Black Bottle Blended Scotch (Australasian Bottling)

Nose: Light notes of orchard fruit, primarily apple. Ethanol, faint malt characteristics, and the slightest hint of smoke. Rather thin. Palate: A gentle, smooth entry but lacking overall character. Faintly sweet apple cider. Becomes quite sweet when used as a mixer. Finish: Short. The cider note fades into a slight bitterness from the grain component. This expression of Black Bottle is exclusive to the Australasian/Pacific market. It is bottled in a clear green round container, a style previously used in the UK for this blend, though the current UK bottling has returned to the original opaque black glass bottle with a flattened oval shape. Be aware: This blend bears no resemblance to the UK version. It is a light-bodied, fruity whisky somewhat similar to Cutty Sark, and while pleasant, it offers little distinction, and at AUD$50 per bottle, it is overpriced. Every online vendor I've encountered that stocks this features a description that has clearly been copied from an overseas site offering the UK blend, which is entirely misleading. I've even attended liquor store whisky tastings where this was presented and described as a "highly peated" blend by individuals who have evidently never tasted it. I have unsuccessfully attempted to ascertain precisely why this blend is exclusively available in our local market and, more importantly, why we do not receive the standard Black Bottle blend (which is universally accessible through travel retail). "Adequate": 70/100 (2 stars).