Review of Maclean's Nose Blended Scotch Whisky

 

The Ardnamurchan Distillery is a newcomer to distilling. The mainland’s westernmost distillery was founded in 2014 by the independent bottler Adelphi. However, its story is far older.

 

Founded as the Adelphi Distillery in Glasgow and renamed Loch Katrine Adelphi Distillery, Charles and David Gray began construction in 1825, and distilling commenced a year later. The name change occurred because a massive pipeline was built from Loch Katrine to Glasgow, and the Grays sourced water from this pipeline in the 1860s.

 

In 1880, the distillery was sold to A. Walker & Co., which owned distilleries in Liverpool and Limerick, Ireland. The distillery was expanded, and by 1886, Loch Katrine Adelphi was one of the largest in Scotland.

 

The distillery was sold again in 1903 to Distillers Company, Ltd. Three years later, one of its washbacks collapsed, flooding the neighborhood with alcohol, which, unfortunately, resulted in the loss of lives. The distillery shut down its malt whisky production but continued with grain whiskies until 1932. In 1968, the last of the barrels left the warehouses, and the entire operation was mothballed. The distillery was leveled in 1971, and the Glasgow Central Mosque was erected.

 

Then, in 1993, Jamie Walker, the great-grandson of Archibald Walker (of A. Walker & Co.), started Adelphi Distillery, Ltd. as an independent bottling operation, and, in 2004, he sold Adelphi to Keith Falconer and David Houston. 

 

Keith and David started planning a distillery, and in 2013, they began construction in Glenbeg, Argyll. Its first distillate was ready in 2016, and in a few short hours, all 2500 bottles were sold!

 

Today, we explore Maclean’s Nose Blended Scotch Whisky. That’s an unusual name; it refers to the rocky outcrop near the distillery. A volcanic eruption formed Maclean’s Nose, a landmark used by sailors for centuries.

 

“I remember at the opening of our new distillery in Ardnamurchan in July 2014, our longstanding sensory mentor, Charlie MacLean, telling me that we were now officially the closest distillery to his nose. It didn’t sink in until sometime later that he was actually referring to the famous promontory off Ben Hiant just a few miles down the coast.” – Alex Bruce, Managing Director of Adelphi Distillery, Ltd.

 

Maclean’s Nose is a blend of malt and grain whiskies with a nearly 70% malt component. That’s considered high. It also utilized former Bourbon and Sherry casks, with a more significant concentration of the Sherry. The malt whiskies come from the Highland and Campbeltown regions, and the grain is from a Lowland distillery. It is non-chill filtered, naturally colored, and packaged in 700ml bottles at 46% ABV (92°). The suggested retail price is $37.00, making it an affordable choice.

 

But is Maclean’s Nose any good? To answer that, we #DrinkCurious. That will happen after I thank ImpEx Beverages, the exclusive US distributor for Maclean’s Nose, for providing me with a sample in exchange for my no-strings-attached, honest review.  

 

Appearance: I poured this Scotch into my Glencairn glass to sip neat. The bright, yellow-gold liquid created a thick rim and even thicker, widely-spaced, slow tears.

 

Nose: I smelled salted caramel, lemon peel, plums, raisins, pineapples, and honey. When I inhaled the vapor into my mouth, I discovered grilled pineapples.  

 

Palate: There was a thin, silky texture as it rolled across my tongue. The front of my palate experienced vanilla, pineapples, and raisins. Tastes of salted honey, lemon zest, and chocolate were on my mid-palate. The back consisted of black pepper, oak spice, and a whisp of smoky peat.

 

Finish: The spice notes – oak, black pepper, and peat, carried into the finish, shifting from a gentle roll to a quick spike, but it didn’t just fall off. What remained was salty, along with lemon zest, pineapples, and chocolate. The duration ran 2:06, placing it into the medium-long venue. Strangely, it numbed the roof of my mouth despite being only 92°.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: Maclean’s Nose may not change your life, but if you think you don’t like blends, it will change your mind. It is very well-balanced and multi-layered. The Lowland's fruitiness, Campbeltown's saltiness, and Highland's spiciness will impress, as will the proof. Tack on the low admission price, and this is a slam-dunk 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 to do so responsibly.