5 Great Blended Whiskies That Deserve a Spot on Your Shelf

For too long, blended whiskies have suffered an unfair reputation as the lesser cousins of single malts. Yet this prejudice overlooks the extraordinary craftsmanship behind a balanced blend, where master blenders orchestrate dozens of components into something “greater than the sum of its parts.”

The End of an Era, Bottled: Macallan 1980

The Macallan 1980, bottled in 1999, captures a unique moment in whisky history. Distilled the same year the distillery dropped the “-Glenlivet” suffix and adopted ‘The Macallan’ name, this spirit was bottled just as Edrington Group took control of the distillery, ending generations of family ownership.

Why It’s Okay To Mix Your Whisky

In bars around the world, it’s still common to hear that a “proper” dram should be enjoyed neat or with a few drops of water—nothing more. I would like to challenge that assumption, and encourage you to drink or mix your whisky however you please.