Blended Scotch: Are they all mediocre?

[Alexius.m.]

Has anyone here had a great blended? I don't mean as a "A great substitude for single-malt", but as a great drink on its own? I've been bondering this matter after I read Jason Wilson's article on blending congnac.
http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2012-04-10/lifestyle/35452327_1_blended-scotches-ron-zacapa-rums

Apparently whole point of cognac is to blend newer patches with light fruity aromas to older ones with hevier notes. I'd guess this could work for scotch as well. Maybe there just aren't great master blenders in this industry, and why would there be? If every whisky connoisseur regards blendeds to be cheap substitutes for real whisky, why make the effort to create something above the average.

I my self haven't had a blended that was more than mediocre. I'm interested to hear your opinions and experiences. Recommendations are also very welcome.

 

[mulligano]

I can highly recommend both "Am Poit Dhubh" (Gaidhlig for "The Black Pot") and "Te Bheag" (which is a Gaidhlig slang for a "wee dram"). Both are produced from the same distillery on the Isle of Skye and are available in a couple of ages. I really can't remember which ages I've tried, but it's likely to have been most of them as my brother lives just down the road from this place!

But I can honestly say the Te Bheag is one of the nicest whiskys I've ever had - including single malts!

EDIT: I should probably add that I live in Scotland and have no idea whether this is available in the US. My apologies if it isn't.

 

[ReAndyMator]

Maybe there just aren't great master blenders in this industry, and why would there be?

Richard Paterson, Gordon Motion and the others would disagree, I'm sure.....

There are tons of really good blends out there. Personally, I probably drink more blends than malts these days. The grain provides additional sweetness, and often allows the malts in the blend to shine through nicely. My personal favourites tend to be from the Cutty Sark stable.

Original is light and sweet - perfect for mixing, or just drinking over a load of ice. But it's got enough to stand up to drinking neat
Imperial Kingdom is a little richer, but still has the characteristic sweetness
18YO is just fantastic. I don't appreciate this one with water though.
25YO is rich, dark and sweet. Totally gorgeous, particularly with a tiny splash of water.
Tam O'Shanter, I only got to try once, but it's to die for.

 

[JHCC]

I prefer single malt, myself, but my old friend George Campbell (my fellow drummer in a pipe band we belonged to many years ago; a most devout Scot) was a great admirer of Famous Grouse.

I also have a sentimental attachment to Dewar's White Label, as that was my dad's drink.

 

[ReAndyMator]

I was never very keen on the white label, but the 12YO is nice.

And I used to work for the guys who printed their boxes.

 

[ackvil]

I like Teachers as a blend although I prefer single malts far more.

 

[_MementoMori_]

I love blends. JW Black is always in my cabinet because it's so affordable. I can't always handle the $50+ price tag of a good single malt.

 

[Alexius.m.]

Thanks for recommendations. Usually whisky conversations tend revolve around single-malts and blended whiskies are sneered upon, so I'm keen to try a really good one. There is no reason why blended whiskies would be bad. I guess people think that blending is about diluting more expensive whiskies with cheaper ones. That's what I used to think

Can anyone recommend Whyte & Mackay Thirteen? That's something I could get in my town? (If I haven't spent all my money on shaving gear. )

EDIT: I should probably add that I live in Scotland and have no idea whether this is available in the US. My apologies if it isn't.

I actually live in Finland, but we have much worse liquor selection compared to the US, because of alcohol monopoly, but I can always hope that some of my friends will go to Scotland and bring me a bottle from there. (I'm used to thinking I'll never be able to drink many drinks I've read about, but I still enjoy reading about them.)

 

[arghblech]

All the Compass Box blends stand alone (admittedly I've not tried all of them but I have had four of their 8 or so blends). Suntory's Hibiki blends are also quite good.

I have found nice blends at many price points. I keep JW Black or Green, Black Bottle ($22 here), Black Grouse, Ballantines (the regular -very affordable- and the 17yr), Monkey Shoulder (inexpensive), Grant's (very inexpensive). I always have at least one cheap bottle around. Sometimes I just want a drink and don't give a crap about the art and experience.

 

[Doc4]

The blend is as good as whatever is used to blend it. Since the single malts tend to have the "high end" of the scotch market fairly well staked out, most blends tend toward the lower end of the market ... that is, a blend of cheap scotches to make a cheap blend.

Some blends are much better. Johnnie Walker Black is a commonly-seen example, although you can find better if you look well enough. But JW Black is what everybody knows as a "good" blend. Chivas Regal is another.

But, you tend to get a lot of "well, if I'm spending that much on a bottle of scotch I might as well get a single malt" attitude from the purchasing public, so there's not that much demand for high-end blends.

But I can honestly say the Te Bheag is one of the nicest whiskys I've ever had - including single malts!

EDIT: I should probably add that I live in Scotland and have no idea whether this is available in the US. My apologies if it isn't.

I picked up a bottle in Canada recently, so I suspect that it'll be found at better establishments in the US too. (I haven't opened it yet, but am looking forward to that soon ...)

 

[Antares600]

I actually prefer blended Scotch as it's usually generally more palatable to me than single-malts. Famous Grouse is probably my favorite blended and favorite Scotch in general.

To me, single-malts are really hit or miss. Some are outstanding, others just do not agree with me at all.

 

[mulligano]

I actually live in Finland, but we have much worse liquor selection compared to the US, because of alcohol monopoly, but I can always hope that some of my friends will go to Scotland and bring me a bottle from there. (I'm used to thinking I'll never be able to drink many drinks I've read about, but I still enjoy reading about them.)

I kind of share your pain with some of the items available in the US (particularly shaving related), but when it comes to a nice drinks selection we really are spoiled here. I hope you've got generous friends (with empty cases!).

I picked up a bottle in Canada recently, so I suspect that it'll be found at better establishments in the US too. (I haven't opened it yet, but am looking forward to that soon ...)

I doubt you'll be disappointed and I'm impressed that it's available in Canada - a lot of people I mention it to here (as in Scotland) haven't the foggiest about it!

 

[Kazeryu]

Some discussion of the various JW blends here: http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/274766-Johnnie-Walker-Blue-Label-yea-or-nay/

 

[Doc4]

I doubt you'll be disappointed and I'm impressed that it's available in Canada - a lot of people I mention it to here (as in Scotland) haven't the foggiest about it!

I didn't actually notice it was a blend until I got home ... I might not have bought it had I noticed ... but I saw the "non-chill filtered" and figured I'd give it a try.

 

[manimal]

Has anyone here had a great blended? I don't mean as a "A great substitude for single-malt", but as a great drink on its own? I've been bondering this matter after I read Jason Wilson's article on blending congnac.
http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2012-04-10/lifestyle/35452327_1_blended-scotches-ron-zacapa-rums

Apparently whole point of cognac is to blend newer patches with light fruity aromas to older ones with hevier notes. I'd guess this could work for scotch as well. Maybe there just aren't great master blenders in this industry, and why would there be? If every whisky connoisseur regards blendeds to be cheap substitutes for real whisky, why make the effort to create something above the average.

I my self haven't had a blended that was more than mediocre. I'm interested to hear your opinions and experiences. Recommendations are also very welcome.

Single malt scotch is quite often a "blend" of younger and older scotch. It just needs to be from the same distillery and malted barley is the only grain allowed. Blending is definitely an art that is alive and well in the scotch industry.

 

[buffdaddy]

I tend to like single malts more, but the really good ones like Macallan tend to be on the pricier side. The typical blended Scotches like JW or Chivas tend to be a cheaper and generally good for everyday drinking. Nothing steller imo but it gets you where you want to go I guess.

There are some really good ones out there for the $ though. Monkey Shoulder is a new find that I really like a lot. It's a blend of 3 Speyside single malts (Glenfiddich, Balvenie, Kininvie) with just the right amount of sweet and smokiness, and really smooth. Plus it's only $30.00 which is a steal.

 

[hypnoz]

2nd the Compass Box recommendation. Excellent stuff all around. If you have a total wine or bevmo nearby they may even have sampler vials that include like 6 of their blends. VERY good.

 

[Archaon]

I can really recommend the Balvenies 17yo

 

[jkingrph]

I have had some single malts that to my palate were horrible. My hands down, all around favorite is The Famous Grouse!

 

[Jeff C]

Blended Scotch availability differs widely from country to country. Not surprisingly, the best selection and prices are in the UK close to the source of production. I belong to some specialist drinks forums and read up on it and the selection is vastly inferior in the United States. Of course, the United States makes up for it in great American whisky price/selection, just as Canada keeps their best stuff north of the border and I'll never find half the Irish whiskies I'd like to try unless I fly to Dublin. Scandinavia does have an awesome licorice selection and I'm sure Finland tops it all with the latest Turkish Pepper varities and a great selection of Vodka.

Seriously, except for some products which are seemingly available everywhere from the Galapagos to Ghana and Albania to Antarctica (think JW Red and Black, Jack Daniels, and Jim Beam), it is really hard to give advice unless you say, I have these 5 blends I could try, which should I try? Then say exactly which ones, otherwise it just becomes an exercise in people suggesting things you'll never be able to try which is frustrating.