Independent bottler Ian MacLeod has a wide range of brands under its roof, including their The Six Isles brand. There are two different expressions available, a classic one and a finished one, which I will review both today.

As the name suggests, The Six Isles contains six different single malts, each one from one of the whisky producing Scottish islands, but no grain whisky, thus making it a Blended Malt (or a Vatted Malt in the good old days).

Facts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name:	The Six Isles
Bottler:	Ian MacLeod
Age:	NAS
Category:	Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
Strength:	43.0% Vol.
Colored:	No
Chill Filtered:	No

Nose

Lots of iodine, but well integrated. Accompanied by apples, pears and touches of heather and floral honey. Now some sea salt comes through. Altogether surprisingly varied and entertaining.

Taste

Creamy, soft and sweet. Cold ash settles down in the mouth. Hints of caramel and vanilla, followed by a slight pepperness and very little oak.

Finish

Medium with a bit of cold smoke.

Overall

While this Blended Malt might be neither a smoke bomb nor a taste grande, it is well balanced and clean without a lot of oak influence. A felicitous composition of the different single malts involved.

Score: 86/ 100