Maclean’s Nose Blended Scotch Whisky

A malt-heavy blend from the team at Adelphi, named after a rocky outcrop not far from the Ardnamurchan distillery (not Charles MacLean’s own nose, although he must have had something to do with its creation). Twenty one ex-bourbon Lowland grain hogsheads form a ‘blank canvas’ to which forty casks of ex-bourbon Ardnamurchan and sixteen ex-sherry casks of the same are added. It’s then dressed with five casks of Campbeltown malt.

The significant presence of ex-sherry casks and zero filtration add up to a blend with considerable depth, but the defining character is from the West Coast peated component. This almost tastes like Ardnamurchan ‘lite’ with the sweet smokey notes supported by an understated fruitiness. The finish intensifies on a peppery note, concluding ashy, fresh and medium long. While it lacks some of the oily richness found in famous rivals like Johnnie Black, Maclean’s Nose is so tasty that it’s closer to a blended malt than a blended whisky in the mass-produced, contemporary sense. In this case, the slightly higher price is justified.