Buchanan's DeLuxe 12-Year Blended Scotch Whisky Review & Tasting Notes

 

There are a lot of whiskies on the market that are just there. They receive little fanfare, even less advertising, yet, for whatever reason, you know the name. You just never grab a bottle.

 

Buchanan’s DeLuxe 12-year is a blended Scotch whisky. That in and upon itself puts a bad taste in the mouth of some. Like anything else, there are good and bad blends, and, unfortunately, sometimes you have to kiss a lot of toads to find the prince.

 

In the case of Buchanan’s, it came about in 1884 when James Buchanan (not the US president), a London merchant and entrepreneur, created his blend for the British whisky drinker. Today, 40 different whiskies are used, of which most are single malts, and of those single malts, the most significant portion comes from the Highland distillery Dalwhinnie.  Diageo owns the brand itself, and it has plenty of distilleries from which to source.  Both column and pot stills were used, as were former Bourbon and sherry casks in the aging process. It is bottled at 40% ABV (80°).

"Buchanan’s is named after the late James Buchanan, a driven whisky entrepreneur who crafted a Scotch that redefined greatness. Instead of creating a Scotch to be revered, he created a uniquely smooth blend that could be shared and enjoyed by all. In fact, the original Buchanan’s bottle design was inspired by the selfless act of sharing water canteens between British soldiers during times of conflict." – Buchanan’s

 

I picked up a 200ml bottle at a random liquor store for $9.99. You can also procure a 375 for $21.99 or a 750ml for $29.99. The price is certainly attractive, but how’s the whisky? You know how this goes; we have to #DrinkCurious to find out!

 

Appearance: Poured neat into my Glencairn glass, this Scotch whisky presented as dull gold. A medium-weighted rim formed, which released quick legs.

 

Nose: I was shocked at how complicated the aroma was. It started with fruity pear, apricot, and citrus notes, then vanilla, and ended with oak and marine peat. When I inhaled the vapor through my lips, vanilla traipsed across my tongue.

 

Palate:  The texture was a tad airy, and subsequent sips provided a medium body. Peat was the first thing I tasted, with vanilla and nutmeg on the front. The middle featured orange peel, toffee, and cocoa powder, while cinnamon, ginger root, and oak sewed things up on the back.

 

Finish:  Short-to-medium in duration, the finish consisted of peat, pear, apple, ginger, clove, and vanilla cream.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust:  Buchanan’s DeLuxe 12-Year surprised the heck out of me. I have nothing against blends and love the challenge of finding a hidden gem, and I’d throw this Scotch into that category. It may have been the peated notes that pushed me over the fence, but regardless, it takes a Bottle rating. Cheers!

 

My Simple, Easy to Understand Rating System

• Bottle = Buy It
• Bar = Try It
• Bust = Leave It

 

Whiskeyfellow encourages you to enjoy your whiskey as you see fit but begs you do so responsibly.