Blended Whiskies

Blended whiskies are composed from many carefully selected components from different distilleries. Besides the malt components (made from malted barley) there are some or many grain whiskies used. Grain whiskies are made from unmalted barley, maize or wheat. These continous-still distilled grains are much less aromatic and distinctive than the pot-still-distilled malt whiskies. Because of the many basic whiskies used, a blend can retain its style and quality very constant over long periods of time, at least some decades, and the blenders go into any effort to ensure their special house style.


The following is a list of Blends that we like and tasted (except JW Blue Label, which is mentioned just for curiosity):

Ballantines

It is some twenty years now that I owned and enjoyed this blend on a regular basis.
If I remember right, it is extremely smooth and pleasing, but not really exciting.


Black & White

Even in my childhood I noticed the B&W advertising with the two dogs. As a student I had sometimes a bottle of this blended whisky at home, but it never lasted long...
When I shortly retasted a bottle of Black & White I was a bit disappointed. While it is quite drinkable, it is not interesting enough for my current requirements...


Chivas Imperial

Chivas Imperial 18 years old

The older brother of Chivas Regal. 18 years old. Very round, full, smooth, a perfect blend.


Chivas Regal

Chivas Regal 12 years old

The preferred every-day whisky of my wife. 12 years old. Very round, smooth, a perfect blend.


Dimpel

A good blend. It has everything to be expected from a Scotch blend of the 12 year class. But even more interesting is its bottle...


Jameson

Jameson Irish Blend

This is the most widely known Irish blend.


Johnnie Walker Red Label

Johnnie Walker Red Label

My standard whisky. Its Cardhu and Talisker components (besides many others) let this affordable whisky be a rather rich, interesting blend.


Johnnie Walker Black Label

This is a blend of at least 12 years aged components.

I myself cannot find the difference to the Red Label significant enough to justify the higher cost, but if someone would give it to me as a gift, I would appreciate it...


Johnnie Walker Blue Label

This whisky is unusual expensive but still a blend. It costs about twenty times as much as the Red Label! If I had so much money to spend I would rather invest in some more Single Malts... ;-)


VAT 69

A simple, well made blend.
It also has a story.
Once William Sanderson let his friends taste one hundred different casks of blend. The most appreciation was earned by that vat with number sixty-nine. Such the name for the blend was found: It was simply called "VAT 69".


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Chivas Imperial color impression