This month we pick four blended whiskies from Scotland. None of these are household names but all are worthy of a place in your cabinet.
Staff Picks - our choices for this month
The Naked Grouse
One of those whiskies that makes you confront your prejudices. After all, any bottle with a grouse on the label may not set your pulse racing. But this is different. First there’s no label on the bottle, second its content is quite different to that of its more famous sibling. This is a good quality blended malt - no grain whisky here - much of it distilled by The Macallan and Highland Park. An entirely different bird.
£25.07 at www.masterofmalt.com
Black Bottle
Recently repackaged in a beautiful vintage style, this is a superb blended whisky. Complex and spicy, the new recipe is lighter on the peat than previous incarnations. Complex, elegant and sophisticated, it’s quite a surprise when you see the cost. A very good blend at a very affordable price.
£16.50 at www.thegreenwellystop.co.uk
Big Peat
Big Peat lives up to its name with a combination of malts from Ardbeg, Caol Ila, Bowmore and Port Ellen - yes, you read that correctly, Port Ellen! This blended malt from Douglas Laing is created in small batches, isn’t chill filtered and is bottled at 46% ABV. Full flavoured, complex and, of course, peaty.
£34.06 at www.masterofmalt.com
Compass Box: Asyla
The lightest and most subtle of John Glaser’s creations, this quiet, soft whisky is often overlooked amongst some of his bolder blends. The term ‘whispering whisky’ could have been coined to describe Asyla and the man himself remains justifiably proud of this whisky.
£33.75 at www.abbeywhisky.com