The Antiquary 12 Year Old Blended Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Produced by the Tomatin distillery, The Antiquary 12 year old, in its distinctive diamond shaped bottle, is a smooth, well-balanced deluxe blend. Each component whisky has a minimum age of 12 years, selected to combine all the strengths and subtleness of Scottish whisky at its best. Says Alex Carnie, Managing Director of J & W Hardie, “In deluxe blends, the malts and grains are 12 years or older, achieving a high degree of mellowness. The Antiquary 12 year old is a fine example; the connection with Sir Walter Scott – both The Antiquary and The Talisman are named after his novels – is a fitting one. It is a Scottish classic through and through”. At the heart of The Antiquary is a very high malt to grain ratio of the finest malts from Speyside and Highland distilleries. Their complex, classical and fruity flavours are balanced by Lowland malt, which adds gentleness to the profile. Thus is the geographical spectrum of Scotland’s whisky industry captured in a single bottle! The balance of fruity and malty aromas reflects the significant use of fine Speyside malts in this blend. The palate has a subtle fruitiness contains a hint of apples. The smoothness, depth of flavour and long aftertaste is the result of exceptionally high malt content.

Tasting Notes: Nose: Faintly peaty, herbal. Chinese tea. Jasmine. Palate:Smooth, dry maltiness. Perhaps that tea was Lapsang Souchong. Then sweeter flavours develop. Darjeeling? Eventually, a honeyish sweetness. Finish: Flowery. Crisp, clean. Comment: Feminine. Elegant. Having talked myself into an oriental mind-set, I begin to wonder whether this whisky would accompany some Asian dishes. 40%Alc./Vol.
RATING: 7.75/10
- tasting note sourced from Michael Jackson, www.whiskymag.comsize>