Peated Blended Scotch Whisky 2007/2023 - 16 yo - Best Dram

Volume: 0.7 litres | Alcohol content: 42.5% | Chill filtration: No | Colouring: No

Special Features:

This blend brings together delicate peat notes and the sweet, fruity character of maturation in Refill Bourbon Hogsheads. It combines whiskies from Speyside and the Highlands and is one of the Best Dram Blended Scotch Whiskies created by Kirsteen Campbell. In 2019, Campbell became the first woman to hold the role of Master Whisky Maker at The Macallan.

The whisky was distilled on 15 January 2007 and bottled after 16 years on 23 November 2023. Three Hogsheads, numbered 63, 64 and 65, were selected for this release. The outturn was 760 bottles of 0.7 litres each. Despite its comparatively low alcohol content of 42.5%, the blend is bottled at natural cask strength, without chill filtration or added colouring. This release was part of the launch of the Best Dram range introduced in January 2024, featuring a new bottle shape and illustrated labels.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: On the nose, subtle peat notes accompany the sweetness of vanilla and caramelised pear. Ripe banana, crumble cake and toasted almond slivers emerge behind them.
• Palate: Subtle peat comes to the fore first on the palate. Sweet vanilla and cake notes follow, while ripe pear remains in the background.
• Finish: The peat note gradually fades on the finish. A creamy sweetness with hints of dough and a light fruity note accompanies the lingering flavours.

Distillery/Bottler:

Best Dram is run by independent bottler Michel Reick, known in whisky circles as Whisky Druid, who also runs the WhiskyDungeon whisky bar in Münster. He personally selects casks across Scotland’s whisky regions. Casks from various distilleries are tasted and selected for Best Dram, and the whiskies are then bottled to the bottler’s specifications. The range extends beyond single malts to include single grain whiskies and blends. Each release therefore derives its character from the selected whiskies and their individual maturation, rather than from a uniform distillery style.

Facts: