The Exceptional Blend 1st Edition (43%, Sutcliffe & Son, 2018)

• Category: Blended scotch whisky
• Origin: Undisclosed distilleries
• Bottling: Sutcliffe & Son
• ABV: 43%
• Cost: £82.58

What they say

A cracking first fill Oloroso finished blended whisky from Sutcliffe & Son featuring North British, Strathclyde, Cameronbridge, Glenfarclas, Ben Nevis, Allt-á-Bhainne, Auchroisk, Glenallachie, Westport, Speyside, Macallan and more!

Official tasting notes:

• Nose: Nutty Oloroso and toffee’d grain goodness, toffee brittle, some zesty marmalade. Stuffing notes then develop – sage, parsley, savoury doughy notes – with caramel never too far away. Good stuff.
• Palate: Light toffee notes, soon becoming honeyed with honeycomb, white pepper and a touch of strawberry.
• Finish: Scones and echoes of that fruit from the palate.
• Overall: Well put together and enjoyable with notes reminiscent of a fine Auchroisk.

What I say

Door #2 of the Drinks by the dram Scotch Whisky Advent Calendar.

Day 2 and another blended scotch whisky, this time from Sutcliffe & Son, the 1st Edition of The Exceptional Blend.

My tasting notes:

• Appearance: Old Sauternes gold (11/20), medium-large tears and straight, fine legs
• Nose: Sherry fruits, musty and dusty, nutty almonds, hazelnut, pecan pie, toffee, malted barley, yeasty, doughy bread, brioche.
• Taste: Strawberry and white chocolate, woodland honey, caramel sauce, very dessert like, strawberry meringues with chantilly cream.
• Finish: Medium-short, a little dry oak and zesty spice, dried citrus peels and a hint of chocolate.

Overall

A heavily-sherry influenced blend which may draw more from the casks than it does its component parts, I guess as with any blend it is hard to tell. Very well put together, a lot lighter and more summer fruits on the palate than the nose suggests which is a pleasant surprise. Very drinkable.

Score 81/100

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