Blended Whisky No. 1 - 35 year Old Batch 3 (That Boutique-y Whisky Co.)

An intense, third batch of the World's Best Blended Whisky! (WWA 2015), still a delicious and rounded blend without any harshness, & now with an age statement. The youngest component in this blend was aged for 35 years! This release consists of 1,428 bottles. It offers an aromatic start with notes of chocolate fudge, hints of jam or raspberry ripple, pepper & minerality; a complex middle adds notes of chocolate, fruit, caramel, treacle & tobacco; leading to a long & warming finish with notes of Tiramisu & Mississippi mud pie. December 2017 / May 2018 / August 2022

A very pronounced raisin, currant, and Christmas fruit character is present. It immediately brings to mind the 13-year Hazelburn Olorosso, but without the overpowering sulfur (though a hint is there, along with some bitterness in the aftertaste). Letting it sit for 30 minutes to aerate significantly improves it (or perhaps it just allowed my palate to adapt). A fine example of a sherry cask finish. A score of 4.25 to 4.5 from me. One of 1428 bottles produced, now sold out. I can understand why batch 1 might have won the WWA blended whisky category.