MacDonald's Glencoe 8 Years Review

“The Kind of Junk Food I Like”

Country: Scotland

Region: Western Highlands

Brand: MacDonald's Glencoe (Ben Nevis Distillery)

Type: Blended Malt Whisky

Age: 8 Years

Alcohol: 58%

Colour: Golden Sunlight

Nose: Young, Dry and Nutty with Sherry, light Sulphur, Dried Fruits, Nuts, Malt Straw, Cereals, Orange Marmalade, Honey, Toffee, Green Coffee Beans, Oak, Canned Peaches, Spices and Vinegar. The Alcohol is quite strong so better Nose your way around the edge of the glass. Give it enough time in the glass to open up.

Taste: Strong Delivery with Sherry, light Sulphur, Strong Tea, Oak, Barley, Nuts, Spices, light Menthol, Dried Apricot, Coconut, Toffee and Honey.  

Finish: Middle-Long, Fiery and Strong with Barley, Caramel, Nuts, Coconut, Strong Tea, Licorice, Menthol and Spices. A hint of Dark Chocolate after a few minutes.

Bottles on Display at the Ben Nevis Gift Shop

I added a bit of Water but that did not improve the Aroma and Flavour Profile. Better sip it neat.

Rating: 83.5

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

General Remarks: This Blended Malt Whisky was introduced to the market in the late 1960's by Rory McDonald, a direct descendant of Long John McDonald who founded the Ben Nevis Distillery in 1825. The distillery is located near Fort William (Inverness-shire) at the foot of Britain's highest mountain, Ben Nevis. Since 1989 the distillery is part of the Nikka Group from Japan. The Glencoe Blend is a bit of a mystery to me. It's produced at Ben Nevis but does that mean that there are no other Malts present in the Blend? In any case, it's Naturally Coloured, likely Not Chill-Filtered and apparently bottled at Cask Strength. This means of course that at least various badges are blended to be able to reach the exact ABV of 58%. Judging by the flavours, both Ex-Sherry - and Ex-Bourbon Casks were used. The Blend costs around 65 US Dollars.

Glen Coe

The name of the Blend refers to the massacre at Glen Coe in 1692 of 38 McIans (sept of the clan McDonald) by government troops under Captain Robert Campbell. What made matters even worse was the fact that Campbell and his men had enjoyed the famous Highland hospitality before killing their hosts.

Drinking Experience Neat: Good

Conclusion: It's not an easy one to score. On the one hand it's quite young and not at all complicated and I do get some Sulphur but on the other hand the high ABV and the absence of Chill-Filtration give it quite some punch and character. I would not kill any McIans for a bottle of MacDonald's Glencoe 8 Years but I also wouldn't say no to a dram of this MacDonald's if offered to me in the Highlands. It beats their Hamburger anytime!

Jan van den Ende                                                             October 5, 2014

Ben Nevis Distillery (May 2014)

Chivas Regal The Century of Malts Review

Country: Scotland

Brand: Chivas Regal The Century of Malts

Type: Blended Malt Whisky

Age: NAS

Alcohol: 43%

Colour: Golden Sunlight

Nose: Sweet with Sherry, Dried Fruits, Nuts, Dark Chocolate, slightly Burnt Toast, Honey, Marzipan, Watermelon flavoured Chewing Gum, Toffee, Oak, Baking Spices, Dry Earth, Straw and Orange Peel. The Alcohol is not fully integrated. The Nose is balanced but also rather simple considering that there are a 100 Single Malts reunited in this Blend.

Taste: Acceptable Delivery. Sweet, Fruity and Spicy with Sweet Barley, Toffee, light Sherry, Heather, Honey, light Smoke, Dried Fruit, Nuts, Pepper, Nutmeg and Orange. It's difficult to pinpoint the Fruit but it tastes a bit artificially like Fruit Flavoured Chewing Gum.  

Finish: Middle-Long, Sweet, Fruity and Spicy with Sweet Barley, Dried Fruits, Nuts, Pepper, Nutmeg, Ginger, light Smoke, Oak, Orange, Menthol and a hint of Espresso Coffee.

I added a bit of Water and you get a bit more Smoke, Spices, Orange and a hint of Leather on the Nose. On the Palate and in the Finish you find more Fruit and Toffee and a hint of Licorice. Try it out both ways!

Rating: 83

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

Strathisla, the Home of Chivas might well be the heart for The Century of Malts

General Remarks: This unique Blend was launched in 1995 and contains 100 different Single Malts from the Highlands, Speyside, the Islands and the Lowlands. At the bottom of this post you will find a list with all participating Distilleries. The Century Malt will be difficult to find at the moment and you can expect to pay around 250 US Dollar. 

Drinking Experience Neat: Good

Conclusion: The Century of Malts is a good Blend. If only all Blends were like this! Still I feel a bit disappointed. I somehow imagined that a Blend of a 100 Different Single Malts from all the main Scottish production areas would create sheer magic. Instead I find the Century to be a slightly "common" blend of mainly Speyside- and Highland Malts with an understated Islands component. It's got balance but it misses depth and complexity. The Fruit Aromas and Flavours are a bit artificial. When the Blend was launched in 1995 it was sold at around 60 US Dollars and that was certainly a reasonable price. But I would not advise you to spend 250 US Dollars on the Century. For that kind of money you can find yourself a very nice Singe Malt or two!

Jan van den Ende                                                         September 21, 2014  

Below you will find the 100 Distilleries that contributed to this unique Blend. You will find quite a few that don't exist anymore. As Chivas is one of the most successful Blending companies worldwide, it always possesses large quantities of Malt Whisky from lots of Distilleries to be able to maintain their desired Aroma and Flavour profile. Here we go:  

Aberfeldy, Aberlour, Allt-A-Bhainne, Ardbeg, Auchentoshan, Auchroisk, Aultmore, Balblair, Balmenach, The Balvenie, Banff, Ben Nevis, BenRiach, Benrinnes, Benromach, Blair Athol, Bowmore, Royal Brackla, Braeval, Brechin, Bunnahabhain, Caol Ila, Caperdonich, Clynelish, Convalmore, Cragganmore, Craigduff, Craigellachie, Dailuaine, Dallas Dhu, Dalmore, Dalwhinnie, Deanston, Dufftown, Fettercairn, Glen Albyn, Glenallachie, Glenburgie, Glencadam, Glen Craig, Glen Elgin, Glenesk, Glenfarclas, Glenfiddich, GlenGarioch, Glenglassaugh, Glen Grant, Glengoyne, Glenisla, Glen Keith, Glenkinchie, Glenlivet, Glenlochy, Glenlossie, Glen Mhor, Glen Moray, Glenrothes, Glen Scotia, Glen Spey, Glentauchers, Glenturret, Glenugie, Glenury Royal, Highland Park, Imperial, Inchgower, Inchmurrin, Inverleven, Isle of Jura, Kinclaith, Knockando, Ladyburn, Lagavulin, Laphroaig, Ledaig, Linkwood, Littlemill, Longmorn, the Macallan, Macduff, Mannochmore, Miltonduff, Mortlach, Mosstowie, Ord, Pittyvaich, Pulteney, Rhosdhu, Scapa, Speyburn, Springbank, Strathisla, Strathmill, Tamdhu, Tamnavulin, Teaninich, Tomatin, Tomintoul, Tormore and Tullibardine.

Tullibardine Distillery