Reference Series II.2 3cl Whisky
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Reference Series II.2
The Reference Series grows a little larger with the release of II.2, which takes the exact recipe of II (a balanced blended malt of youthful and well-aged whiskies) and then introduces 10% heavily peated Islay single malt. The reasoning behind this is that you can compare II.2 to the 'control' whisky, Reference Series II, and see for yourself how this peated influence impacts on your experience in the glass.
This is the very crux of the Reference Series - it gives insight into how changes in composition or techniques used can affect a whisky's flavour profile by allowing you to always refer back to the unchanged 'control' expressions. Neat, eh?
Tasting Note by The Chaps at Master of Malt
Nose
Juicy and honeyed with a hint of blue cheese that develops as both the meatiness from II and more elemental coastal notes including harbour ropes and seaweed. Well rounded with an almond cake note too.
Palate
Quite meaty again but with less overt Sherry influence than II. Dried apricots and mixed nuts are far more prominent than cherries and chocolate, but they are still there.
Finish
Slightly smoky, nutty oak goes on and on with just a hint of cherry ice cream.
Overall
Blenders always tell us that a little peat goes a long way and the 10% of peated Islay whisky included in II.2 has a huge influence. It is still very much part of the Reference Series II family, however.
