SIA Scotch

A delicate, blended Scotch Whisky created by Carin Luna-Ostaseski in partnership with Hunter Laing and Co. Ltd.; a mix of Speyside & Highland Single Malts with a hint of Islay added for extra depth & character. It begins delicately with notes of lemon zest; mandarin orange & hints of clove; while the mid-palate offers a slight bite with notes of caramelized Crème Brûlée, vanilla, toasted walnut bread, a touch of cardamom & smoke; leading to a smooth & almost sweet finish with notes of hazelnut. December 2018 / January / April 2019 / February 2020 / October 2021 / August 2022

NOSE Sweet honey, preserved orchard fruit, rich toffee, vanilla cake, banana candy, graham crackers, and a faint, farm-like earthiness. It's not incredibly complex, but it's certainly enjoyable. PALATE Rich toffee, orchard fruit, exotic fruit, honey graham crackers and more of that hay-like earthiness. Again, not incredibly complex, but this blended Scotch is outperforming many others in its class. FINISH Medium-short -> Dried banana and buttery toffee give way to earthy malt and a subtle metallic hint.

The initial aroma is full of vanilla and caramel, with a very faint hint of smoke. Adding a touch of water opens this up, but ice diminishes it. When tasted neat, it is very well-balanced. It has a light body and a very smooth, creamy finish. Adding water doesn't alter it much, but one ice cube brought out the smoke and brine. The smoke increases as I approach the end of the glass, but it never becomes intense. A nice, easy-drinking whisky.

A straightforward whisky experience. The aroma is quite singular, presenting notes of creamy grain and a subtle sherry. On the palate, it's creamy barley and a singular Speyside sherry that builds and recedes rapidly, leaving a delicate Highland honeysuckle and a touch of saltiness. It's a mix of Speyside, Highland, and Islay. Suitable for newcomers to whisky.

Initial hints of apple. A sweet and lively blend. Very little burn. Adding a drop of water made the texture buttery, almost oily. It became less sweet. Adding one ice cube to chill it improved it over just water, but my preferred taste was neat, without any additions.

Toffee and toasted wood on the nose. A strong wood flavor immediately, transitioning to a little caramel or sweetness, but a very oaky wood flavor persists through the finish. It's smooth, but I'm still unsure about the taste.