To some folks, blended scotches are considered inferior to single malt offerings — especially to those who cite purity as a desirable trait. However, if you take a look into the actual practice of blending, you’ll find that it takes a tremendous amount of skill and knowledge. And that’s just one of the reasons you should be excited about a new Speyside whisky release, The Balvenie Fifty: Marriage 0197
This particular blended scotch whiskey was created at the behest of The Balvenie by Malt Master David Stewart MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) — a feat in and of itself. It’s comprised of a number of ultra-rare scotches aged, at minimum, for 50 years in American Oak casks pulled from the oldest sections of The Balvenie’s stocks. The final result is said to have deep notes of oak tannins, dark fruit, bitter chocolate, and intense spices. And like it’s 2018 predecessor, Marriage 0962, it’s excruciatingly expensive at $38,000 a bottle.
