Double Malt Whisky Gift Pack

Product Information

OK, history lesson over. We’re here with a more important task: to inform you that – despite what the old guard may say – blended Scotch whisky deserves as much recognition on the main stage as a single malt whisky.

By 2020, the distillery will have expanded further, with a new stillhouse housing two more stills currently under construction. 6: Balvenie Single malts should be aged for at least three years in oak barrels to develop flavor, color, and character. Also, they must be aged in Scotland for a bottle to be labeled a Scotch. Singleton is a creation of the modern, 21st-century age of single malt – a determined effort by owner Diageo to create a brand vehicle to take on the might of Glenfiddich and The Glenlivet. Peaty scotch can be a very divisive issue for whisky drinkers. Some people love the earthy, smoky rush that envelops them from nose to finish, while others think it tastes like an acrid tire fire. There are different levels of peat, of course. Laphroaig, from the Islay region of Scotland known for its smoky scotch, falls around 45 ppm, which makes this a decidedly peat-forward whisky. The 10-year-old is a staple you can find at most bars and liquor stores, and it’s a solid choice, full of seaweed, vanilla, and grill smoke flavors. If you’re looking for something quite a bit stronger, try Batch 15 of the cask-strength version of this classic, which you can proof down as you like. If you have the money to spend, the extra-aged expressions are where the whisky really starts to take on new dimensions. When it reaches a quarter century of maturation, Laphroaig still brings smoke to the party, but a host of other elements come into play that aren’t immediately evident in some of the younger expressions. The Ian Hunter Story is a newer series of whiskies highlighting the life and contributions of the former Laphroaig owner. Book 4, the most recent release, was aged for 34 years initially in ex-bourbon barrels and finished in sherry casks (it will be released in the coming months). For something a bit more accessible, try the 10-Year-Old Sherry Oak, which gives a sherry finish to the core expression with fantastic results.

How is Scotch whisky made?

Whether it is a Scotch, rye, or bourbon whiskey, the fermented grains should undergo a distillation process for the pure drink and increased ABV. Blending Highland Park is known for a few things that are unique within the scotch whisky industry—namely, its fixation on all things Viking and its remote Orkney location, which makes it Scotland’s northernmost distillery (it beats Scapa by about a mile). The whisky is generally moderately peaty and matured mostly in sherry-seasoned casks, with bourbon barrels used for a few expressions as well. The core range here in the U.S. consists of 12 (Viking Honour), 15 (Viking Heart), and 18-year-old (Viking Pride) whiskies, all of which do a nice job of balancing smoke with rich dried fruit flavors. Another new and really flavorful addition to the family is the Cask Strength expression. The third batch of this NAS, non-chill filtered whisky was recently released, bottled at 64.1 percent ABV (slightly more than batch 2) with big notes of smoke, vanilla, and honey on the palate. There are many other Norse-themed bottles from Highland Park to explore, with age statements ranging up to 50 years. Highland Park does not add coloring to its whisky. At 45 ppm phenol content, Tire Fire has the type of peat you find in Islay-style single malts. Distilled from 100% heavily peated malt from Inverness, Scotland, we then mature Tire Fire in new, charred oak for a unique twist, and finish it in Georgia’s own Richland Rum Distillery single estate rum casks for the final few months of aging to lend a smooth-sailing, tropical note to the mix. Launched in 2005, this new-generation blended malt originally took all its whisky from three William Grant-owned distilleries: Glenfiddich, Balvenie and Kininvie.

William Grant would scarcely be able to believe what has happened since and, in particular, since Glenfiddich was fully launched as a single malt during the 1960s: more than 1m nine-litre cases a year sold around the world, and the already vast distillery undergoing further expansion. A true ode to American Bourbon, perfect for campfires, concerts, and a killer Old Fashioned, Fiddler Unison Bourbon is a marriage of a foraged, wheated bourbon & our house-distilled high-malt bourbon. Records the default button state of the corresponding category & the status of CCPA. It works only in coordination with the primary cookie.

You may also like

There are a number of expressions out there, but perhaps the most loved is A’Bunadh, a 100% Sherry-matured, cask strength single malt released in batches since the year 2000 – a no-age-statement success story from the days before NAS cynicism set in. The Glenlivet distillery in Moray, Scotland has been producing whisky since 1824, so it’s safe to say that the distillery knows what it’s doing. And its 12 Year is widely known as one of the most popular whisky in the world. Despite being produced in Scotland, it remains known as the best-selling malt whisky in the United States. There are 6 official designations for scotch: single malt, single grain, blended, blended malt, and blended grain. (Note there is no “double malt.” We’ll get into why below!) The key in understanding the differences lies in the process and ingredients. How is Scotch Made Palate: Salted peanuts, stone fruit, brownie mix, orange rind, charred pineapple, custard, and Frazzles.

My tour could have been brief because the distillery itself is a very humble, industrious, self-contained unit. But The Glasgow Distillery doesn’t do things simply. Whisky production is split into three distinct periods across the year:Contrary to its name, Glenfiddich’s Bourbon Barrel Reserve is a Scotch whisky. Its name comes from the fact that alongside a traditional Scotch palate, this spirit also offers a sweet hint of classic Bourbon flavors. With up to 80% of the quality of Macallan's end product being down to the wood that the cask is made out, the brand takes the time to source the right materials. By working with a company in Spain, choosing the right oak trees, and creating casks out of them, the flavour of the Macallan whisky is created. Double malt Scotch can carry an age, even though it is not required (because it does not have a legal definition). Manufacturers use the youngest single malt age statement in the bottled blended whisky. This Speyside whisky is another great choice from Balvenie’s offerings. It’s a classic after-dinner malt with a richness and complexity stemming from its second distillation in sherry casks. The distillery offers one of the largest collections of whisky in the world, so take a look at our list of Johnnie Walker’s bottles to discover the entire range of whisky from the brand.

Islay: This type of whiskey is known for its smoky and peaty flavor profile, which includes hints of seaweed, salt, and iodine. Single malt should be aged for at least three years; the age statement that reflects on the bottle is the youngest liquor inside. One final difference, single malts are made in pot stills, as we discussed above. Single grains are distilled in Coffey (column) stills which create larger batches and higher ABV! What does Single Malt taste like? Double malt is a blend of two single malts from two distilleries. The blending was pioneered in Scotland in the 1860s, and by mixing malt whiskies, they created lighter and sweeter whiskies. If you want the best value for money with your next bottle of Scotch whisky, the safest bet is Macallan 12 Year Double Cask. An accessible drink, both for the pallet and your wallet, yet complex and rich in taste.

Stay Informed

Oak Aging: Scotch is required to be matured in oak for at 3 years minimum. The final “heart” distillate, a clear liquid is siphoned into specific casks for maturation. Most higher end scotches will be matured for at least 10-12 years, but they can be matured for many decades. Distilleries will use different types of casks to introduce different flavors into their scotch. Ex-sherry and ex-bourbon are two of the most common. That is not to say you shouldn’t enjoy a clearly labeled Vatted or a Blended scotch. Some of these are really quite excellent and full of delicious flavors you won’t get in a single malt. Vatted and Blended selections are often much more consistent in flavor across the years as well. Blended scotch whisky is a great chance to have some fun and experiment with different styles of whisky. So don’t be a single malt snob, give blended malt scotch a try too! It’s known for its long line of successful bottles and its 12-Year-Old might just be the top choice of them all. This whisky offers the gold standard when it comes to drinking Scotch, with a “heather-honey” flavoring and a wonderful nose. Single Malts are the essence of a distillery. Their own singular expression that comes from their own unique combination of water, drying methods, stills, distillation cutting, cask maturation, and the master distiller’s vision. No two single malts are alike, even from year to year within one distillery. They are unique and highly prized, even the lower aged bottles. Single Grain