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THE SIX CLASSIC MALTS OF SCOTLAND

April 17, 2008 at 1:31 pm · Filed under Our Malt Links, Scottish Links and Societies, “Dazzling” news and tagged: , , , , , , ,

Six Classic Malt Brands
The Six Classic Malts of Scotland where carefully selected by
United Distillers & Vintners from their ever increasing range of single malts.
Each of the six malts where selected to best represent each of the main
whisky producing regions of Scotland.
They embrace the full diversity of regional tastes and styles.

OBAN
(Sweet)

Owning Company: Oban Distillery
Established: 1794

Location: Midway between the Caledonian and Crinan canals.

A 14 year old combining the sophistication of the Highlands
with a touch of the peaty style of the Islands and an amber appearance.
It is rich and full-bodied with a mellow fruity finish and it’s
flavour has medium mothfeel, smooth; easy to drink, with a
good balance of primary flavours.
Fresh and faintly floral (bog myrtle).

GLENKINCHIE
(Ladies whisky)

The home of ‘The Edinburgh Malt’ is located in the rolling farmland
of East Lothian and houses an exhibition in the listed red brick buildings.
Glenkinchie is a soft, sweetly aromatic malt from the ‘Garden of Scotland’.
Is has a fresh, grassy sweetness balanced with a warming, dryish finish.
It is also light in character, with notes of lemon and cut grass.
It is one of only three remaining Lowland malt whiskies in production.

CRAGGANMORE
(Medium)

Owning Company: D & J Macallum
Established: 1869
Location: Near Cragganmore Hill, Ballindalloch.

Cragganmore distillery was founded in 1869 by John Smith.
It is situated in the village of Ballindaloch in Banffshire in Scotland.
A 12 year old elegant, sophisticated Speyside with the most complex
aroma of any malt.
Astonishingly fragrant with sweetish notes and a smoky maltiness
on the finish, with full gold, amber notes. The aromatics reduce to
a mild and pleasant complex with no off notes.

TALISKER
(A bit smoked)

 Owning Company: Talisker Distillery
Production Status: OperationalEstablished: 1843Location: Set in the lee of Cnoc-nan-Speireag-Hawkhill,
near the village of Carbost, on the shore of Loch Harport.

A 10 year old and the only malt produced on Skye.
Its seaweedy, smoky nose and sweet maltiness is perfectly
complimented by its spicy,
long finish.It’s appearance is Full gold, bright and shot with pink.
Full bodied. The primary taste is sweet and salty, with a powerful
peat-smoke ‘catch’ in the finish, which is relatively short.
Other flavours are of resin and burnt butter. Development:
Becomes sulphury when exposed to the air for a while.

DALWHINNIE

 Owning Company: J. Buchanan & Co.
Established: 1890sLocation: Stands at the Drumochter Pass at the head of Strathspey.A 15 year old gentle, delicate malt from the wild and windswept Highlands.
It is subtle, smooth delicately smody malt with a heathery honey finish.
First impression is of orange juice, with some grainy mustard;
mead-like, or like concentrated white wine – vin santo.
Becomes mulchy and grassy, but holds its flavor well.

LAGAVULIN
(Smoked)

 Owning Company: White Horse Distillers, Glasgow
Established: 1816
Water Source: Solum Lochs Location: Occupying a site of six acres, at the head of a small bay
near the south coast of Islay.A 16 year old distinctive and powerful Islay malt.
It is deeply smoky and peaty with a velvety, complex finish.
Little nose prickle, and surprisingly low intensity of (straight) aroma.
Little discernable smoke to start. Generally quite closed. Some cognac
and cooking chocolate and an interesting scent of clover flowers.

The primary taste starts sweet (nougat) and finishes
darkly smoky (coal smoke). The flavour immediately
gives away the whisky’s provenance.

 

2 Comments »

  Orestis Karadimitriou wrote @ April 20, 2008 at 9:43 am

I would have added Glenfiddich as for some reason it was by far the most easy-to-find and contributed in the spread of malt aficionados everywhere.

  Esterene wrote @ July 10, 2009 at 11:20 pm

Where can I purchase the six classic single malts as a set?

Thank you


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