The Reference Series began with three blended malts, I, II and III. Each are made up of the same constituent parts, only in different quantities, with III containing over 50% incredibly well-aged single malts. The series then progressed with .1, .2 and .3 extensions for each of the three original whiskies, whereby the originals then became the 'control' whiskies for some fascinating and ongoing whisky experiments.
Here we have III.2, which is the extraordinary Reference Series III with 10% heavily peated Islay single malt added into the mix. By tasting both the original expression and this new addition, you'll be able to appreciate the exact contribution the peated whisky makes in this stunning blended malt as well as further your understanding of how blenders utilise peated spirit.
Ooh, hello. Chocolate and roasted malt (chocolate malt?), sweet, oily malt loaf and balancing salinity. Toffee brittle and creamy coffee beans.
Huge, fruity, slightly drying. Chocolate-covered raisins, dried apricot, meaty and slightly nutty with a mess of smoky dark cocoa.
Thick, smoky, oaky, chocolatey maltiness with subtle touches of fruit.
Yeah, that's alright that is. (Massive understatement.) Like III, this has a significantly higher proportion of old and very old single malts, but with the introduction of some delicious peated whisky. The result is stunning.
As well as adding gifts to lucky MoM orders, #WhiskySanta is granting wishes on social media every day! Hit the button above and let them know what you'd like. It could be yours!
Blend its very simple and not sweet enough for me. Not smooth at all. Too simple. Over-rated.
I've only tried a sample of this because of the win at the World Whiskies Awards, but it's fair to say that this is probably the best Blended Malt Whisky I've ever tried. The richness of the old whiskies in here is complemented absolutely perfectly by the smoke - and I've got to say I'm very surprised that there's only 10% of peated stuff in here - it feels like a lot more - this is definitely a 'smokey whisky'.
