The concluding tasting of Whyte & Mackay. The tasting will be a progression from left to right. Let's see what affordable whiskies Richard Paterson has been able to develop over the years.
Whyte & Mackay NAS 40% Special Scotch Whisky
A flat bottle, probably from the 80's. Golden hue, probably adjusted to not lead astray from the standard blend color. It smells oranges, lemons, nectarine, honey, fruity and fresh. A dessert whisky? The taste is bittersweet and light, if to guess I'd say it has some Tomintoul in the mix. Also zesty, honey and briny. Blueberries and wood polish. Some soapy notes and lime leaves. The finish shows its a rather easy whisky, but not light in any way, ending with some wheat and damp notes.
For a young standard blend this is quite impressive: 5
Whyte & Mackay NAS 40% Special Reserve
Another flat bottle, from the same era I guess, just small variations on the label. But I could be wrong. Perhaps the whiskies are very different. It has the same color too, but the nose is much lighter here, small hints of malt and gravel, more towards Fettercairn so far what distillery character is concerned. The taste is more bitter, more towards fizzy candy and earthy notes, gravel again? I think that Tomintoul and Fettercairn are the two main malts in this blend, but I could be wrong.
It lacks the richness of the SSW: 3.5
Whyte & Mackay NAS 40% Matured Twice
I think "Matured Twice" means double wood, but since it's a blend I believe that its whiskies that's been in only one cask each, to be put in another cask to mature for a final period. So, I guess there has only been blended enough whisky for one cask in each batch? Or the whisky from one batch could of course be put into several casks and each cask then bottled single. A bit lighter color than the prior two, but not much. It smells old leather, wool, fabric, latex, drying, a very special one so far. The taste is The taste is honeyed and rustic, certainly some Fettercairn going on here. Could be some Dalmore as well, but very discreet if so. Goes on with peppery notes, manchego cheese, honey, vanilla, sweet green grapes. The aftertaste is bitter and peppery.
Doesn't end on a high note, but starts of very well: 4
Whyte & Mackay NAS 40% Special Double Marriage Blend
Another one that I'm assuming to be a double wood, or a batch of blend whisky put into wood casks for a final period of maturation.This bottle is more like the 5cl round ones you see today. A more recent version? The color is the same as the first two, golden standard blend coloring. It smells rich honey and toffee, certainly Fettercairn here, and also some Dalmore, if tasted blind I think I'd say sherried Dalmore. The taste is light, vanilla all the way, some resinous notes but more vanilla, and nutty, biscuity notes. wheat, marzipan and brown sugar dominates the finish.
A pretty perfect blend for blend lovers, not me though: 5.5
Whyte & Mackay NAS 43% De Luxe Scotch Whisky
A flat plastic bottle, probably from the 80's, bottled at 43%abv. 3% higher than the ones tried so far in this session. Amber color, surely enhanced by some E's. It smells minty and light, bitter too. Tomintoul for sure, and young Invergordon grain whisky. Some sweet sherried malt in this as well, perhaps some young Dalmore. The taste is dry and sweet sherried, much thicker and bigger than the last 4. Sweet cinnamon, strawberries, dry red wine, honey, this is at another level for sure. The aftertaste is burnt and phenolic, a lot of sherried notes in this one, and I'm sure there are some heavily sherried Dalmore whiskies involved.
A big whisky, one for the sherry lovers: 6
Whyte & Mackay 12yo 43%
The 12yo, the standard by any blend really, or so it used to be, now more and more whiskies are being bottled at a much younger age due to big increase in demand and credit demands. Not that its a bad thing, I sure like a powerful youngster once in a while. An even darker color than the "De Luxe" version, perhaps even more old Dalmore in this one? I could only imagine. It smells earthy, cinnamon, coriander, oregano, basil, lots of green herbs that just makes me think of fino sherried whiskies more than what distilleries the whiskies used in this blend could be from. It tastes of burnt oak, honey, smokiness, dark chocolate, rhubarb, very rustic. The aftertaste is burnt oak and olive oil.
Amazing stuff, but the finish makes it fall a bit: 6.5
Whyte & Mackay 21yo 43%
The only real oldie in this tasting, a copper toned 21yo. I already sense a big Dalmore influence in this one since they're being the first distillery bought by the W&M. Dark color, it tastes cinnamon, coffee beans, roasted almonds, plum juice, apple cider, wheat, hay, cherries, swamps, paint, rubber, old newspapers. It tastes of currants, vanilla, honey, cinammon, blackcurrants, port wine, leather, drying, bas armagnac, dark grapes. I love it, and so far its been nothing but great.
A great and complex blend: 7.5
Whyte & Mackay NAS 52.5% High Strength
It's a high strength bottling, not a cask strength, or it could be both. When reaching below the 53%abv, the whisky usually spent some time in the cask. This could be a bit different. Another golden color, just like the first ones. Smells of honey and butter, lots of butter. The taste is burnt, a bit phenolic. The taste is rich and honeyed, coffee, vanilla, licorice, more honey. The finish is on cigars and cinnamon.
A very good one, Dalmore style: 7
Next tasting: Bladnoch Distillery
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