Blended Malt Scotch Whisky 11 Years Old NSS Cask Series 027 (North Star)

Blended Malt Scotch Whisky 11 Years Old NSS Cask Series 027 (North Star) is a blended malt Scotch from North Star Spirits. It marries single malts from more than one distillery, Caol Ila among them. The distillery was expanded again in the 21st century to meet blend demand.

Islay malts bring the smoke, the lighter Caol Ila style keeping it clean rather than heavy. An American oak hogshead added vanilla and a light toffee. Smoked citrus and a saline minerality are the hallmarks of the make. Water falls to the distillery from Loch nam Ban in the hills above. The medium peating leaves a smoke that is firm but never heavy. The malt is medium peated, giving a cleaner smoke than the south shore Islays. Much of the spirit leaves the island by sea to mature on the mainland. The original Victorian distillery was almost entirely rebuilt in the modern era.

Bottled at a cask strength 54.1%, it is intense. A coastal peat smoke runs through it, with lemon, brine and a soft oil over a sweet fruit. Smoke, lemon and a saline minerality fill the middle. The finish runs oily, smoky and clean. A characterful smoky blended malt Scotch.