Stalk and Barrel Blue Blend

Nose: quite a lot of alcohol. Then vanilla bean and chocolate liqueur. Light and exceedingly sweet, almost artificially so.

Taste: surprisingly, not super-sweet, actually rather dry. Light-bodied, smooth, little to no oak, with vanilla and creme de cacao notes. Rather strange flavours, but I've tried the single-cask malt and rye whiskies from this distillery and I can say that the grain characteristics are accurately represented here. An interesting flavour which is pleasant and easy to drink.

Finish: echoes of vanilla on the tongue.

Balance: there is a certain rawness, almost an industrial quality, underlying the flavours which takes some getting used to and is a hallmark of the young whiskies in the blend. However, this remains a refreshing and drinkable alternative to the other entry-level blends on the market (albeit at a higher price).