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Four Fun Blended Malts

Scottish blended malts live somewhere between single malt and blended whisky. Like blended whisky, they mingle the spirit of two or more distilleries. But unlike blended whisky, they don’t contain any grain whisky at all. Instead, they’re made up entirely of more flavorful and full-bodied malt whisky, which means they drink more like a single malt.

With that bold palette to work with, blended malts offer whisky makers an enticing field for experimentation and play. Here are four fascinating, high-concept, or just plain delicious blended malts to get to know.

Compass Box The Peat Monster

Well folks, it’s right there in the name: Peat Monster is a heavily peated blended malt from Compass Box, one of the reigning masters of the blending art. In a nod to transparency, Compass Box tells us the blend contains malt from Laphroaig, Ledaig, Caol Ila, and Ardmore as well as Clynelish, Teanininch, and Dailuaine. Light-bodied and pungently peaty, yet surprisingly approachable, this is one to make a new set of Islay devotees.

The Hive Batch Strength

The Wemyss family of Fife is known for its blended malts, including The Hive (fruity and sweet), Peat Chimney (peated) and Spice King (spicy and aromatic). In 2016 they released a high proof series called Batch Strength. Just 6,000 bottles of The Hive Batch Strength were released, each bottled at 54.5% alcohol. Built around Speyside malts, this is juicy, floral, desserty whisky but bottled at a decidedly powerful proof.

blended malt whisky
image via Johnnie Walker

Johnnie Walker Green Label

Each region in Scotland is different, but that doesn’t mean they can’t all come together harmoniously. Johnnie Walker’s cult favorite Green Label blended malt combines whiskies from the Speyside, Lowland, Highland, and Island regions. It vanished off of shelves mysteriously a few years ago, but it’s back now, and we couldn’t be happier.

Rock Oyster

Islay might be the most famous whisky-producing island in Scotland, but it’s certainly not the only one. Douglas Laing’s Rock Oyster introduces drinkers to the joys of Island life with whiskies from Orkney, Jura, Arran, and Islay. Sweet, saline, and peated, this whisky practically defines “maritime character.”

Usquaebach An Ard Ri

This upscale blended malt from Usquaebach is a blend of more than 20 Highland malts drawn from casks between 10 and 21 years, all pulled from Stewart H. Laing’s personal collection and bottled at cask strength. It’s complex and multidimensional, plus it comes in a unique ceramic flagon bottle.

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