Maiden's Blend Tasting Pack x4

Cask no. #6 Colour: Plain fudge. Nose: A very beguiling nose of considerable depth. It suggests forest fruits stewed with demerara sugar and a clove or two. There is a background note of roasted grain and dark chocolate. Palate: The complexity of the nose is carried forward onto the palate, with the fruitiness giving way to the dry grains. There is also a subliminal hint of raisin chocolate and antique leather, with the famous Orkney whisky contributing a heather-peatiness. Finish: A dry, smoky finish that will put older drinkers in mind of going through a tunnel in a steam train with the carriage windows open. Verdict: This is a wonderfully successful blend. of an exemplar inclusive of the Speyside tradition, with wilder, wind-swept elements of Orkney. From nose to finish, this is a malt deserving of close attention. Full-bodied, with strongly projected flavours, the blend is a deeply satisfying dram of the highest order.

Cask no. #7 Colour: Burnished gold. Nose: Treacle toffee studded with toasted Brazil nuts. Palate: This boasts a sumptuously smooth, velvety base of nougat confectionary. Within the smoke that floats above it, there is a pronounced cereal element. Finish: The gently warming smoothness continues with a marked return of the toffee of the nose. Verdict: Not perhaps as complex as #6, but certainly equally rewarding. It is rich and flavoursome from first to last and will pleasantly surprise any sceptics who have previously wondered about the wisdom of blending malts long- established in their own right. A perfect pre-dinner malt.

Cask no. #8 Colour: Amontillado sherry. Nose: An immediate and powerful medicinal hit with secondary notes of high cocoa-butter chocolate. The nose screams: add a few drops of water to me. Palate: The tightly wound ‘ball’ of flavour unloosens with just a little water. Dark berries are infused with nutmeg and cinnamon. The renowned Speyside malt barley content comes through and a honeyed sweetness becomes discernible towards the end of the sip. Finish: A fragrant pipe tobacco is to the fore, fading quite quickly to a dry, grain-heavy smokiness. Verdict: Another superb rendition of the blend and further evidence of the blender’s wise hunch. Big flavours and great depth make for a most satisfying dram.

Cask no. #9 Colour: Golden syrup. Nose: Nuts and spice abound on the surface, but deeper inhalation reveals a surprisingly pleasant oily vanilla. Palate: The world-famous Speyside component once again comes to the fore, with slightly smoky malt-laden grain. This is followed by a minimal hint of treacle-toffee sweetness. Finish: A fairly brief finish of nutty toffee floating in a little peaty smoke. Verdict: Another highly pleasing version of the Maiden’s Blend. The least complex of the four alternatives, this still manages to include and combine both the Speyside and Orkney elements successfully. The mild spices offer warmth, while grain and smoke provide a solid flavour base.