That Boutique-y Whisky Company 22 Year Old Blended Scotch Whisky #2 (500ml) - Batch 3

Once-off clearance pricing. 80 bottles only.

Boutique-y have released a series of blended whiskies, some up to fifty years old, each intended to be different from the last. Of significance here is the price-age ratio. Search for 25 year old blended Scotch and you'll find they're usually upwards of AU$500. Admittedly, with this offer, you don't get luxe packaging and it's a 500ml format, but still, the value for money is compelling. You'll want to grab at least one bottle to experience what a properly aged blend tastes like. Number 2 / batch #3 was decanted around early 2017 with an outturn of 1,650 bottles and a rather cryptic label. The bottlers add, "There's no massive sphere here, but the disembodied glove has returned! This time, it looks to have discovered a massive, soft planetoid. It's another one of those metaphors! We're good at them."

Other reviews... The label for this one appears to depict a white glove stroking a hairy space testicle. Hopefully not a visual tasting note. Colour: deep gold. Nose: creamy vanilla, cinnamon swirls, nutmeg, rice pudding, fudge. Not much ‘blendy-ness’ so far, rather just some top quality American oak sweetness, with suggestions of ‘Speyside’ flavour underneath. Mouth: easy, apple peelings, rhubarb and custard boiled sweets, young dessert wines, mint julep, young demerara rums, corn syrup. All more direct and straightforward ‘decent blend’ territory. Some nice vibes of spiced custard and caramel. Finish: medium and on wet grains, metal polish, sunflower oil, Scotch broth soups, pollens and a little camphor. Comments: It’s a trixy one this, starts deceptively ‘malt driven’ then gets more classical blend-y, before finishing up not unlike some of these old 1970s era blends with these slightly metallic touches. Still, at least not a testicle in sight. 78 points - whiskyfun.com

Notes from the bottlers... Nose: Honey, oak, vanilla pod and chocolatey cereal. Palate: Cherry, spiced rum, thick caramel and a hint of earthy pear. Finish: Menthol, freshly baked bread with chocolate spread, orange oil.

Gold - International Spirits Challenge 2017