The XL Blend from The Blended Whisky Company is crafted exclusively using whiskies aged for at least 40 years. Hence the name - XL means 40 in Roman numerals. It's also particularly XL in terms of flavour profile, making this one to savour and enjoy. You could easily call it excellent, but the label describes the whisky as "XL-ent". Dependent on your stance on puns, this is either a brilliant thing or horrifying.
A gentle and complex nose begins with green apples, medium-cut marmalade and peach and raspberry cobbler. Earthy vanilla pod, thick white bloomer bread and fragrant smoke develop among a little dusty oak and damp old library books. Spiced honey and dark berry fruits emerge with time.
Viscous, yet delicate, the palate is filled a litany of jammy black fruits, heathery smoke, caramel and oily nuttiness. Rose water adds a floral dimension before a darker, earthier depth reveals dried fruit, bitter chocolate, liquefied liquorice and subtle woody tannins.
Drying and bittersweet with sugary espresso, tart blackberries and aromatic nutmeg.
Oh yes. A must-try. This is properly brilliant.
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Advent calendar Xmas eve offering. Never usually impressed by a blend - this is astonishing. Deep, round with notes of honey. The honey has had all sweetness removed.! Of the 24 Advent whiskies this was my fave. Interesting to find how much it will cost?
Tasted many different types of whisky, but this one is outstanding. Simply wow
Also got the sample in the advent calendar, bloody marvellous, complex, rich, the tasting notes are spot on, excellent long finish.
Heavy metallic taste, flavours muddled, and medicinal. The nose is primarily syrupy cherry, like a cough medicine, with an inelegant confusion of fruit and earthiness. The jammy fruits, caramel, and smoke on the tongue are quickly overshadowed by metallic tones that continue into the finish.
I’ve just had this in the advent calendar and came find out more about it. It’s gorgeous!
