Brave New Spirits - WhiskyHeroes - Blazing Mystery - 58.6%
From the bottlers
In a secret lair, hidden amidst the rolling hills of Scotland, a league of whisky artisans dons their capes (and aprons) to craft something truly extraordinary.
The WhiskyHeroes is a range of spectacular single-cask whiskies and exclusive small batches, matured only in classic bourbon and sherry casks. Each bottle is infused with a dash of mischief and a pinch of heroism.
These casks are the heroes of the whisky world, so the whiskies and the presentation of the range reflect this. Each bottle is designed to be bold. Each whisky is full of character and adventure, every release chosen for its ability to take the whisky fan on an adventure of flavors and history.
"Blazing Mystery”, a 13 Year Old Single Grain Whisky from Edinburgh's North British Distillery. Finished in an Islay Hogshead, this unique expression offers a bold and smoky character with a robust 58.6% abv. Limited to just 236 bottles, "Blazing Mystery" captures the spirit of both Islay’s rugged power and Edinburgh’s mysterious charm.
Lowlands Single Grain Scotch Whisky
Distilled at North British Distillery
Matured in 2nd fill Islay Hogshead
Age: 13 year old
Comment: Peated
Bottles: 236
Strength: 58.6% ABV
Tasting Notes
Appearance: Burnished gold, forms a thick line before falling as an oily inverted crown
Nose: Buttered popcorn, vanilla, a hint of soft smoke, lemongrass and a touch of cool mint.
Palate: Butterscotch sauce drizzled over vanilla ice cream, baked orchard fruit, gentle herbaceous ash, lemon citrus and a touch of brine
Finish: Slightly astringent, soft ash, stewed apple, a tingle of Szechuan peppercorns, black pepper heat and cooling menthol.
Overall: Regular readers would know I tend to struggle with grain whiskies. However, it seems that recent Brave New Spirits bottlings have started to make me appreciate them more. This one is definitely helped by the influence of the 2nd fill Islay hogshead, bringing with it a delightful ashy note. Priced a little over £60, decent value and well worth having a look at if you like your grain whiskies or just curious about the effect an Islay cask can bring.
Transparency: Received free of charge for independent review, all opinions are my own and remain completely impartial.
