Blended Scotch Whisky 1977 MBl The Maltman (Meadowside Blending)

Blended Scotch Whisky 1977 MBl The Maltman (Meadowside Blending) is a blended Scotch from Meadowside Blending. It marries malt and grain whiskies, with Speyside malt such as Dailuaine for a honeyed core. The name is Gaelic for the green vale, after the hollow in which the distillery sits.

Dailuaine lends a soft, honeyed Speyside sweetness to the blend. It rested in ex-Bourbon oak, the wood adding vanilla and a soft honey. The rich, full bodied spirit takes cask flavour well, especially sherry wood. It passed to DCL and Scottish Malt Distillers in the 1920s and was later modernised. The slow loss of the angel's share concentrates the rich, malty core over the years. Refill oak lets the robust Dailuaine character lead, malt and dried fruit beneath. A first fill sherry cask suits the robust spirit, dried fruit meeting the meaty weight. Years in oak round the spirit, the fruit deepening to dried fruit and a savoury spice.

At cask strength 44.6% it is full bodied. Soft orchard fruit, honey and a gentle spice run through it, smooth and approachable. It is robust and fruity, the full bodied spirit shining through. The close is long, fruit over a rich malt. A characterful blended Scotch.