We’ll be honest with you, we didn’t think anything Drinks by the Dram’s The Whisky Advent Calendar could throw at us would be more exciting than the release of a new Star Wars movie. (Even with the endless adverts beforehand “make sure you have the official Star Wars mascara” etc.) Not until the final window, perhaps. Wrong, we were, however, as day 19 has provided The Lost Distilleries Blend from The Blended Whisky Company!
Named World’s Best Blended Whisky at Whisky Magazine’s World Whiskies Awards in 2014, it does exactly what it says on the tin – it’s a blend of whiskies exclusively from sadly now closed distilleries, many of whom have become legendary such as Port Ellen and Caperdonich. There’s even some Imperial entanglements in there… Yes, the force is strong with this one.
TK-19
Tasting Note for The Lost Distilleries Blend – Batch 7:
Nose: Initial fragrant smoke, even a touch of sweet barbecue from the peated malts, before banana and apricot Danish pastries emerge. Melon notes from the Port Ellen combine effortlessly with complex grassy, nutty and floral malted barley.
Palate: Sweet entry with marzipan, chestnut and luxurious honeyed plums. Orchard fruit and warming peat tang develop with more subtle, ethereal cereal notes beneath the surface. Rye bread can be tasted, whilst a touch of zesty marmalade adds pep to proceedings.
Finish: More wheat-like cereal on the finish with juicy raisin and apricot, crushed almonds and Yirgacheffe coffee. Complex and satisfying to the last.
Overall: Exceptional balance as well as sympathetic and knowledgeable use of quality rare malts are the hallmarks of this stunning whisky. Each component plays a key role. Batch 7 is a blend of Port Ellen, Caperdonich, Mosstowie, Glenisla, Imperial and Glenlochy malts as well as grain from Port Dundas.
The Lost Distilleries Blend – 70cl, 49.5%
Tasting Note for The Lost Distilleries Blend – Batch 6:
Nose: A little green apple and then manuka honey lead the way, with the depth of this blend soon becoming apparent. Grassy sand dunes, lemon, dried coconut and papaya develop, adding complexity to the bag of gorgeous vanilla fudge you now hold in your hand.
Palate: Toffee apples and chamois leather. A drop of water here reveals thicker, chewy toffees, great mouthfeel, a generous sprinkling of nutmeg and a little cinnamon alongside praline, which becomes nut toffee or peanut crunch towards the tail.
Finish: Soft, slightly tannic, nutty oak and a hint of dignified smoke. Salted toffee too, that’s almost vaguely coastal.
Overall: This is very yummy whisky indeed. Created exclusively with whiskies from now-closed distilleries, it’s also a piece of history. A very yummy piece of history. Batch six contains malt from Port Ellen, Caperdonich, Mosstowie, Glenisla, Imperial, Glen Mhor and Brora, alongside grain from Port Dundas.
The Chaps at Master of Malt
Paul newcombe 
Customer Service @ Master of Malt