Blind Summit x Moonwake Strathclyde 22yo West Coast IPA Finish

Blind Summit x Moonwake Strathclyde 22yo West Coast IPA Finish

Region: Lowlands

ABV: 52.6%

Price: £64.95 (50cl)

Single grain Scotch from Strathclyde, matured for 22 years in bourbon barrels before a finish in a 30 litre “bloodtub” cask that previously held Moonwake’s West Coast IPA. Bottled by Blind Summit with an outturn of 58 bottles.

Nose

The nose opens with a classic grain sweetness, lots of vanilla, sugar cubes, mixed with a little nail varnish remover, and a lemon-scented air freshener top note too. Behind this there are softer fruits, a little peach, faint pineapple and maybe even a little strawberry. Air really starts to open this up, those more industrial varnish notes dissipate and a host of tropical fruits come to the forefront. There's also a little wafer cone/caramelised sugar sweetness giving some depth to the lighter, fruitier profile.The alcohol is also very well integrated, there's a bit of a prickle but it's in no way overpowering. 

Palate

The palate opens with a mixture of vanilla sponge cake, lots of whipped cream and caramelised pineapple chunks in brown sugar. The finish is a little astringent, there's some of that industrial grain-note making our faces contort a little. Saying that, there's more of a chocolate and lightly spiced ginger ale note lingering on for quite a while. The mouthfeel is really nice, it's thick, viscous and syrupy, you can really chew on the whisky itself. Time and air brings a little bit of greenness, something a little herbal, slightly savoury, but more aromatic than anything else. There's also a zesty lemon note that sits on top of the dram, giving it a bit of freshness. 

Nose (with water)

The reduced nose really accentuates the vanilla notes, it's like freshly opening a vanilla pod, and we're also getting a handful of coconut shavings now - very dessert-like. Those tropical fruits are still there, more in a supporting role to the super sweet profile now on display.

Palate (with water)

The reduced palate seems to have slightly more of a grain profile now, and actually less of the topicality we experienced before. It's also lost a bit of that texture we really enjoyed pre-dilution. The finish feels a bit richer now, more caramelisation on the sugars, and a bit more of that herbaceousness lingering on.

Conclusion

We do love a well aged grain - 22 years is usually on the younger side for this designation, however this dram manages to avoid the overly varnish-y profile and instead presents a host of sweet tropical fruits, vanillas and caramelised sugars. It also has a wonderful texture to it, but we're struggling a little with the finish. Still, a very tasty dram. 

Score: 7.5/10

Value

Good price for a decently aged grain whisky.

• 10 - Perfection. One in a million
• 9 - Outstanding. Exceptional whisky.
• 8 - Great. Would seek this out.
• 7 - Good. Quality whisky.
• 6 - Above average. Happy to have a dram.
• 5 - Average. Drinkable whisky.
• 4 - Below average. Passable.
• 3 - Flawed. Noticeable negatives.
• 2 - Defective. Significant faults.
• 1 - Offensive. Pour it out.

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