Westport is the unofficial name used for Glenmorangie when the whisky has a small amount of spirit from another distillery added, meaning it cannot be sold as a single malt. This cask shows just how much character the Italian house Wilson & Morgan can conjure.

The expert's description

Westport 2004/2019 Glenmorangie Wilson & Morgan 15 år Highland Blended Malt Scotch Whisky 57,8% is a Highland Blended Malt Scotch Whisky, matured in Sherry wood, butt #900050 and bottled at 57.8%.

The whisky was distilled in 2004 and bottled in 2019 by Wilson & Morgan from a single sherry butt, #900050, with an outturn of 539 bottles. It carries clear traces of Glenmorangie's clean, fruity, lightly spiced profile, but gains extra depth and dark nuances from the long sherry maturation.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Dried fruit, raisins, dark caramel and warm spice.

Palate

Full and oily with nuts, oak and chocolate.

Finish

Long, dark and lasting with sherry-driven tones.

Specifications

Name: Westport 2004/2019 Glenmorangie Wilson & Morgan 15 år Highland Blended Malt Scotch Whisky 57,8%
Distillery: Westport
Bottler: Wilson & Morgan
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 15 years
ABV: 57.8%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Sherry wood, butt #900050
Distilled: 2004
Bottled: 2019
Number of bottles: 539
EAN no.: 8033749406033

Flavour Profile

Sherried · Full-bodied · Spiced

Did you know?

The name Westport is typically used when a whisky from a named distillery has a small proportion from another distillery blended in, which legally prevents it from carrying the single malt label, even though the majority still comes from one place.

See our full range of Glenmorangie

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Blue Label arrived in 1999 and quickly picked up a nickname among the distillery staff: bottle of the month, the one that came with the pay slip. It is rarely a bad recommendation when the people who make the whisky take it home themselves.

The expert's description

Dew of Ben Nevis Blue Label is a Blended Scotch Whisky matured in oak casks and bottled at 40 %.

Dew of Ben Nevis is the blend range of the distillery, with Blue Label sitting as the lightest and sweetest expression. It differs from Special Reserve and Supreme Selection by aiming at accessibility rather than weight, and it was introduced in 1999.

The blend combines malt whisky from Ben Nevis with grain whisky, and the distillery in Fort William handles both production and composition. It is not common for a single distillery to blend and bottle its own blend under its own name as well.

Tasting notes

Nose

Light and sweet with vanilla, pale cereal and a touch of honey.

Palate

Soft and simple with caramel and malt. The sweetness dominates and there are no sharp edges along the way.

Finish

Short and clean with a last malty warmth.

Specifications

Name: Dew of Ben Nevis Blue Label
Distillery: Ben Nevis
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Blended Scotch Whisky
ABV: 40 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Oak casks
Edition: Blue Label
EAN no.: 5026673000302

Flavour profile

Light · Sweet · Soft · Malty · Fresh

Did you know?

Ben Nevis is one of the few Scottish distilleries that distils, matures, blends and bottles at the same address. Most send their casks on to central bottling plants in the Lowlands.

See our full range of Ben Nevis Whisky
See our full range of Blended Scotch Whisky

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Same Great King Street, the more common 70cl bottle – Compass Box and John Glaser's tribute to artfully composed blended whisky.

Expert's Description

Great King St. is composed from a carefully assembled mix of whisky types: Lowland Grain Whisky (51.4%), two different Northern Highland Single Malts (23.2% and 17.7%) and a Speyside Single Malt (7.7%), matured in a combination of first fill American oak casks (62.3%), new French oak finish (27.7%) and first fill sherry butts (10%).

The result is a full-bodied, round and generous whisky, bottled at 43%, neither chill-filtered nor coloured.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Toasted oak, vanilla and spice.

Palate

Full-bodied and round, with toasted oak, vanilla and spice.

Finish

Spiced and tingling, with a fine fading sweetness and a hint of smoke.

Specifications

Name: Great King St. Compass Box Blended Scotch Whisky 70cl 43%
Distillery: Great King St. – a blend of different whiskies
Bottler: Compass Box – John Glaser
Region/Country: Scotland
Type: Blended Scotch Whisky
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL
Filtration: Non-chill-filtered
Colour: Natural colour

Flavour Profile

Full-bodied · Round · Spiced · Elegant

Did You Know?

Great King Street is named after the street in Edinburgh's New Town where Compass Box previously had their offices.

See our full range of Compass Box

Hear more about Compass Box and John Glaser's story in our podcast:

Three different cask types, one flavour – Grant's Triple Wood is the blend's answer to making an everyday whisky a little fuller without making it complicated.

Expert's Description

Grant's Triple Wood is a Blended Whisky from William Grant & Sons, where the blend has been allowed to mature in three different types of wood.

The whisky is bottled at 40% in the large 100cl bottle. The combination of the three cask types gives a smooth, full-bodied and soft flavour, building on Grant's accessible, versatile style.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Soft malt, with caramel and a hint of vanilla.

Palate

Full-bodied and smooth, with toffee, light spice and a round sweetness.

Finish

Medium length, soft and lightly sweet.

Specifications

Name: Grant's Triple Wood Blended Whisky 100cl 40%
Producer: Grant's
Region/Country: Scotland
Type: Blended Whisky
Cask type: Matured in three different cask types
ABV: 40%
Size: 100 CL

Flavour Profile

Full-bodied · Smooth · Soft · Sweet

Did You Know?

The name Triple Wood refers to the whisky having matured in three different cask types, giving a more layered flavour than a whisky matured in just one cask type.

See our full range of Grant’s

Eight years in cask, 43 percent and a name from Leith. Crabbie belongs to the blends that were drunk a lot and kept a little — which is exactly why the surviving bottles are interesting.

Please note: The bottle is supplied without a carton.

Expert description

Crabbie 8 years Blended Old Scotch Whisky is a Blended Scotch Whisky matured for at least 8 years and bottled at 43%.

John Crabbie & Co was based in Leith near Edinburgh and was as much a merchant house as a whisky producer. Age-stated blends were a quality marker in that period, and eight years meant even the youngest component had lost its edges. The 43% was standard for export bottlings and gives more body than today's 40%.

Tasting notes

Nose

Malt, cereal and dried fruit. Behind them sit honey, pale caramel and a trace of old wood.

Palate

Soft and rounded. Raisin, orange, malt and vanilla, with a lightly spiced warmth and a dry edge from the grain whisky.

Finish

Medium, dry and malty, with nuts and a hint of smoke right at the end.

Specifications

Name: Crabbie 8 years Blended Old Scotch Whisky without carton 43%
Distillery: Crabbie
Region/Country: Scotland
Type: Blended Scotch Whisky
Age: 8 years
ABV: 43 %
Size: 70 CL

Flavour profile

Soft · Malty · Dried Fruit · Cereal · Lightly Spiced

Investment potential

High. The release is discontinued, and older age-stated blends keep leaving the market as they get drunk.

Did you know?

Leith was Scotland's most important whisky port for more than a century. Casks were stored in warehouses along the quay and the blending houses sat close together — it was the harbour, not the distillery, that decided who could build a whisky business.

See our full range of Crabbie Whisky

Most people know the Crabbie name from ginger wine. Fewer know the Leith house also sold whisky — and that bottles from those days still turn up with the carton intact.

Expert description

Crabbie 8 years Blended Old Scotch Whisky is a Blended Scotch Whisky matured for at least 8 years and bottled at 43%.

John Crabbie & Co was founded in Edinburgh in the early 1800s and became world famous for its green ginger wine, but the house also traded and blended whisky. This release comes with its original carton, which makes a noticeable difference to a collector, since packaging was rarely kept. The 43% strength and the eight year age statement place it in an era when blends were still bottled with a little more body than today.

Tasting notes

Nose

Malt and dried fruit first, then honey, pale caramel and a dusty note from the years in glass.

Palate

Round and malty. Raisin, orange peel, cereal and a little vanilla, with a warm spiced edge from the 43%. The mouthfeel is softer than today's standard blends.

Finish

Medium and dry, with malt, nuts and a lightly smoked close.

Specifications

Name: Crabbie 8 years Blended Old Scotch Whisky with carton 43%
Distillery: Crabbie
Region/Country: Scotland
Type: Blended Scotch Whisky
Age: 8 years
ABV: 43 %
Size: 70 CL
Edition: With carton

Flavour profile

Soft · Malty · Dried Fruit · Honeyed · Lightly Spiced

Investment potential

High. A discontinued release with an age statement and the original carton intact. Older blends carrying eight years on the label have become a niche collectors actively hunt.

Did you know?

John Crabbie began as a wine merchant and importer in Leith, Edinburgh's port. It was the harbour that gave access both to ginger from Asia and to the casks that later became whisky — two businesses grown from the same quayside.

See our full range of Crabbie Whisky

A great blend is never an accident — it is the sum of dozens of quiet decisions made over many years. This Johnnie Walker release carries that philosophy into every glass.

Expert's description

Johnnie Walker Red Label Blended Whisky 100 cl 40% is a Blended Scotch Whisky and bottled at 40%.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Soft smoke, honey and ripe apple.

Palate

Toffee, spiced oak and a gentle smokiness.

Finish

Clean and gently smoky with lasting warmth.

Specifications

Name: Johnnie Walker Red Label Blended Whisky 100 cl 40%
Distillery: Johnnie Walker
Region/Country: Scotland
Type: Blended Scotch Whisky
ABV: 40%
Size: 100 CL
Edition: Red Label
EAN no.: 5000267013602

Flavour Profile

Rounded · Spiced

Did you know?

Johnnie Walker stopped being blended in Kilmarnock after 2011, when production moved to Diageo's newer facilities, a change that caused considerable debate in Scotland at the time.

See our full range of Johnnie Walker

A signature blend has to do it all at once – be easy-drinking, yet still bring something to the table. Loch Lomond Signature solves that with a solera system that ties the distillery's malt and grain together into one rounded whole.

Expert's Description

Loch Lomond Signature is a Blended Scotch Whisky matured in oloroso casks and re-charred American bourbon casks and bottled at 40%.

The whisky is built on a solera system of 100 casks, where malt and grain whisky from the distillery are continuously blended and replenished. The combination of ex-oloroso sherry casks and re-charred American oak gives the whisky a round, fruity sweetness with a sherried edge.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Sweet and fruity with round vanilla, butterscotch and toffee, plus a light sherried tinge and baked apple.

Palate

Honey and vanilla with a shell of black pepper, apple fruitiness, ripe pears, cinnamon, ginger and dark sugar.

Finish

Baked apple and toffee that turn slightly bitter at the edges, with a hint of lemon towards the end.

Specifications

Name: Loch Lomond Signature Blended Scotch Whisky
Distillery: Loch Lomond
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Blended Scotch Whisky
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Ex-oloroso and re-charred American oak
EAN: 5016840034230
Serving suggestion: Neat, on ice or in a highball

Flavour Profile

Sherry-matured · Fruity · Sweet

Did You Know?

Loch Lomond Signature uses a solera system of 100 casks – a method usually associated with sherry and port – to continuously produce a consistent, rounded blend.

See our full range of Loch Lomond

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Same Triple Wood blend, the more everyday-friendly 70cl bottle – three cask types in a whisky that doesn't overcomplicate things.

Expert's Description

Grant's Triple Wood is a Blended Whisky from William Grant & Sons, where the blend has been allowed to mature in three different casks.

The whisky is bottled at 40% in the classic 70cl bottle. The combination of the three cask types gives a full-bodied, soft flavour, building on Grant's accessible, versatile style.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Soft malt, with caramel and a hint of vanilla.

Palate

Full-bodied and smooth, with toffee, light spice and a round sweetness.

Finish

Medium length, soft and lightly sweet.

Specifications

Name: Grant's Triple Wood Blended Whisky 70cl 40%
Producer: Grant's
Region/Country: Scotland
Type: Blended Whisky
Cask type: Matured in three different casks
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL

Flavour Profile

Full-bodied · Smooth · Soft · Sweet

Did You Know?

The name Triple Wood refers to the whisky having matured in three different cask types, giving a more layered flavour than a whisky matured in just one cask type.

See our full range of Grant’s

Some bottles are built to impress. This one is built to be there. Finest is the workhorse of the Ballantine stable, the blend standing at the back of every bar from Glasgow to Barcelona, and it has never tried to be anything other than exactly what it is.

The expert's description

Ballantine's Finest is a Blended Scotch Whisky matured in oak casks and bottled at 40 %.

Finest is the house bestseller and has been for generations. The blend draws on more than 40 different single malts, with Miltonduff and Glenburgie as the load-bearing Speyside voices, and the grain whisky ties it together into something light, floral and very approachable. The Master Blender role has been handed down since 1827, and the recipe has stayed remarkably steady.

This is not a whisky that demands concentration. It is built to be drunk over ice, in a highball or in a simple cocktail, and it takes that treatment without falling apart. If you are teaching someone to drink Scotch, this is a sensible place to start.

Tasting notes

Nose

Pale and light. Apple blossom, vanilla and a dry cereal note, with a hint of hay and pale oak behind it.

Palate

Light in the good sense, with honey, green apple and a little vanilla sweetness. The malt is there but it does not push forward.

Finish

Short, clean and slightly dry. No bitterness, no edges.

Specifications

Name: Ballantine's Finest
Distillery: Ballantine's
Region/Country: Scotland
Type: Blended Scotch Whisky
ABV: 40 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Oak casks
EAN no.: 5010106113127

Flavour profile

Light · Floral · Honeyed · Soft · Fresh

Did you know?

Ballantine's once kept its own guards at the Dumbarton warehouses. Two Scottish eagles, Glen and Nevis, were used for years to keep gulls and pigeons off the buildings, and they appeared on the company's own letterhead.

See our full range of Ballantine's Whisky
See our full range of Blended Scotch Whisky

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The lighthouse on the label is Japan's oldest of its kind - a symbol of safety and guidance that Hatozaki has borrowed for its own name.

Expert Description

Hatozaki The Kaikyo Distillery is a Japanese Blended Whisky, bottled at 40%.

The whisky comes from Kaikyo Distillery in the town of Akashi, run by Akashi Sake Brewery, which has made spirits since 1856 and whisky since 2017. Hatozaki is named after Japan's oldest stone lighthouse, located near the distillery, honouring the Yonezawa family's long craft tradition.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Apple and pear with a light, floral aroma and a touch of honey.

Palate

Soft and round with caramel and a mild spice.

Finish

Short to medium, clean and gently sweet.

Specifications

Name: Hatozaki The Kaikyo Distillery
Distillery: Kaikyo
Region/Country: Akashi, Japan
Type: Japanese Blended Whisky
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 4970860800002

Flavour Profile

Soft · Round · Sweet · Light

Did You Know?

Hatozaki is named after Japan's oldest stone lighthouse, a protected historic structure near Akashi Sake Brewery, which has made spirits since 1856.

See our full range of {'da': 'Hatozaki whisky', 'en': 'Hatozaki whisky', 'sv': 'Hatozaki whisky'}

Tweeddale takes its name from a valley in the Scottish Borders and lives on as a brand built on old blending traditions. The Evolution brings together whiskies where even the youngest is 28 years old.

The expert's description

Tweeddale The Evolution 28 år Limited Edition Blended Scotch Whisky 52% is a Blended Scotch Whisky and bottled at 52%.

Tweeddale 28 Year Old The Evolution is blended from the finest Speyside and Lowlands whiskies, where even the youngest component is 28 years old. Only 600 bottles were released worldwide, unchill-filtered and with natural colour from the casks.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Honey, ripe fruit and a hint of oak.

Palate

Soft and full-bodied with caramel and spiced malt.

Finish

Long and elegant with lingering wood and fruit notes.

Specifications

Name: Tweeddale The Evolution 28 år Limited Edition Blended Scotch Whisky 52%
Distillery: Tweeddale
Region/Country: Scotland
Type: Blended Scotch Whisky
Age: 28 years
ABV: 52%
Size: 70 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Number of bottles: 600
Edition: Limited Edition

Flavour Profile

Full-bodied · Elegant · Fruity

Investment Potential

Medium. With only 600 bottles released worldwide and an age statement of 28 years for even the youngest component, this is a whisky that has historically grown in reputation as the outturn dwindles.

Did you know?

The Tweeddale name comes from a historic Scottish blending family and was revived in 2010 to celebrate the classic style of Scotch blends as they looked before single malts took over the spotlight.

See our full range of Tweeddale

There is whisky you read about and whisky you drink. This belongs to the second kind. It has no ambition of ending up in a collection, and that is exactly why it has stayed on the shelf for close to two hundred years.

The expert's description

Bell's Original is a Blended Scotch Whisky matured in oak casks and bottled at 40 %.

The story starts in Perth in 1825, where Thomas Sandeman opened a spirits business. Arthur Bell joined in 1851 and made blending the heart of the trade, and his name is still on the bottle. Through the 1970s and 1980s Bell's was the best selling blend in Britain.

The backbone of the blend is Blair Athol in Pitlochry, which the house took over in 1933. Malt from a number of other distilleries joins it along with grain whisky, and the result is deliberately kept light and approachable rather than complex.

Tasting notes

Nose

Fresh and light with green apple, cereal and a suggestion of vanilla. A dry malt note sits behind.

Palate

Mild and smooth with honey and pale cereal. The malt peeks through halfway without taking up room.

Finish

Short and clean with a last touch of malt.

Specifications

Name: Bell's Original
Distillery: Bell's
Region/Country: Scotland
Type: Blended Scotch Whisky
ABV: 40 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Oak casks
EAN no.: 5000387905474

Flavour profile

Light · Fresh · Soft · Malty · Cereal

Did you know?

Arthur Bell refused for years to put his own name on the bottles, believing the whisky should speak for itself. It was his sons who put the name on the label after his death in 1900.

See our full range of Bell's Whisky
See our full range of Blended Scotch Whisky

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Grain whisky is almost always tucked away inside blends where nobody notices it. Hedonism is the bottle where John Glaser put it up front and asked people to taste it properly.

Expert description

Compass Box Hedonism The Muse is a Blended Grain Scotch Whisky bottled at 53.3% without chill filtration and without added colouring.

Hedonism was the first commercial blended grain whisky when Compass Box launched it in 2000, and The Muse is the house bottling at cask strength. Grain whisky is distilled in a column still rather than a pot still and is usually used as a soft backbone in blends. Given long maturation in good American oak it instead develops a creamy, coconut-like sweetness no malt whisky can produce. At 53.3% it stands far more powerfully than the standard Hedonism.

Tasting notes

Nose

Vanilla pod, coconut and crème brûlée. Behind them sit sugared popcorn, pale caramel and a trace of wood shavings.

Palate

Velvety and sweet. Vanilla, coconut milk, white chocolate and pale syrup, with a warm spiced note that comes from the strength rather than the oak. The texture is thick without turning cloying.

Finish

Long and creamy, with vanilla, coconut and a dry oak note slowly drying out the sweetness.

Specifications

Name: Compass Box Hedonism The Muse Blended Grain Scotch Whisky 53,3%
Bottler: Compass Box
Region/Country: Scotland
Type: Blended Grain Scotch Whisky
ABV: 53.3%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: American oak
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Edition: Hedonism The Muse

Flavour profile

Creamy · Vanilla · Coconut · Sweet · Cask Strength

Investment potential

Medium. The Hedonism range appears in changing editions, and cask strength bottlings are both scarcer and more sought after than the standard version.

Did you know?

When Hedonism arrived in 2000, blended grain barely existed as something you sold on its own. Compass Box essentially built the category from scratch, and today several large houses have followed with grain bottlings of their own.

See our full range of Compass Box Blended Whisky

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An early Fèis Ìle release of Big Peat, created for Islay's 2018 whisky festival.

Expert description

Big Peat Feis Ile 2018 is a limited edition of the Islay blend, created specifically for the 2018 Fèis Ìle festival, bottled at 48%. Big Peat was launched in 2009 by independent bottler Douglas Laing & Co as the first in the company's 'Remarkable Regional Malts' series. The idea was to create the 'ultimate distillation of Islay' by blending single malt whisky from several of the island's distilleries, including Caol Ila, Bowmore and Ardbeg, without using grain whisky. Big Peat is non-chill filtered, with no colouring added. Each year Douglas Laing releases a Christmas Edition of Big Peat at natural cask strength, and at Islay's Fèis Ìle whisky festival, special limited editions are regularly released.

Tasting notes

Nose

The nose offers smoke, peat and a hint of sea salt.

Palate

The palate is smoky and spiced with peat, caramel and a hint of citrus.

Finish

The finish is long, smoky and lightly salty.

Specifications

Name: Big Peat Feis Ile 2018 Douglas Laing Fèis Ìle Blended Islay Malt Whisky
Bottler: Douglas Laing & Co
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 48%
Size: 70 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Edition: Fèis Ìle 2018

Flavour profile

Smoky · Peated · Salty · Spiced

Investment potential

Older Fèis Ìle releases like this one from 2018 are hard to find today, which can make them attractive to collectors of limited Islay bottlings.

See our full range of Douglas Laing

Captain William McCoy ran whisky into the United States during Prohibition and never watered it down. People started asking for the genuine article — the real McCoy. This bottle is a nod to him.

Expert description

Cutty Sark Prohibition is a Blended Scotch Whisky bottled at 50%.

The edition was made as a tribute to Prohibition, when Cutty Sark was among the most smuggled whiskies on the American east coast. McCoy anchored outside territorial waters and sold bottles on to small boats — and because he never diluted the goods, his name turned into a phrase. The 50% strength was chosen to reach the body the whisky had before it passed through many hands.

Tasting notes

Nose

Stronger than the yellow label. Vanilla, dried fruit and cereal, with a touch of spice and a warm oak note.

Palate

Full and oily. Caramel, orange peel and malt, with a peppery warmth from the strength and a dry oak edge. There is more body than in the standard release, but the same pale fruit character underneath.

Finish

Long and dry, with spice, cereal and a persistent warmth.

Specifications

Name: Cutty Sark Prohibition Blended Scotch Whisky 70 cl 50%
Distillery: Cutty Sark
Region/Country: Scotland
Type: Blended Scotch Whisky
ABV: 50 %
Size: 70 CL
Edition: Prohibition Edition
EAN no.: 5010504100309

Flavour profile

Full-bodied · Spiced · Vanilla · Dried Fruit · High Strength

Did you know?

The phrase the real McCoy is, on one widely repeated account, down to Captain William McCoy, who refused to dilute or adulterate his smuggled whisky. The expression stuck long after Prohibition ended.

See our full range of Cutty Sark Whisky

It does not say which distilleries are in the bottle, and that is deliberate. Glenalmond is a marriage of Highland malts, and who supplied what is a trade secret at The Vintage Malt Whisky Company. What you are told is how it tastes.

The expert's description

Glenalmond is a Highland Blended Malt Scotch Whisky matured in a combination of bourbon and sherry casks, bottled at 40%.

A blended malt is not the same as a blended whisky. There is no grain whisky in the bottle — only single malt from several distilleries married together. That lets the blender build a profile no single distillery could deliver alone, and it is exactly what Glenalmond is meant to be: an approachable Highland style with no sharp edges.

The bourbon casks lay vanilla and bright fruit in, while the sherry casks add the darker sweetness. At 40% the whisky is light and round rather than powerful, and the bottling carries no age statement, which allows the profile to stay consistent from batch to batch.

Tasting notes

Nose

Vanilla fudge and sweet malt, with cinnamon and a trace of honey. Bright and welcoming rather than complex.

Palate

Fruity sherry notes and fresh pale stone fruit, with candied citrus and soft vanilla. The body is light, and there are no sharp edges anywhere.

Finish

Mild and warming. Malt and vanilla ebbing away quietly with no bitterness.

Specifications

Name: Glenalmond Highland Blended Malt Scotch Whisky 40%
Bottler: The Vintage Malt Whisky Company
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Highland Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Bourbon casks and sherry casks

Flavour profile

Soft · Vanilla-sweet · Fruity · Light · Malty

Did you know?

Brian Crook founded The Vintage Malt Whisky Company in 1992, having been a director at Morrison Bowmore. Glenalmond was one of the very first brands the company put on the market, and it has been there ever since.

See our full range of The Vintage Malt Whisky Company

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Four and a half litres of whisky is not a bottle you lift with one hand. That is why it comes with a cradle, and why it ends up being the centrepiece of the evening rather than something standing on a shelf.

The expert description

Famous Grouse 4.5 Litre is a Blended Scotch Whisky bottled at 40% in a 450 cl bottle.

The bottle is supplied with a metal pouring cradle so it can be served without being lifted. That is a practical necessity rather than an accessory, since a full bottle at this size weighs far too much to handle freehand at a table.

The whisky inside is the classic Famous Grouse, created in Perth in 1896 and owned by William Grant & Sons since July 2025. Malt whisky from Scottish distilleries, with Highland Park historically among those providing the character, is bound together with grain whisky into a soft blend with no sharp edges. The format is aimed at parties, bars and collectors with shelf space.

Tasting notes

Nose

Calm and harmonious with dried fruit, honey and vanilla, and nuts plus a touch of citrus underneath.

Palate

Soft and round with clear fruit, ripe undertones and a lightly spiced edge.

Finish

Short to medium, clean and lightly sweet with malt at the close.

Specifications

Name: Famous Grouse 4.5 Litre
Distillery: The Famous Grouse
Region/Country: Scotland
Type: Blended Scotch Whisky
ABV: 40%
Size: 450 CL
Edition: Supplied with a metal pouring cradle

Flavour profile

Soft · Fruity · Honeyed · Malty · Lightly spiced

Did you know?

Large bottles do not mature differently from small ones, since whisky does not develop in glass, but they do last longer once opened. The less air there is relative to liquid, the slower the oxidation, so a nearly full large format is better off than a nearly empty standard bottle.

See our full range of Famous Grouse

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High in the Japanese Alps, 798 metres above sea level, sits Japan's highest-altitude whisky distillery - home to Mars Maltage COSMO.

Expert Description

Mars Maltage COSMO is a Japanese Blended Whisky, bottled at 43%.

The whisky comes from Hombo Shuzo, which has produced spirits in Japan since 1872, and its Shinshu Distillery in Nagano Prefecture. COSMO combines malt and grain whisky in a blend that reflects Shinshu's cool high-altitude location, which gives a slow, even maturation.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Apple and pear meet a light floral sweetness and a touch of vanilla.

Palate

Soft and round with honey, light spice and a fine, clean finish.

Finish

Medium length, mild and sweet.

Specifications

Name: Mars Maltage COSMO
Distillery: Mars Shinshu
Region/Country: Nagano, Japan
Type: Japanese Blended Whisky
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 4976881501164

Flavour Profile

Soft · Round · Sweet · Fresh

Did You Know?

Shinshu Distillery sits 798 metres above sea level in the Japanese Alps, making it Japan's highest-altitude whisky distillery - the elevation gives a cooler climate that significantly slows the pace of maturation.

See our full range of Mars Shinshu

Kyloe is pronounced Kahy-loh and is the name of the cattle breed that thrives in Scottish wind and sleet. The whisky borrowed the name and the temperament: no filtration, no dilution and no apologies.

Expert description

Black Bull Kyloe is a Blended Scotch Whisky bottled at 50% without chill filtration.

The blend is put together with single malt outweighing grain whisky, which is unusual for the category and is the direct reason for the full mouthfeel. Duncan Taylor bottles the range at 50% precisely to keep the aromatic compounds that normally disappear in the chill filtration most blends go through.

Kyloe is the entry point to the Black Bull range and follows the same principles as the age-stated releases, only without the age requirement. That gives fresher fruit and more direct malt, where the older versions carry more cask spice.

Tasting notes

Nose

Full gold in colour with aromas of toffee, apple, clementine, brown sugar and toasted oak. Given time in the glass, honey and pale flowers arrive.

Palate

Soft and comfortable despite the strength. Hazelnut, chocolate and raisin, with a rich citrus running over everything alongside fresh apple and pear.

Finish

Long and creamy with vanilla and oak settling as a final layer over the malt.

Specifications

Name: Black Bull Kyloe Blended Scotch Whisky 50%
Distillery: Black Bull
Bottler: Duncan Taylor
Region/Country: Scotland
Type: Blended Scotch Whisky
ABV: 50%
Size: 70 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Edition: Kyloe
EAN no.: 5060294564188

Flavour profile

Malty · Fruity · Nutty · Creamy · Powerful

Did you know?

In earlier centuries Kyloe cattle were driven on foot in large herds from the Scottish Highlands down to the Lowland markets. The journey could take weeks, and the animals were shod for the road.

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Some whiskies don't need to surprise – they just need to be good, every time. Loch Lomond Reserve is the distillery's take on a classic blend, where both malt and grain come from the very same address on the loch's shore.

Expert's Description

Loch Lomond Reserve is a Blended Scotch Whisky matured in American oak and bottled at 40%.

The whisky is composed entirely of malt and grain whisky distilled and matured at Loch Lomond Distillery – with no whisky sourced from other distilleries. That makes it a rarity among blends: a "single-site blend", where the entire process happens in one place.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Sweet honey and caramel with a touch of toffee and light vanilla.

Palate

Light and easy-drinking with honeyed sweetness, creamy caramel and a soft, round body.

Finish

Short, mild finish with lingering sweetness.

Specifications

Name: Loch Lomond Reserve Blended Scotch Whisky
Distillery: Loch Lomond
Region/Country: Highland, Scotland
Type: Blended Scotch Whisky
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: American oak
Serving suggestion: Neat, on ice or in a highball

Flavour Profile

Sweet · Smooth · Light

Did You Know?

Loch Lomond is one of the few Scottish distilleries able to make a complete blended whisky using only its own malt and grain whiskies, without sourcing anything from other distilleries.

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A litre of Bell's is not a bottle you buy for the display cabinet. It gets bought for the house, put at the back of the cupboard and pulled out when someone drops by. That is its function, and it has held it for decades without complaint.

The expert's description

Bell's Original 100 cl is a Blended Scotch Whisky matured in oak casks and bottled at 40 %.

Original was previously called Specially Selected and took its current name in 2008. The blend is built around Blair Athol in Pitlochry, regarded as the home distillery of the house, supported by malt from several other distilleries and by grain whisky, which supplies the light, round texture.

The litre format is a practical decision more than a collector decision. The larger bottle is still around, mainly in airports and with retailers who have the shelf space, and it is meant for households where the whisky gets drunk rather than kept.

Tasting notes

Nose

Light and cereal led with vanilla, apple and a dry malt note. A little caramel sits underneath.

Palate

Soft and simple with honey, cereal and a hint of nut. No edges, no surprises, and that is deliberate.

Finish

Short and dry with a last malty warmth.

Specifications

Name: Bell's Original 100 cl
Distillery: Bell's
Region/Country: Scotland
Type: Blended Scotch Whisky
ABV: 40 %
Size: 100 CL
Cask type: Oak casks
EAN no.: 5000387905504

Flavour profile

Light · Malty · Soft · Honeyed · Dry

Did you know?

Bell's took over Blair Athol in 1933 and has used the distillery as the fixed pivot of the blend ever since. The visitor centre in Pitlochry remains one of the busiest in Scotland.

See our full range of Bell's Whisky
See our full range of Blended Scotch Whisky

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A great blend is never an accident — it is the sum of dozens of quiet decisions made over many years. This J&B release carries that philosophy into every glass.

Expert's description

J&B Rare Blended Scotch Whisky 40% is a Blended Scotch Whisky and bottled at 40%.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Malt, toffee and a whisper of peat.

Palate

Honey, malt and a light peppery spice.

Finish

Medium length with a soft smoky close.

Specifications

Name: J&B Rare Blended Scotch Whisky 40%
Distillery: J&B
Region/Country: Scotland
Type: Blended Scotch Whisky
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Edition: J&B Rare
EAN no.: 5010103800259

Flavour Profile

Rounded · Spiced

Did you know?

J&B Rare takes its name from the founder's spirit of experimentation, an Italian-inspired approach to blending that has stayed central to the brand since the 18th century.

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The name comes quite literally from vat number 69, the exact blend William Sanderson landed on in 1882 after more than 100 trial batches. The story has stuck ever since.

The expert's description

VAT 69 Blended Scotch Whisky 70 cl 40% is a Blended Scotch Whisky and bottled at 40%.

VAT 69 is a well-known Scotch blended whisky, originally created by William Sanderson & Son as a blend of around 40 different malt whiskies and grain whisky. It is known for a simple, accessible style where light sweetness meets crisp cask notes.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Light grain and a mild sweetness.

Palate

Crisp cask notes with a hint of peat and warm smoke in the background.

Finish

Short and simple with a dry finish.

Specifications

Name: VAT 69 Blended Scotch Whisky 70 cl 40%
Distillery: VAT 69
Region/Country: Scotland
Type: Blended Scotch Whisky
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 5000292261115

Flavour Profile

Light · Simple · Spiced

Did you know?

VAT 69 became one of the most popular whisky brands among Allied soldiers during the Second World War, partly because the name was easy to remember and pronounce across languages.

See our full range of VAT 69

Blending is a craft in its own right, and this expression shows exactly why patience and a steady hand matter. This Johnnie Walker release carries that philosophy into every glass.

Expert's description

Johnnie Walker Blue Label Scotch Whisky 40% is a Blended Scotch Whisky and bottled at 40%.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Vanilla, heather and a light smoky lift.

Palate

Balanced malt and grain sweetness with a mellow smoke.

Finish

Warm and rounded with a final malty note.

Specifications

Name: Johnnie Walker Blue Label Scotch Whisky 40%
Distillery: Johnnie Walker
Region/Country: Scotland
Type: Blended Scotch Whisky
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Edition: Blue Label
EAN no.: 5000267115245

Flavour Profile

Rounded · Spiced

Did you know?

Diageo states that only around one in every 10,000 casks in its warehouses is judged good enough in character to be included in Johnnie Walker Blue Label.

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Where most distilleries mature only once, Whyte & Mackay's Master Blender insists on an extra year in sherry casks for that little something more. It has been rewarded more than once.

The expert's description

Whyte & Mackay Special Blended Whisky 70 cl 40% is a Blended Scotch Whisky and bottled at 40%.

Whyte & Mackay Special is created using the house's signature double maturation method, where malt and grain whiskies mature separately, are blended, and then mature for an additional year in sherry casks. The whisky won a gold medal at The International Wine & Spirit Competition in 2018.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Honey and light sweetness from the sherry casks.

Palate

Round and soft with a hint of dried fruit.

Finish

Short to medium with a warm finish.

Specifications

Name: Whyte & Mackay Special Blended Whisky 70 cl 40%
Distillery: Whyte & Mackay
Region/Country: Glasgow, Scotland
Type: Blended Scotch Whisky
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 5010196065061

Flavour Profile

Soft · Round · Sweet

Did you know?

Whyte & Mackay Special has collected a string of awards in international competitions since 2011, which is unusual for a blended whisky in this price category.

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Blending is a craft in its own right, and this expression shows exactly why patience and a steady hand matter. This J&B release carries that philosophy into every glass.

Expert's description

J&B JET Whisky Justerini & Brooks Ltd. - Blended Scotch Whisky 43% is a Blended Scotch Whisky and bottled at 43%.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Malt, toffee and a whisper of peat.

Palate

Honey, malt and a light peppery spice.

Finish

Medium length with a soft smoky close.

Specifications

Name: J&B JET Whisky Justerini & Brooks Ltd. - Blended Scotch Whisky 43%
Distillery: J&B
Region/Country: Scotland
Type: Blended Scotch Whisky
ABV: 43%
Size: 70 CL
Edition: J&B JET

Flavour Profile

Rounded · Spiced

Did you know?

J&B JET is one of the lesser-known members of the J&B family, no longer marketed as widely as J&B Rare in every market.

See our full range of J&B

Behind every well-balanced blend sits a master blender who has tasted more casks than most drinkers will in a lifetime. This J&B release carries that philosophy into every glass.

Expert's description

J&B Rare Scotch Whisky Blended Whisky 40% is a Blended Scotch Whisky and bottled at 40%.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Soft smoke, honey and ripe apple.

Palate

Toffee, spiced oak and a gentle smokiness.

Finish

Clean and gently smoky with lasting warmth.

Specifications

Name: J&B Rare Scotch Whisky Blended Whisky 40%
Distillery: J&B
Region/Country: Scotland
Type: Blended Scotch Whisky
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Edition: J&B Rare
EAN no.: 5010103800259

Flavour Profile

Rounded · Spiced

Did you know?

J&B Rare is one of the best-selling Scotch whisky blends in the world and has for decades been a bar staple thanks to its versatility in cocktails.

See our full range of J&B

Some whiskies shout to be heard. Then there is Black Bottle, which slips quietly into the room, lays a trail of smoke across the table and lets everyone else wonder where that depth came from.

Expert description

Black Bottle New Version is a Blended Scotch Whisky bottled at 40%.

New Version refers to the relaunch, when the brand returned to black glass, the recipe was tightened and the smoky Islay character was pushed back to the centre. It is a blend where malt and grain work together and where smoke is structural rather than decorative.

The ambition from the start has been to let every Scottish whisky region speak in the same bottle, with Islay as the note that holds it all together. The result is an approachable blend that works as an everyday dram and as a gentle way into smoky whisky.

Tasting notes

Nose

Soft peat smoke settles first, followed by malty sweetness, a brush of vanilla and a light maritime saltiness in the background.

Palate

Round and malty with caramel and honey, seasoned by pepper and a steady, earthy smoke that rolls across the palate without taking over.

Finish

Medium and warm with a gentle ash smoke that fades out alongside a last note of malty sweetness.

Specifications

Name: Black Bottle New Version Blended Scotch Whisky 70 cl 40%
Distillery: Black Bottle
Region/Country: Scotland
Type: Blended Scotch Whisky
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Edition: New Version
EAN no.: 5029704111442

Flavour profile

Smoky · Malty · Soft · Spiced · Maritime

Did you know?

When the brand was to be relaunched in its original black glass, no original bottle survived to work from. Only when an example from 1906 turned up could the shape be recreated.

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A glimpse of whisky history, from when strength was measured in proof rather than percent. This bottle is a rare relic of a bygone era.

Note: This is an old edition of The Antiquary De Luxe, bottled under the old British proof system, and the bottle may carry natural signs of age such as light label wear or variation in fill level.

Expert description

The Antiquary De Luxe Old Scotch Whisky is a blended Scotch whisky from an earlier edition of the brand, bottled at 40% ABV, equivalent to 70 UK proof under the old British proof system.

The proof system was used to measure the alcoholic strength of spirits until 1980, after which it was replaced by the percentage-based ABV we use today; 70 proof equals roughly 40% ABV.

The bottle holds 26 2/3 fluid ounces of whisky, equivalent to roughly 75 CL, a detail that reveals the bottle's age, since modern bottlings are typically 70 CL.

The Antiquary was founded by the Hardie brothers in Edinburgh in the late 19th century and today belongs to Tomatin Distillery Co, though this edition dates from an earlier period of ownership.

Tasting notes

Nose

Dry sherry, old oak and a hint of cigar box, typical of the blending style of its era.

Palate

Nuts, dark honey and a faint smokiness that speaks of an earlier blending style.

Finish

Short to medium, dry and lightly spiced, with a last hint of old wood.

Specifications

Name: The Antiquary De Luxe Old Scotch Whisky
Bottler: The Antiquary
Region/Country: Scotland
Type: De Luxe Old Scotch Whisky
ABV: 40% (70 proof)
Size: 75 CL
Edition: Older edition

Flavour profile

Dry sherry · Old wood · Nuts

Investment potential

As a discontinued edition carrying the old proof labelling and a rarer 75 CL bottle format, this bottle holds appeal among collectors of historic Scotch blends.

Did you know?

The British proof system was abolished in 1980 in favour of the international ABV system, so any bottle labelled with "proof" is automatically at least 45 years old in its bottling style.

See our full range of The Antiquary