I like peat, I saw this, I figured it was worth a try. This is a part of the Blenders Batch set of releases by Johnnie Walker where they have a small scale experimental release with something different than the standard blends they make, typically with a novel cask finish. It seems like maybe they are testing styles for a wider release with some stock they need to use, and while this is the only one I tried from what I’ve read they have had varying success in making something worthwhile. The premise of this was a blend of sweet malts and peaty ones (and of course some grain).
Minutia: As I dealt with being attacked by bugs after pouring, this rested, covered, about 20 minutes in a glencairn. The named malts are Caol Ila and Cardhu, with grain from Cameronbridge and probably some others in smaller quantities. Matured in first fill American oak casks.
Color: Amber/caramel.
Nose: Very similar to Black Label, but a bit more appealing. Fruity, malty. At this point it seems it would be more appropriately called “Sweet.”
Taste: Malt, nuts. Vague vegetation, but it’s below the rest and comes later. After sipping, the more appropriate name would maybe be “Sweet Peat?”
Finish: Slight smoke, but sometimes it’s more like a smoked spice than a smoke. But the smoke/earth is there to ostensibly justify the name “Sweet Peat.”
My hopes weren’t sky high – it’s a blend with grain, after all – but they were somewhat high since it was a whisky whose name calls out the quality of whisky I most enjoy. It didn’t bring as much as I’d have liked it to, but it wasn’t bad. It felt like maybe it was between JW Black and Green in terms of how much I liked it, though my most recent glass of Black Label was the final pour from a bottle at a bar and was quite off, so that may have skewed my memory of what that typically tastes like.
Score: 72
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