Maclean's Nose

This new blend from Adelphi offers significant promise for its affordable price. The malt content is 70% and it comes from premium distilleries. Peated and unpeated distillate from Adelphi's Ardnamurchan aged four to six years forms the base, complemented by an eight-year-old Campbeltown whisky that is widely believed to be Springbank. An eight-year-old Diageo grain whisky completes the blend. It's soft and creamy on the nose, with honey and peppery spice in the mouth. That pepper carries into a medium length finish. It's a bit thin in the mouth for my preference and not as complex as the main Compass Box blends, but for $35 you could do much worse.

Referencing both Charles MacLean and a rocky outcrop on the Ardnamurchan peninsula, Maclean's Nose is a new malt-forward blend by Adelphi. Hints of tinned peaches, sea salt and grilled cod rise from the glass, and there is a lovely interplay of citrus fruits, grist and slightly earthy notes. Mineral, briny and quite oily, the taste emphasizes black olives, herbal peat smoke and white pepper. Green walnuts, bitter lemon and a touch of menthol subside in the medium-length finish. This bottling is exceptional, no wonder people are talking about it. RATING: 3.5/5.0 stars ≙ 84 pts → ABOVE AVERAGE

Initially floral and caramel, leading to notes of oak, honey, cereal, and a milder baking spice that develops into more pronounced spice with an apparent dark fruit note from sherry influence. The peat emerges towards the end and is present but not dominant. It's a very solid choice for the price (27 without tax). Consider this as a substitute for Walker.

Nose: A rich start of toffee and candied apple, brightened by zesty orange and settled by smooth oak. Palate: Lively and briny with a mild smokiness, counterbalanced by warming barrel spice. Finish: Brief, but leaves a faint trace of delicate sweetness and persistent smoke.

A nose of sweetened peat reminiscent of shortbread. The peat is briny and earthy but not overpowering. An easy-drinking spirit with a semi-sweet barley character. Notes of plantains, pine nut oil, butter, and a subtle hint of vanilla oak. It's close, but not quite at the level of Ardnamurchan, as expected. Nonetheless, it's a high-quality blend.

Aroma: lemon, baked goods, slight smoke, warming spices, toffee Taste: sharp at first, turning strong and smoky near the end, briny Aftertaste: sweet and briny, smoky, strong, mineralic