Usquaebach Highland Whiskies 15 Years Old Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
The Data
Category Whisky
Sub-Category Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
Origin Glasgow
Retail Price $80
ABV 43%
Score 4.5 Stars/Exceptional! +
In the Glass
Appearance
Brilliant, crystal clear.
Aromatics
The nose is wonderfully complex offering scents of stewed fruits along with fresh pear, pineapple, and red apple supported by waves of brown baking spices (allspice and nutmeg are prominent), caramel, black pepper, wood, and toffee.
Flavor
The palate confirms the nose delivering a lush and silky fruit driven core with accents of baking spice, toasted grains, wood, Sherry, and dry black pepper notes on the finish.
Intensity & Texture
This is an intense and multilayered blended malt that changes constantly in the glass as it aerates, revealing new layers of flavors.
Cool Factor
The blended malt category (aka vetted malt - I still prefer that moniker) is a category in desperate need of more players. The Usquaebach 15 is a great blended malt delivering a tasty and complex spirit that dedicated Whisky lovers demand.
Value Grade
15 year old Scotch Whisky isn't cheap nor even a value in the conventional sense but in the grand scheme of things the $80 asking price delivers bang for the buck.
Analysis
Usquaebach is a great "old-school" brand that has been around long enough to have immortalized by Robert Burns in his poem Tom O'Shanter in 1791. Usquaebach has been blended by the Laing family for three generations. The name is derived from the Gaelic term for Whisky "usage beatha" or literally "water of life." This is one of the longest standing brands in the Whisky world and luckily, it's making a comeback in export markets including the USA.
How to Enjoy
This is a rich and complex blended malt that deserves to be enjoyed with minimal interference. A splash of water brings it alive and if ice is a requirement for your Whisky drinking please go easy.