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Tasting The Classic Malts Selection's Single Malts

Filed under: Spirits

Most of the world drinks blended whiskies and there are some good reasons for that. Blended whiskies are the work of master blenders who spend years perfecting their craft. They labor over their work combining single malts from various years to create the perfect taste and then maintain it, bottling after bottling. It is a symphony for the palette.

But there are times you don't want the whole symphony and that's where single malts come in. Single malts are used in the blending of whiskies and each hits a particular note that goes into the blending process. Some are fruity, some are smoky, some are grassy and each reflects its unique heritage. If you like a certain note in some whiskies you can pursue that interest through single malts. The Classic Malts Selection spans a wide range of tastes for whisky lovers who enjoy different tastes. For me, it's the smokies. There's something alchemical about an amber liquid that manages to contain the aroma and taste of smoke. In a recent tasting I attended they had us taste the Lagavulin 12 Year Old from Islay ($74.99) last because it's the one that sticks with you. One sip and you will be tasting smoke on your palate for hours. The sensation is not unpleasant. This is a strong whisky, one best opened up with a little water, but there's also an underlying gentleness beyond the immediate peaty char. The water helps the creamy sweetness underneath develop. It's a bit like a drinkable smoked Gouda. In my hastily-typed iPhone notes I called it a 'mac daddy whisky' not just for the taste but also for a certain sensation of swagger that comes with drinking a whisky so totally given over to the smoke. A less intense but still smoky option is the Talisker Distillers Edition ($79.99) it has a similar paneled library appeal, a nose of woodsmoke and leather and a taste that is smoky but a little more fruit-centered.

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Tags: classic malts selection, ClassicMaltsSelection, dalwhinnie, islay, oban, royal lochnagar, RoyalLochnagar, scotch, single malt, single malts, SingleMalt, SingleMalts, talisker, whisky

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The Classicist: A Killer Collection of Classic Malts

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits, The Classicist

The Classic Malts Selection, the prestigious portfolio of single malts from Scotland's six distilling regions, has just introduced a stunning new collection of seven special offerings and rare aged whiskies. The highlight of the special releases is the Oban 18-Year-Old (right), hailing from the Scottish Highlands.

Produced at one of the oldest licensed distilleries in Scotland - whisky has been made there for over 200 years - the Oban is rich, smooth and balanced with a sweet smokiness. Only 7,716 bottles of this special whisky will be available at $149.99 apiece.

The Oban is not the rarest of the releases, however. That honor falls to the Port Ellen 29-Year-Old. From an Islay "ghost distillery," i.e. long closed, it is peaty, mellow and robust. A total of 600 individually numbered bottles are available at $399.99 apiece.

Next in terms of rarity is the Talisker 30-Year-Old. Produced on the Isle of Skye, Talisker is the only distillery in the region. Smoky and rich, the 30 Year is Talisker's oldest and rarest expression to date. Less than 3,000 individually numbered bottles are available at $399.99 apiece.

Another "ghost distillery" offering comes from Brora, a 25-Year-Old. Very rare at this age, the whisky strikes a balance between the smooth Highland malts and peaty Island spirits. Only 456 bottles are available at $349.99 apiece.

Gallery: Killer Classic Malts

In addition to those four rare offerings, three 2008 The Distillers Edition whiskies have been introduced as well, all finished in sherry casks. These include:

* Oban The Distillers Edition – This whisky was double-matured in Montilla Fino Sherry Wood for a delicate yet rich, fruity sweetness with a touch of smoke. $99.99.

* Lagavulin The Distillers Edition - Very smoky Islay spirit. Also double-matured, and further aged in Pedro Ximenez Sherry Wood casks, giving it a smoky, fruit finish. $109.99

* Talisker The Distillers Edition - Double-matured in Amoroso Sherry casks, which keeps back Talisker's usual pepper, replacing it with luscious sweetness - ripe, juicy fruit and vanilla. $79.99.

"We are incredibly proud to welcome these new expressions into The Classic Malts Selection portfolio," says Rob Mason, Senior Brand Manager for Diageo's Classic Malts Selection. "Demand for rare and special malt whiskies continues to grow each year, and of course some of these now released malts are drawn from a finite and dwindling stock, as their distilleries were closed over 20 years ago, so we feel fortunate to have them available in the US."

Tags: Brora, Classic Malts, ClassicMalts, Lagavulin, Oban, Port Ellen, PortEllen, Scotch, Scotland, Single malt, SingleMalt, Talisker