gift for someone new to whisky?

Yes, if the recipient is curious about smoke. Bottled at 40% it is easy to approach, and the malt sweetness takes the edge off the peat. For someone entirely new to smoky whisky, an unpeated Scotch Whisky may be a gentler place to begin.