I like it when the names of whiskies make me think of pirates. Okay…so maybe that’s a bit of a leap. I don’t often think of pirates when it comes to whisky. But I like when whisky makes me think of something hidden, mysterious and sought-after – which in turn makes me think of pirates on the hunt for hidden treasure.
So when I opened up a sample received lately to find the The Lost Distilleries Blend: Batch 4 from Master of Malt, the first image that came to mind was alcoves and subterfuge, dark stormy nights and an impassioned hunt. Where had it come from? How had it been lost? How had it been rediscovered?
(I should probably put in an addendum here and mention that I grew up on a farm in the middle of nowhere without siblings near my age and had A LOT of time to imagine quietly as a child. This trait has followed me through life.)
But back to the whisky. The Lost Distilleries Blend: Batch 4 is not just a whisky with a mysterious sounding name but also one which picked up the World’s Best Blend at this year’s World Whiskies Awards in March. Bottled at 50.9%, it’s made from whisky sourced from distilleries which are no longer, but to which most whisky lovers would pray to in stormy weather: Rosebank, Littlemill, Imperial, Mosstowie, Glen Keith and Port Ellen. Yeah. Not bad is it really?
Now, if you wanted to pick up a bottle of this, it would have set you back. £349.99 to be exact. It is now sold out. Which means it will become ever more sought after. In fact, I doubt that even the wily penguin pictured above would be able to hunt one down. Not that I don’t like to give pirate penguins the benefit of the doubt.
If you are able to find some hidden in a treasure chest, behind a bar or in a mate’s locked cupboard which you are able to successfully pry open with a paring knife, I would suggest you do try it. It’s damn good.
Here’s what I made of it:
The Lost Distilleries Blend: Batch 4 – Master of Malt – 50.9% – £349.95:
(c): Mustard
(n): Lots of pine trees and sap, then aniseed, marzipan, eggnog and nutmeg – a Christmas market in a glass!
(p): Loads going on: sweet, spicy and savoury. Starts with melons and peaches, then vanilla, salt and a herbal note of pine trees/rosemary, before raspberry leaves and cream. There’s a chilli spice and oakiness at the back of the palate, with just a hint of something bitter that gives it some earthiness.
(f): Cardboard & chocolate.
In conclusion: a great blend that is a multi-layered example of how you can get so much out of this style of whisky. One I think I could go back to again and again, and keep finding something new from it. Lovely.
