Blended Malt Scotch Whisky 1997 MBl The Maltman (Meadowside Blending)

Blended Malt Scotch Whisky 1997 MBl The Maltman (Meadowside Blending) is a blended malt Scotch from Meadowside Blending. It vats single malts from more than one distillery, Deanston among them. Its old weaving shed, once full of looms, is now a cool stone warehouse for the casks.

The Deanston within gives a green apple and a honeyed wax. A refill bourbon hogshead held it, keeping the honeyed, waxy character to the fore. The cool, even temperature of the old weaving shed gives a slow, steady maturation. Its wash is fermented long, for a fruity, estery character. It was mothballed in 1982 and revived in 1990 under Burn Stewart. Years in oak round the spirit, the green apple and honey deepening over the wax. Unchillfiltered and at natural colour, it keeps the full waxy body in the glass. It uses 100% Scottish barley and bottles its malt unchillfiltered, with no added colour.

Bottled at 45.8%, it is rounded. Soft orchard fruit, honey and a gentle spice run through it, smooth and waxy. Soft orchard fruit and honey sit behind the cask. A long, honeyed finish carries a green apple and a ginger spice. A characterful blended malt Scotch.