Suttcliffe & Son The Exceptional Malt

This is the second bottling. From the producers: "An extraordinary range of mature casks, including Glenfarclas, Ben Nevis, Balvenie, Kininvie, Glenfiddich, Alt-a’Bhainne, Auchroisk, Glenallachie, Westport, Speyside and (of course) Macallan distilleries, were blended and married in first-fill Oloroso sherry butts..." Smells like berry crumble, honey, a touch of orange liqueur, amaretto, and peat smoke. Taste is a little thick and oily, with hazel nuts, sherry notes, and vanilla. Lingers medium to long and feels warm with a really nice sherry/amaretto flavor. Each time I try this, it improves for me. Likely would not have purchased at full price, but a specific online seller in Orange County offered it at a steep discount, making it a great value, particularly for a blend that includes even a small amount of 30-year-old Macallan.

A well-rounded blended malt Scotch whisky from Don Sutcliffe & Willie Phillips. It contains whiskies from Glefarclas, Ben Nevis, Alt-á-Bhainne, Auchroisk, Clenallachie, Westport, Speyside, and a 30-year-old Macallan. All eight have been blended and finished in first-fill Oloroso Sherry casks. 1000 bottles were released. The aroma starts with brown butter, rancio, and orange marmalade; the middle develops nut, red berries, gingersnaps, and molasses; the end is long with Almond butter, oak, and dry grain. January / June 2018 / August 2022

I don't think it's a good value, it just comes across as intensely oaked. Smell: An overwhelming oak presence, with a hint of malted grain. Sip: Intense wood spice upfront, with subtle sweetness further back. End: Decent spice lingers briefly, followed by more bitterness.

Review of bottle number 350. Finished the bottle. This improved continuously over time. It was rich, thick, malty, fruity, and nutty with a faint hint of peat smoke. Truly delicious.

An intense sherry profile. Thick and smooth. No peat or smoke detected. I'm uncertain if others sampled a different version; this one is genuine.

My partner finished this sample. I would use it for mixing if I didn't have to pay for it.