2016 North Star The Fool 6 Year Old Blended Scotch Whisky (700ml)

North Star's Tarot Blend 'The Fool' has been crafted from single malts and grains matured for six years. The parcel of casks came from Edrington Group (owners of Macallan, Highland Park et al.), the malts reportedly held in refill Macallan/Glenlivet butts, with the majority of the grain component coming from North British (80%). Breaking the trend of mediocre blends at 40% with caramel colouring and filtration, this is not shy on intensity at 57.3%. It's our understanding nothing has been added - which is all the more unusual for the category. Fingal Crayton at Dramface.com commented, "...this blend offers a no-nonsense yet intriguing profile. It's a solid choice for those who appreciate the simple pleasures of a well-crafted whisky. I’m really hopeful that North Star Spirits continue this series with the rest of the tarot deck. Whether the rest are blends like this one or not, this is a fantastic start to this series. The value on offer here is unreal."

Our tasting found a delicious blend leaning more towards malt whisky, despite the mash bill being grain heavy (that's probably due to a preference for maize rather than wheat at North British). A rich, oily cereal character fills the mouth before nuances of dried apple and cinnamon enter at the finish. Dangerously easy to drink uncut, the charming reproduction Tarot card-inspired label features a young man without a care in the world as he sets out on a new adventure. He's gazing upwards toward the sky (and the Universe) and is seemingly unaware that he's about to skip off a precipice into the unknown. Over his shoulder rests a modest knapsack containing everything he needs – which isn’t much (in this case a large Glencairn filled with whisky)! At his feet runs a small dog, representing loyalty and protection while encouraging him to charge forward and learn the lessons he came to learn. In short, the card speaks of new beginnings, opportunity and potential.