All dressed up and somewhere to go
Shock! £60 or more for a bottle of blend.
Shock! £60 or more for a bottle of blend. Horror! Whisky served straight from the freezer. Nightmare! Whisky with exotic fruits â the world of super-premium blends is quite an alarming place for whisky traditionalists.
But theyâre fighting a rearguard action. The world is embracing these luxury blends with gusto â except, it seems, in the United Kingdom where drinkers donât quite get it. So what is a âsuper-premiumâ blend exactly, and exactly why is it a style you should consider?
They may seem just self-indulgence but super-premiums are the highest expression of the blenderâs art: a huge commitment of investment, time and blending skill using the rarest of whiskies to produce the houseâs ultimate flagship. Typically these products are at least 18 years old and ritzily packaged, though naturally their proprietors insist itâs all about taste.
Well, weâll turn to that in a moment, but first: what about that packaging? Special bottles, silk ribbons, wax seals, gold embossing and beautifully crafted cartons â every cliché from the designerâs book is pressed into service to dress these whiskies.
Itâs my pet theory that, in part at least, this has put off the British consumer. The English are suspicious of too much ostentation and Scots just want to pay for whisky, thank you very much.
However, if you look below the surface, there are some very agreeable surprises. These are Scotches that are about more than just show, however glamorous the packagin.....
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By Ian Buxton
Section : Blended Whisky
Page number : 21
