Cladach Blended Malt Scotch Whisky Diageo Special Releases 2018

Cladach Blended Malt Scotch Whisky Diageo Special Releases 2018 is a blended malt Scotch from Diageo. It vats single malts from several distilleries, with Caol Ila for Islay smoke. The distillery was expanded again in the 21st century to meet blend demand.

The Caol Ila within lends a clean, lemony Islay smoke rather than a heavy tarry one. Years in ex-Bourbon wood lent a soft vanilla and a coastal calm. The cool Islay air gives a slow, steady maturation by the shore. The original Victorian distillery was almost entirely rebuilt in the modern era. A slow maturation in the cool island air keeps the spirit fresh and oily. The peat here is medium rather than heavy, so fruit and smoke share the glass. The malt is medium peated, giving a cleaner smoke than the south shore Islays. Its spirit also feeds blends such as Bell's and Black Bottle.

At a natural 57.1% it is full and oily. A coastal peat smoke runs through it, with lemon, brine and a soft oil over a sweet fruit. The texture is oily, the smoke threaded with citrus. Lemon, soft ash and sea salt see it out. A characterful smoky blended malt Scotch.