Flatnöse Blended Malt Scotch Whisky 46%

Ketill Flatnöse was a Norse chieftain who ruled the islands along the west coast of Scotland in the late 800s. Islay Boys have borrowed his name for a whisky rather lighter on its feet than the man himself is said to have been.

The expert description

Flatnöse Blended Malt Scotch Whisky is a lightly peated blended malt bottled at 46% in small batch.

Behind the bottle stand Islay Boys, founded by Mackay Smith and Donald MacKenzie from the Rhinns peninsula on Islay. MacKenzie learned whisky production from Jim McEwan at Bruichladdich, and the firm has since built a set of brands around Norse island history.

This release is a blended malt, meaning malt whisky from several distilleries and not a drop of grain. The smoke is restrained and sits as an edge rather than as the main course, and 46% gives it body without making it hard. It is bottled without chill filtration in small batch, which means the contents can vary a little from run to run.

Tasting notes

Nose

Pear first, with a faint peach behind and a note of honey tying it together.

Palate

Pleasingly round, where walnuts and citrus blossom step forward and where the smoke registers without taking up room.

Finish

Medium and soft with malt, nut and a final touch of smoke.

Specifications

Name: Flatnöse Blended Malt
Bottler: Islay Boys
Region/Country: Scotland
Type: Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Edition: Small Batch
EAN no.: 5060406110081

Flavour profile

Lightly smoky · Fruity · Soft · Nutty · Honeyed

Did you know?

Islay Boys bought the island only brewery, Islay Ales, in 2018 and have since been working to get their own distillery standing. They began as bottlers of other people whisky and have ended up wanting to make their own, which on Islay is the rule rather than the exception.

See our full range of Islay Whisky

Frequently asked questions about Flatnöse Blended Malt

Who was Ketill Flatnöse?

A Norse chieftain who in the late 800s ruled the islands along the west coast of Scotland as king of the isles. He is remembered as a hard and courageous warrior, and Islay Boys named their blended whisky after him.

What does it taste like?

Pear, faint peach and honey on the nose, round and soft on the palate with walnuts and citrus blossom, and a light smoke that registers without taking over. The finish is medium and nutty.

What does blended malt mean?

That the whisky consists purely of malt whisky from several distilleries and contains no grain whisky. That sets it apart from an ordinary blend. See more in our Blended Scotch Whisky range.

What does small batch mean?

That the whisky is bottled in smaller runs at a time. The advantage is that each run is assembled with care, and the drawback is that the contents can vary a little from run to run.

How peated is it?

Only lightly. The smoke sits as an edge around fruit and honey rather than being the load bearing element, which makes it far milder than a classic Islay malt.

Who is behind Islay Boys?

Mackay Smith and Donald MacKenzie from the Rhinns peninsula on Islay. MacKenzie was trained in whisky production by Jim McEwan at Bruichladdich, and the pair also run the island brewery today.

Which glass suits it best?

A tulip-shaped glass. The fruit and honey are delicate and escape easily in a wide glass, where the smoke tends to linger. See our whisky glasses.