1988 St Bridget's Kirk Cask #2 35 Year Old Blended Scotch Whisky (700ml)

A remarkable value in the blended category.

Gregor Hannah has managed to 'rescue' a cask that was destined to be lost in a big brand blend. You'll be thanking him for bottling it. This is a beautiful, medium-bodied example of the kind of blend rarely found on the market today. Malt drinkers will find pleasure in the depth and seamless integration of flavours that conjure leather, honey, dried coconut and milk chocolate coupled with hints of cigar box, Bounty Bar, light pepper and rancio in a long, mature finish. Over ten to fifteen minutes in the glass this continues to open up and reward. Gentle and effortless uncut, so best consumed neat or with a single ice cube or you'll lose its nuances. 248 bottles were drawn from a refill butt at 41.5% Alc./Vol.

Other reviews... We’d already tasted another cask of this ‘blended when young’ style (ex-Edrington in theory) by Hannah Whisky Merchants, which had been very, very good (WF 87). Colour: full gold. Nose: tricky to pin down, but that’s not the point—here there’s glue, smoke, bitter almonds, maraschino, lanolin, pistachio cream (we’ve just come back from Sicily), and rich, black potting soil. All of it is rather lovely. Mouth: almonds and pistachios take the lead, though a pronounced salinity and a good helping of black tobacco add a fine contradiction, rounded off with a bit of coconut (grain component?) It’s an intriguing profile, certainly unusual. Finish: medium length, but saltier still. A faint tequila-like touch. Comments: these are very unusual whiskies, the sort that no master blender could ever hope to replicate. That sense of rarity adds undeniable charm to the whole affair. 88 points - whiskyfun.com

Notes from the bottlers... This exceptional blended scotch whisky is created in our unique and special way by blending malt and grain whiskies from different distilleries and differing spirit styles. Each batch is small, bespoke and distinctly different from the last. Bottled and hand labelled in our own warehouse where you'll be glad to know, no artificial colouring or chill-filtration takes place. The latest edition to our blended Scotch brand family is a 'classic blend'. By this we mean a mix of malt and grain whiskies blended in the tradition style. The taste offered - Blood orange, custard creams, furniture polish, black pepper, hazelnut and dried coconut.