Symington’s 10 Year Old
Blended Scotch Whisky | 46% ABV
Score: 7/10
Very Good Indeed.
TL;DR
A great new example of scotch whisky’s golden era
It’s Coming Home
In England, there’s a famous football chant which we’ve heard throughout our lives, but so far it’s yet to come to fruition.
Harking back to the heady International glory of 1966, with Baddiel and Skinner popping up many times over the years, it’s an optimistic sports anthem cheering on our country’s goal of reliving the glory days.
But what has a comedian-led song about the English national football team got to do with Scotch Whisky? Well, I can’t help feeling that Scotch Whisky is also coming home. Hear me out.
I may just be a daft optimist these days, but it feels like there’s something in the air. A clear buzz of hope and joy that whisky is turning the gluttony of pandemic purchases back to sensibly priced, good quality, enthusiast-focused bottles.
The once skyrocketing values on the secondary market have slumped into the past as drinker’s bargains are once again being bagged. Hugely overpriced limited editions on the primary market are being slashed in price to be snapped up, finally, by those of a more sensible disposition. We can even consider returning to enjoyment of some of the best releases from the big brands who are currently on the naughty step. Also interestingly, the once bastardised B-word has been brought back with modern blends bringing an A game. As you may be able to tell, as someone who just buys and drinks the stuff, I'm excited.
Ardnahoe are fresh on the scene, dipping their toes into the past while bringing authentic new age bottles with plenty of bang for your buck. Glasgow Distillery plumped up their bottle sizes from 50cl to 70cl without inflating the price, in fact, they reduced it. Thompson Bros are turning the tide on accessible and affordable age statements that can put others to shame.
Outside of Scotch, Irish Whisky seems to, finally, be leaping from their sourced-whisky lull-of-opacity to a new wave of excitement. While English Whisky is having a bit of an enthusiast exploration with new distilleries such as Retribution and Wylye producing high-quality, hand-crafted liquid made to be enjoyed by us nerds.
Yes, there have been many negatives over recent years which shouldn’t be ignored: job losses, bottling supply issues, cask investment scams and more, and these will continue to challenge, but today let’s keep this story positive.
As the brilliant ‘childrens’ Bluey says:
“Why do stories always have happy endings? …'cause life will give us enough sad ones”
Hold back the tears.
Now this bright future thinking has already been touched on with the Edradour 10 200th Anniversary edition fighting back against the injustices, as well as countless 100º Proof releases; but we also find Andrew Symington once more in today’s bottle, paving the way for us again. This modern whisky drinker’s saint is not a fisherman, but he’s certainly luring us in with great value, great quality and accessible whiskies.
The little gem of Edradour 10yo is now a shelf staple for me, the Signatory Vintage Independent releases continue to smash it and they’re now joined by a beautiful blend to round out a trifecta of Signatory Vintage treats.
Review
Symington’s Blended Scotch Whisky 10yo, 50% malt blend, ex-bourbon and ex-PX casks, 46% ABV
£30 & wide availability
The Symington’s Blended Scotch Whisky is a fully natural, no added colour, unchillfiltered, a mix of malt and grain with a pretty giant decade age statement.
So many budget blends are described as being “malt forward” while the grain is still the dominant slice of the pie. This, however, has been confirmed as 50% malt.
It’s a blend of sherry and bourbon matured whiskies and is stated by Andrew himself that it contains Edradour as well as Ben Nevis from PX casks, and it is also highly likely that it’s North British that’s bringing the grain into the fold.
Now, most wildly of all is the price of this bottle. The RRP in the UK is around £30. Let that sink in. A ten year age statement, beautifully presented at 46% and £30. To provide some extra context, the price peers of this are: Johnnie Walker Black Ruby - NAS 40%, The Woodsman Blended - NAS 40%, Wolfie’s Blended Scotch - NAS 40% and many more.
But of course, the label specs and price only matter if the whisky is good right?
Score: 7/10
Very Good Indeed.
TL;DR
A great new example of scotch whisky’s golden era
Nose
Wonderfully sherried with warm blackcurrant tarts, banana bread and thankfully no spent firework whiffs. Pepsi Max Cherry poured over vanilla soft-served ice cream: it is a sweet and inviting, fruit-forward, almost traditionally sherried nose. Certainly a retro sweetshop treat which switches between white chocolate mice and those fizzy sherbet U.F.O.s.
Palate
There’s that Edradour tang! The first sip has a softly sherried oily texture, with this neon green zest highlighting a funkier side. Very rounded, balanced and welcoming with each sip and ending with a gentle oaky spice.
Not as much a sherry bomb as the Edradour 10, this has a more malty, Shreddies cereal lean to it with some extra summer berries in there. Think Special K cereal with strawberry bits.
It really reminds me of a denser Green Spot Chateau Leoville Barton. In truth I am not sure why that connection is there, but it is to where my brain instantly sprang.
Such a harmonious sherry-forward blend, with finishing notes spanning between mulled wine and spearmint.
Like leaving the dentist into a Christmas market, it leaves a fantastically fresh feeling on the palate, without the dent in the wallet. Okay, maybe that simile feels a little lost, but me trying to find the appropriate words to summarise this great dram is a little like pulling teeth. Sorry.
The Dregs
I am beyond impressed by this release and truly hope there is more to come. While I will happily take this batch again, I can see this being a revolving door of flavours as the year goes on, enabled by the mighty stocks at Signatory.
Bring on batch variation! Good whisky at a great price is never wrong.
Maybe the value could subconsciously have me softening the score slightly, but for me, this is very good indeed.
The greatest compliment I can pay is this: I have really enjoyed my 46% Edradour 10yo, but I am enjoying this slightly more.
Score: 7/10
Tried this? Share your thoughts in the comments below. GG
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