Rhoderick Dhu Blend (40%, Historic Scotland, 2015)

• Bottled for Historic Scotland
• 40% ABV
• £20 for 70cl available at the Dallas Dhu Heritage site
• Score: 65/100

What they say:

Dallas Dhu whisky

Dallas Dhu Distillery was the idea of an entrepreneur named Alexander Edward. In 1898, he built two new distilleries on land outside Forres – Benromach and Dallasmore. Both were in response to the demand for malt whisky for blending.

Before Dallasmore went into production in 1899, Edward sold the distillery to the Glasgow blending firm of Wright & Greig Ltd. They wanted  the distillery to ensure a supply of malt for their popular blend, Roderick Dhu. To emphasise the link, they changed the distillery’s name to Dallas Dhu.

What I say:

Still rumoured to contain a little Dallas Dhu single malt within this blend, thanks to our good friends at Adventures in Whiskyland for picking up this remake of the historic Rhoderick Dhu blend during their recent Speyside trip.

Colour:

Pale manzanilla gold (2/20), large droplets leaving tapered legs

Nose:

Fresh, a little fruity, like green grapes and white wine, a strong grain whisky aroma, not too chemical, like a yeasty cereal barley with a little fizz to it, vanilla, soft coconut, with time and a little warmth some malty cereal barley becomes apparent

Taste:

A lightly whipped vanilla cream, subtle citric lemon juice and a touch of caramel hint at wood influence, drying oak, coconut cream, mouth-coating with touches of sweet clear honey and sugar syrup, butter shortbread biscuits

Finish:

Short, sweet vanilla and mixed cereal, hint of caramel oak

Overall:

Quite light, easy-drinking and refreshing. They have just taken the edge off of the grain whisky with this blend, there are some hints of fruity spirit likely from any malt components but overwhelmingly a gentle ex-bourbon cask maturation is evident with the sweet vanilla and coconut nature.