Malt Mission 2008 #272

Corriemhor Cigar Reserve
Malt Whisky
40% abv
£37.50

This is a whisky that falls into the new category "blended malt", a designation of Scotch whisky discussed yesterday. It is not a single malt but is a mixture of single malts from more than one distillery, the artist formerly known as "pure" or "vatted" malt.

This is an unusual malt whisky from the blending nose of Richard Paterson of Whyte and Mackay and was, I think, a German exclusive. To see all whiskies marketed as cogar malts, that we've had on the mission, click HERE.

Tasted (at an Edinburgh pub that gets enough promotion and deserves far less) with MH and MS.

TASTING NOTES:

Milky coffee, Tim Hortons, upholstery, "grandad's Chevy Caprice." -MH. Sulphury and sweaty, licorice and ham.

Soft as anything can be, bordering on flat. Sweet and smoky. Nutty and gently spicy. Iron like a fireplace cooker, hickory smoke.

SUMMARY:

"It's good" -MS
Loud flavours but flat, almost lazy, it's weird. Very thick brushstrokes of very thin water colours. Could easily neck the stuff from the bottle, not that that should be easy.

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Malt Mission 2007 #158

Whyte & Mackay 13yo
Blended Scotch Whisky
40% abv
£16.50

Vijay Mallya and his United Breweries Group recently bought Whyte & Mackay for £600million as growing affluence in India made whisky sales grow 26% over the past year, a trend that didn't come out of nowhere and one that smart-tycoon-y member-of-parliament-entrepreneurs like Mallya wouldn't dare miss. Unfortunately, W&M saw a £2.2million loss in the 12-month period before the takeover. Can King Madras turn everything he touches to gold?

W&M has a pretty good stable of malts and blends and may have performed poorly last year due to the relaunch of the Whyte and Mackay blends (with a fancy new Charles Rennie Mackintosh look) that never really had a chance to take off or get marketed properly. (Are they even available anywhere?) Jura, Dalmore, Fettercairn, Glayva and Whyte and Mackay are now set to invade India now that Mallya used his political pull to change the iNsAnE foreign spirits tariff in India, a change that was certainly unpopular among other domestic spirits producers.

Anyways, I won't talk too much about that. Truth is I don't have enough time to get my facts straight so f-it. If you want more info and opinion on the story, read THIS(BBC), THIS(Malt Maniacs), or THIS(Scotch Blog).

Let's drink Whyte and Mackay's The Thirteen. (All Whyte&Mackay tasted on the mission can be read HERE)

TASTING NOTES:

Soft and rich, pecans, butter tarts, vanilla candles, waffle cones, an ice cream parlour. Sherry influence is present but the tasty Invergordon (and other?) grains lead the sweeter, vanilla-ed appeal to 'drink me'.

Bigger body than the nose suggests, that dissipates quickly. Strange. Now you see it, now you don't. Rich sherry and nuts, Dairy Milk, and a touch of salt then Caramilk and honey, ginger, and a light finish of sherry, fresh figs, and older grain whisky.

SUMMARY:

An odd experience, and I know I have complained about this stuff before, but I quite enjoyed it today. The vanishing effect (in terms of mouth presence) on the palate was strange, but the lingering flavours made up for it. A late metallic flavour hurt my overall impression but affordability and drinkability combine to make this a worthwhile purchase to decide for yourself.

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Malt Mission 2007 #58

Whyte & Mackay 12yo Premium Reserve

Blended Scotch Whisky
40% abv
£18

An admirer since I first met this blend, I have mentioned this whisky before, tasted it's bastard cousin in these malt missions, and during our North American Adventures I was able to try some from the bottom of a bottle I gave a friend last year.

This whisky won Gold medals at the International Wine and Spirit Competition both in 2002 and 2004.

TASTING NOTES:

Rich nose with chocolate and strawberries, red grapes, sherry and orange, some faint smokiness with fresh lime on top. Characteristics of grain whisky sit dead in the centre of these impressions allowing the malt notes to venture off in either direction.

Soft and creamy mouthfeel, smoke and sherry, immense earthiness like sitting outside at a farm after a heavy rain. Smoke, hot chocolate, and sherry linger for some time.

SUMMARY:

A blend that would be a challenge to pinpoint in a blind tasting. Great scope of flavours, with an emphasis on sherry matured malt. The rich malts are so firm and satisfying, the finish so full of smoke and sherry that I have simply never tasted better value for money in a blend. I have recommended this for over a year and if you can find a bottle, BUY ONE!!! (again, be warned; the 12yo MASTERS RESERVE is NOT the same thing)

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Malt Mission 2007 #21

Whyte & Mackay 12yo Masters Reserve
Blended Scotch Whisky
40% abv
£17
$28(USD)

Welcome to week FIVE of this Malt Mission. No jaundice, liver cramps, or bloating, so without any further ado, here begins a highland-themed week.

Charles Mackay and James Whyte started a company as whisky merchants and bonded warehousemen in Glasgow in 1882. W&M Special was their first blend and it was successful in the English speaking countries of the world. After WWII they focused on the home market and now sell more than 1 million cases a year.

The whisky cherishes their 'double marrying' process: they first vat a malt(25-35 different single malts), then put it in casks to age for a further 8 months and then mix it with a vatted grain mix(up to 6 different grain whiskies, aged together for 3 months) , and then marry sprit for an additional 4 months as a blend. Pretty labour intensive, it seems, so it is safe for one to assume that the stuff inside cannot be that fancy if a bottle of the standard unaged blend goes for £10.

But that is not to say that it cannot be good. As we know, many blends excel because they become more than the sum of their parts and a testament to the art of the blender.

This whisky contains the W&M owned Dalmore, Jura, and Fettercairn as well as Balblair and Tomintoul among others.

TASTING NOTES:

Delicate something, but too faint to put a finger on initially. Wood. Oatmeal. A dry facecloth, fungus. Sweet but quite inconsequential. There is a slightly toxic alcohol scent, too, like when ketchup or apple juice go vinegar-y. Grain whisky that comes off like tequila.

Watery mouth feel. Sweet. Rainsin Bran breafast cereal. Quite oaky. Simple and thin.

SUMMARY:

Extremely disappointing AND misleading for several reasons. This Whyte & Mackay must be quite an anomaly as I cannot find any info on it. I got it at and Sainsbury or Morrisons in the Highlands of Scotland last year for 14 pounds or so. I bought it beacause the 12yo Premium reserve we had when Richard Paterson came to give us a tasting was really stellar. It has won awards(gold medal at The International Wine and Spirits Competition in 2004), and critical acclaim. I spent two great nights with a bottle this past summer.

But the name "Premium Reserve" has, it seems, been used for 3 different W&M blends. And there are at least 2 different 12 year old blends. "Master's Reserve" is the name of W&M's own 21 year old blend. ?!?! This is irresponisble and misleads consumers. Additionally, there is NOTHING on the label saying "blended whisky" (no issue with that, SWA?) and on the back is written, "Med Karamel. Mit Farbstoff(Zuckercouleur)" (I assume translation not needed).

So on at least three fronts this whisky is deceptive and I find that very disappointing. I would still recommend that you buy or try their 12yo Premium Reserve of you see it anywhere as it is a very rich, tasty, highland influenced blend that is great value (£16), but boo on you Whyte&Mackay. India can have you.

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