This past weekend we headed down Island to the 2020 Victoria Whisky Festival. This was the festival’s 15th year running and has become the biggest and best of its kind in Canada. The festival got going on Thursday night with The Canadian Whisky Awards and a SMWS “Free the Whisky” masterclass. Friday night hosted more masterclasses and as well as Saturday afternoon. Then the events concluded with a Grand Tasting on Saturday night. For a full recap of my adventures this past weekend, click the link to my Youtube video below.
It’s the time of year, towards the end of January, when we all start to receive those unpleasant envelopes in the mail containing our frivolous yuletide credit card bills. So, what do we do? We tighten the belt and rein in the spending to try and dig our way out. For a whisky collector, this usually means pumping the brakes on purchasing anymore whiskies and just drinking what you may have or, some, may even try and go dry for a month. Well this Whisky review is the answer to our New Year’s Whisky woes! Black Bottle Blended Scotch Whisky is a great January budget beater!
Gordon Graham’s Black Bottle Blended Scotch Whisky is produced today by Burn Stewart Distillers. This brand was originally introduced in 1879 by Charles David and Gordon Graham. After many years of decline Black Bottle was brought back to life in 1990 with a blend of multiple Islay single malts. It was then re-launched in 2013 and now features a more balanced blend of fruit, spice and peat smoke. Here’s my take!
Bottled at 40% ABV.
Nose: Malty, hints of struck matches, fruit and spice.
Palate: Rich but not super complex, hazy cigar smoke, herbs and fruity.
Finish: Surprisingly long, from sweet to salty brine and smoke.
Rating: 7.5/10
Gordon Graham's Black Bottle Blended Scotch Whisky
$33.00
Pros
- The price is right!
- Bunnahabhain at it's core.
- Easy drinker
- Balanced