Banner image

In Praise of Blended Whisky

Blended Scotch Whisky is the solid foundation on which all whisky, not just Scotch, stands. If it was not for the incredible success of the major blended whisky brands have had over the past 50 years, today’s Scotch malt whiskies may never have reached the prominence they now have.

Blended Scotch Whiskies have a different flavour profile to single malts, but the range of flavours and ages is still wide. Blended whisky offers no less a drinking experience just a different experience. Blended whisky is a mixture of grain whisky and malt whisky, usually the grain whisky is the largest proportion of the blend, between 60% and 80%. The grain whisky will be made from a mixture of non-malted cereal and malted barley. It will be distilled using the continuous column distillation method. The grain whisky, which will have a lighter flavour, will have been matured for the same length of time as the malt whisky in the blend. Scotch Grain Whisky must comply in all respects with the definition of Scotch Whisky. A 12-year blend will contain both grain and malt whisky that has been matured for no less than 12 years.

The vast majority of malt whisky distilleries in Scotland rely heavily on blended whisky sales to keep them operating. The use of their malt whisky in blended whisky allows the distillery to lay down some malt for sale as the single malt. This is true of InchDairnie Distillery also but at InchDairnie our approach is different. At most distilleries, the malt whisky they produce for the blends and for the single malt is the same whisky. Some distilleries will exchange their malt whiskies for others but call it a different name to protect the single malt brand.

At InchDairnie we produce a different style of malt whisky specifically for blending, the Strathenry. The Strathenry is not made from Fife Barley but British barley, it is fermented using cream distillers yeast only, the still cut points are different and it is produced throughout the year. The Strathenry is produced with the same care and attention to detail as all our other whiskies. Here, consistency of style is extremely important.

At InchDairnie we produce for our partner company MacDuff International all of their blended whiskies. To do this we exchange with other distillers our Strathenry single malt for some of their makes of single malts and for some of their grain whiskies. We do these exchanges when the spirit is new. We send out the Strathenry in tankers and take tankers into our warehouses here at InchDairnie, with other new makes of whiskies. Just like all of our InchDairnie Single Malt, all these whiskies are matured here at InchDairnie until we make up the blends ready for bottling.

Once the Strathenry is exchanged, the whisky is no longer ours and we have no control over the wood policy used for the maturation or how long it is matured. The Strathenry is a blending malt so the wood it is matured in will have an impact on the final quality.

This way of trading whiskies is as old as blended whiskies, and it is very much part of the traditional business undertaken between distillers.

InchDairnie Distillery Commences ‘Pot Still’ Whisky Production and Breaks New Ground for Scotch Whisky Industry
29.08.23 All

InchDairnie Distillery Commences ‘Pot Still’ Whisky Production and Breaks New Ground for Scotch Whisky Industry

RyeLaw is Officially Launched in Germany
28.07.23 RyeLaw

RyeLaw is Officially Launched in Germany

“A very special, extremely successful, innovative whiskey.” Joachim Teschke

The month of July saw our Managing Director, Ian Palmer, spend two fantastic days in Hamburg and Berlin, officially launching RyeLaw in Germany.

InchDairnie attends Le Blanq’s Loch Lomond Preview at Fortnum and Mason
20.06.23 All

InchDairnie attends Le Blanq’s Loch Lomond Preview at Fortnum and Mason

As part of our collaboration with LeBlanq – creators of the ultimate joyriding experience in some of the world’s most beautiful cycling and culinary destinations – RyeLaw from InchDairnie Distillery will be spotlighted at their Loch Lomond event.

RyeLaw rides along to Rioja with LeBlanq
02.06.23 RyeLaw

RyeLaw rides along to Rioja with LeBlanq

Earlier this year, we announced our partnership with luxury cycling tour specialist, LeBlanq as their official Global Whisky Partner for 2023/24.

Fife Distillery has gone to the dark side
21.04.23 Whisky Production

Fife Distillery has gone to the dark side

InchDairnie Distillery has gone to the dark side. Just for a short period.

Something’s Brewing in Distilling
15.11.22 Distillery

Something’s Brewing in Distilling

Every year InchDairnie Distillery clears the calendar for up to two weeks to distil something out of the ordinary.

All Fired Up On Cask Research For RyeLaw
18.05.22 Whisky Production

All Fired Up On Cask Research For RyeLaw

When we began to look at producing RyeLaw in 2016 we studied the definition of Rye Whiskey in America.

Using Heat Pumps at InchDairnie
19.04.22 Distillery

Using Heat Pumps at InchDairnie

Here at InchDairnie we are always looking for different ways to reduce our carbon footprint.

Sweden’s Whisky & Bourbon Magazine No.53
04.01.22 Events

Sweden’s Whisky & Bourbon Magazine No.53

Writer and journalist Daniel Bruce paid a visit to InchDairnie, as part of his visit to distilleries across Fife.

Brewer and Distiller International: Sustainable Distilling
21.12.21 Events

Brewer and Distiller International: Sustainable Distilling

In the December issue of Brewer and Distiller International, published by the Institute of Brewing and Distilling.

Age Check

Are you of legal drinking age?

Sorry, you have to be of legal drinking age to visit this site