Black Bottle whisky is a Scottish whisky that has been around since 1879. It is a blended whisky, made with a mix of different malt and grain whiskies. Black Bottle is known for its smoky flavour, which comes from the use of Islay malt whisky in the blend.
Black Bottle Blended Scotch whisky was relaunched in 2013, and now features a balanced mix of fruitiness and spice alongside the peaty Islay notes that the brand has been known for. This change in direction is a return to Black Bottle's past, as it is said to have been inspired by what the whisky was like when it was made all the way back in 1879. This has also inspired the new old-style black glass bottle, which gave Black Bottle whisky its name.
Black Bottle previously had a high percentage of peated Islay whisky featured in the blend. With this relaunched bottling, they're aiming for a blend and flavour reminiscent of Black Bottle whisky from when it was first made in 1879, which means the smokiness is balanced with fruitier notes.
Polished oak and porridge with a sprinkle of brown sugar, with cut grass and very subtle smoke in support.
Candied ginger and cigar box, with charred herbs, chocolate spread on brown bread and a drizzle of golden syrup.
Oak spice and honey.
The old Black Bottle was a superb, competitively priced peat treat, that (whilst not being quite as well integrated) rivaled Johnnie Walker Black due to its fantastic price and accessibility. I enjoyed many a bottle, and still have one as a keep safe (purchased for £11.97 from Tesco as they were clearing their shelves). This new version, in a distinctive black bottle (as opposed to the previous version's green bottle) is supposed to mirror the original blend developed in 1879. Whether this is true or just a bit of nostalgic marketing who knows, but I can recommend the whisky. It has a rather ridiculously dark amber colour (even more so than the Johnnie Walker ranges) and the caramel influences (that tannin taste) is obvious. However, despite the lack of peat (which is, despite a subtle whiff, virtually non-existent) this is a superbly well rounded whisky with a bit fruity taste, herbs on the nose, toffee and caramel on the palate, a great mouth feel and a rich, almost chocolatey finish. There are undoubtedly reasons why Black Bottle has changed (industry and economic reasons) I'm sorry to say, and the heavy addition of caramel is not a good start. But once you look beyond that and accept that the old whisky has gone (unfortunately) you're still left with a whisky that is incredibly well crafted and far better value than anything else in its price range. For just £2 less you could be drinking Scottish Leader! This is like a well honed single malt compared to that! So for the naysayers, embrace change (as I have done) and enjoy this splendid dram. The result of the re-launch could of been so much worse!
The peat of Islay mixed with cereal of speyside is gone. Sad. Not bad, but not nearly as good as teh previous version.
The bold peaty character of an Islay which represented the previous Black Bottle is gone in this new version.
Maybe if Black Bottle is new to you, you could be forgiven for thinking this is OK but to me it is a disgrace. Haven't seen Black Bottle on the shelves for a while now so was delighted to find this while out shopping today - but what a let-down. Black Bottle was always my blend of choice when fund were too low to afford Ardbeg (which, let's face it is most of the time at current pricing). Where is 'the heart of Islay'? I won't be buying this again. Big mistake messrs Graham.
Most of the negative reviews here seem disappointed at how this new BB is different from the old. (I never had the old one, so am happily unburdened by such luggage...) I think that misses the point that this is an excellent blended whisky, at a price point that offers superb value. I'm not normally much of a fan of blended Scotch, I only came across this by accident when doing my weekly grocery shop, and boy am I glad I picked up a bottle! I'll go back tomorrow and get a case, before they discontinue it (my supermarket, that is - they have a bad habit of doing that, just as I discover something I like).
