While doing this blog, two repeat offenders have arisen from amongst the ranks. Both Elijah Craig 12yo and Clynelish 14yo have proven themselves excellent blend-participants, but for very different reasons. Elijah Craig, being a bourbon, has a very powerful taste and (like peated whiskies) is best used in moderation. What it does best is add orange (peel) and vanilla notes. I like to think of it as a finisher (you add just a splash to complete a blend). Clynelish on the other hand is quite the opposite: it works best in larger amounts, imparting a mellow quality and waxy mouthfeel and finish to whatever blend it finds itself in.

As you probably know by now, I like to go against the grain (heh, grain! it’s funny because it’s a raw material for whisky! heh! … eh.), so for this blend I decided to use the ‘finisher’ Elijah Craig as a base and top it off with Clynelish. Now, in order to not get bourbon with a fleeting thought of scotch single malt I had to fiddle with the percentages a bit, but this is what I ended up with:

I’m tasting it side by side with the Elijah Craig, since that is what it most resembles. The nose is significantly different: while the Elijah Craig is vanilla, oranges and a touch of acetone, the blend has oranges, grapes, lemons, floral honey and beeswax. A good start in my book, though I like the more ‘in-yo-face’-nose of the straight up bourbon as well.

The very first thing you taste is beeswax and honey, but then the Elijah Craig comes barging in: oranges, oak and vanilla (though all slightly toned down). The finish starts as a weaker version of the taste, but morphs into a medium-long flavour-packed affair which ends in burnt sugar and beeswax (unsurprisingly since Clynelish always adds this note to the finish of a blend).

Overall, this is a more accessible version of the bourbon. While the nose is a toss-up, the taste and finish are definitely dominated by the Elijah Craig, just sweeter and less ferocious. One very welcome effect of the Clynelish is that the blend has a much more coating mouth-feel than the bourbon on its own, which, though powerful in taste, feels a bit watery in the mouth. A true bridge between American and Scottish whisk(e)y, this gets my seal of approval: 4 drams!

Later this week a blend that will make your fillings pop out, teeth shatter, and brain explode. Stay Tuned!

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