Wemyss The Hive 12 Years Review

“Waxy Grapefruit”

Country: Scotland 

Brand: Wemyss The Hive

Bottler: Wemyss Malts, Edinburgh

Type: Blended Malt Whisky

Age:  12 Years

ABV:  40 %

Date: 24/04/2014

Colour: Golden Amber

Nose: Not extremely complicated. Please give it some time to open up. It's quite Sweet and Floral with Barley, Toast, Heather, Grass, Honey, Fruit Cake or perhaps Apple Pie with lots of Raisins. Finally I get Orange or Mandarin, Oak, light Custard, Toffee, Sherry and hints of Leather and Smoke. The Alcohol is not completely integrated.

Palate: Light and Slightly Watery Delivery. Bitter Sweet with Honey, Mandarin, Malt, Toast and Apricot Marmalade, Toffee, slightly Bitter Grapefruit Juice, Oak, Pepper and Licorice.

Finish: On the Short Side with Bitter Toasted Oak, light Honey, Wax, light Vanilla, Pepper, Nutmeg, Licorice and hints of Espresso and Aniseed.

Added Water does not improve the Hive.

Rating: 81.5

Nose: 21 - Taste: 20 - Finish: 20 - Overall: 20.5

General Remarks: The Hive is part of a new range by Wemyss of Edinburgh, next to Spice King and Peat Chimney. Each represents one of the three main Scottish production areas, respectively Speyside, Highlands and Islay. The Hive is a Blend of 16 Single Malts. The heart is formed by a Speyside distillery that represents around 1/3 of the Blend. Said distillery uses a mix of Fresh and Re-Fill Ex-Sherry Casks to mature its Whisky. By the way, Wemyss is the old Gaelic word for Caves. The Whiskies for the Wemyss Blends are chosen by a Panel, chaired by the well-known whisky writer Charles MacLean. The Hive is usually sold at around 55 US Dollars. A cheaper 8 year version is also available. Wemyss did a very nice job on Packaging and Presentation!

Drinking Experience Neat: Okay/Good

Conclusion: I bought a miniature bottle of the Hive in the Dallas Dhu shop, just outside Forres in Morayshire. I mention this because sometimes I wonder if "special" casks are reserved for miniatures. Because I've heard some positive stories about the Hive. Which, unfortunately, I can't quite confirm. The Nose is okay although it gives away its Aromas quite reluctantly. Please give it some time in the glass. But on the Palate and in the Finish I can't find a whole lot of interesting flavours. Too much Wax and Bitter Grapefruit for my taste. If you like that, give it a try! In the meantime I look forward to try the Spice King and the Peat Chimney later this year.

Jan van den Ende                                                                 June, 2014