Islay Blended Malt 2010 MBl The Maltman (Meadowside Blending)

Islay Blended Malt 2010 MBl The Maltman (Meadowside Blending) is a blended malt Scotch from Meadowside Blending. It brings together malts from more than one distillery, Caol Ila lending the peat. The warehouses are ranged along the rocky shore at the water's edge.

The Caol Ila within lends a clean, lemony Islay smoke rather than a heavy tarry one. Maturation came in ex-Bourbon wood, the oak quiet behind the spirit. Cool, damp warehousing slows the loss of the angel's share over the years. Port Askaig is a tiny settlement on the rugged east coast of Islay. Water falls to the distillery from Loch nam Ban in the hills above. Tall stills and a clean cut give the spirit its oily, lemony lightness. A clean smoke and a coastal salt define the distillery style. Smoked citrus and a saline minerality are the hallmarks of the make. Years in oak round the smoke, the peat mellowing while the brine stays.

At a full 54.5% it is bold and oily. A coastal peat smoke runs through it, with lemon, brine and a soft oil over a sweet fruit. A maritime salt and a lemon lift run through it. It finishes smoky, oily and bright. A characterful smoky blended malt Scotch.