Black Bottle whiskies

History

The Graham brothers, who traded in tea, created the blend at the end of the 19th century, applying to whisky their experience in combining different origins. The brand remained a regional blend from the north-east of Scotland for decades. At the end of the 20th century, under a new owner, it was reformulated with malts from all the Islay distilleries, which made it famous among those looking for smoke at a good price. In the 2010s the recipe changed again to widen the range of malts, bring back the dark bottle and soften the smoke, and since then it has remained in the hands of various groups.

House style

Today’s Black Bottle combines honeyed sweetness and fruit with moderate smoke and some spice. The Islay malts still bring a smoky, briny note, but they no longer dominate, and the whole is rounded and easy. It is a good example of a blend with character: tastier than the average in its range, without reaching the intensity of a peated malt.

Where to start

There is only one Black Bottle in the catalogue, the standard blend. It is an interesting option if you like smoky whiskies but want something gentler and more versatile, both neat and in a highball. If you like the smoke, the logical next step is a lighter Islay malt, such as Caol Ila or Bunnahabhain.

• Black BottleBlend · 40% ABV