Glenalmond Highland Blended Malt Whisky 40%

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.

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Frequently asked questions about Glenalmond Highland Blended Malt

What is the difference between blended malt and blended whisky?

A blended malt contains nothing but single malt from several distilleries. A blended whisky mixes malt and grain whisky, and the grain usually makes up the bulk. Blended malt therefore sits closer to single malt in character and carries more body.

Why does it not say which distilleries are in it?

Because the supply agreements usually forbid it. Distilleries are happy to sell casks on but do not want their name on someone else’s label. It is standard practice in the trade and says nothing about the quality of what is in the bottle.

What does a Highland blended malt taste like?

Broader than a single malt. By marrying several distilleries the blender can smooth out what sticks out and build a profile that holds together the whole way. Glenalmond sits at the soft, vanilla-sweet end of the Highland style. See the other Scottish styles in our Scotch Whisky selection.

Is it a good place to start with Scotch?

Yes. 40%, no smoke and a round, fruity profile make it easy to approach. It is also made entirely from malt, so you meet the real malt character rather than the lighter grain whisky many people start with.

Is it peated?

No. There is no peat character in Glenalmond. The blend is built on Highland malts at the mild end, and the profile runs to fruit and vanilla rather than smoke.

Who is The Vintage Malt Whisky Company?

A family-owned Scottish bottling firm from Milngavie near Glasgow, founded in 1992. They bottle both single malt under their own brands and blended malts such as Glenalmond, and they have never owned a distillery themselves.

Can it be used in cocktails?

Yes, it works well in a highball or a whisky sour, where the 40% does not drown the other ingredients. The soft profile also makes it easy to use in drinks where a powerful, smoky whisky would take over.