Blended whisky is the beating heart of the entire Scotch industry – an alchemic skill which combines grain and single malt whiskies to create unforgettable tastes and harmonious flavours that are beloved around the globe. Blended whisky is matured for at least three years in oak – but that’s about the only real rule it has. The rest takes a mixture of skill, years of experience, and an affinity for whisky. Deciding how many single malts to include, which grains will be most suitable, and what type of cask they’re matured in –that takes a seasoned expert.
Scotch blended whisky is by far the most popular of all Scotch whiskies, and around 90% of market sales can be attributed to blends. So, what exactly is a blend? The best blended whisky harmoniously combines grain whisky and single malt whisky, marrying them together to result in a mix of rich flavours and unforgettable character profiles.
This alchemic artistry requires a keen nose for flavour and many years of experience in order to produce a truly exceptional blend. Typically you’ll find that the character of Scotch blended whiskies comprises of sweet toffee flavours, rich, spicy cloves and aged oak, though given the scope for experimentation, results and profiles can vary greatly.
Blended whiskies are a brilliant way to start off your whisky journey, they’re comparably not as fiery and have less bite than a single malt, and brands such as Ballantine’s, Chivas Regal and Johnnie Walker offer a fantastic range for whisky enthusiasts of all experience levels.
