Review by: Raygun

One of the blended malts available from the Cadenhead’s shop, which I suppose means some cask ends that they chuck in a tank for a while before filling. Visited the Cadenhead’s in Edinburgh a few years and got a small bottle of the sherry cask to drink on the trip reviewed here and this bottle of the peated which I brought home. Rested about 15 minutes.

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Distillery: Blended malt 

Bottler: Cadenhead’s

Region/style: Blended malt Scotch

ABV: 57.5%

Age: Not stated. Bottled in 2022.

Cask type: Looks to be mostly bourbon.

Color: 0.3 pale gold. Natural color and chill-filtered.

Price: About $60. I think it was £55.

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Nose: Yup, that’s peated all right. Driftwood fire on a beach, charred lemon, vanilla, and seaweed. Some Laphroaig type of phenols and I think I’m picking up Caol Ila as well.     

Palate: Smoke is strong. Caramel, vanilla, and charred lemon. Some mineral that reminds me of Caol Ila. Butter cookies. Nice intensity to it, while remaining relatively clean. Seems less like Laphroaig here. I’m trying to place the buttery flavor, but nothing specific comes to mind. Ballechin, maybe.  

Finish: Lots of smoke and also gentle sweetness, with vanilla cream and lemon glaze. Smoked caramel. Getting the mineral again. A little brine, but not too much iodine flavor. Pretty clean. Nice mouthfeel.   

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Conclusion: These are a real bargain. Hard to think of much that would be better at a comparable price, and I felt the same about the sherry cask. I’d rather have a bottle of this than Ardbeg, Laphroaig, or Ledaig 10 in the same price bracket. Unfortunately one can’t walk into a local shop and pick up one of these, except for those lucky enough to live in Edinburgh (or Campbeltown). Some resellers have them and of course there are auctions, but then the value aspect isn’t there. This one has sentimental value to me because I got it from Cadenhead’s myself on my first (and so far only) trip to Scotland. Has all those memories that make it taste better. That aside, it’s also a really solid peated scotch that’s a great value.

Score: 82

Scoring Legend:

• 95-100: As good as it gets. Jaw-dropping, eye-widening, unforgettable whisky. (Convalmore 36)
• 90-94: Sublime, a personal favorite in its category. (Bruichladdich Black Art 4.1)
• 85-89: Excellent, a standout dram. (Ledaig 13 Amontillado)
• 80-84: Quite good. Quality stuff. (Tomatin 18)
• 75-79: Decent whisky worth tasting. (Glen Scotia 15)
• 70-74: Meh. It’s definitely drinkable, but it can do better. (Aultmore 12)
• 60-69: Not so good. I might not turn down a glass if I needed a drink. (Glenmorangie 10)
• 50-59: Save it for mixing. (Old Pulteney 12)
• 0-49: Blech. (Muirhead’s Silver Seal 16)