Islay Blended Malt Blend #2 Batch 1 (TBWC)

Islay Blended Malt Blend #2 Batch 1 (TBWC) is a blended malt Scotch from That Boutique-y Whisky Company. It vats single malts from several distilleries, with Caol Ila for Islay smoke. A ferry crosses the Sound from Port Askaig to Jura and the mainland.

Islay malts bring the smoke, the lighter Caol Ila style keeping it clean rather than heavy. It was matured in refill ex-Bourbon oak, a soft vanilla beneath the spirit. Sea air works into the maturing casks, lending a briny, coastal lift. The cool Islay air gives a slow, steady maturation by the shore. Caol Ila's smoke leans to lemon, olive oil and brine rather than tar or iodine. The distillery was expanded again in the 21st century to meet blend demand. The clean, oily spirit takes cask flavour well while holding its citrus and smoke. From a small Victorian works it grew into one of Scotland's biggest malt distilleries.

At cask strength 47.3% it is muscular. A coastal peat smoke runs through it, with lemon, brine and a soft oil over a sweet fruit. Soft smoke and citrus sit behind the cask. A long, coastal finish carries a peaty warmth. A characterful smoky blended malt Scotch.