Royal Salute 21 Year The Lost Blend

A new Royal Salute, the "Lost Blend," comes in a black bottle and features whiskies from defunct distilleries. It's a 21yo Blend like the standard offering, but this one is marketed as a peaty expression. Let's see if it lives up to the esteemed Royal Salute name. Bottled at 40% ABV, it presents a lovely tawny color. The nose begins very herbal, with coffee with milk, toffee, and floral notes. A rich vanilla is present. After an initial taste, sophisticated spices emerge, along with marshmallows. Dim cherry syrup and red fruits appear. A very pleasant aroma. On the palate, it's one of the smoothest whiskies ever. Sophisticated vanilla, with some mineral notes rising after a few seconds. Red fruits and burnt sawdust. A second sip was all about oranges, specifically orange peel. The aftertaste was satisfying, though a bit straightforward. Again, that burnt, aromatic sawdust; almonds and a mix of salt and pepper. Overall, this was an extremely enjoyable whisky. The wonderful (classic) decanter enhances the experience. It didn't strike me as peaty, but I acknowledge some salt and burnt sawdust as significant characteristics here. My rating for this whisky is 87 out of 100.

Smooth, with a subtle smoky character,