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Information from Adelphi: This is a blended Scotch Whisky with a strong West Coast character. Made up from the following Malt and Grain Whisky: 40 x ex Bourbon ASB of Malt Whisky distilled in the West Highlands (2018) 5 x ex Bourbon ASB of Malt Whisky distilled in Campbeltown (2016) 16 x ex Sherry hogsheads of Malt Whisky distilled in the West Highlands (2018) 21 x ex Bourbon hogsheads of Grain whisky distilled in the Lowlands. (2017) Maclean's nose has a very high malt content of 70% and a high proportion of ex-sherry casks.

Good price medium long finish. Nose: sour, green apple. Mouth pepper

https://whiskylovingpianist.wordpress.com/2023/10/22/whisky-show-2023-a-bunch-of-blends/ Consisting of Ardnamurchan, Glen Scotia, and North British [?], I believe, Maclean’s Nose is a malt-forward blend that many [primarily] single malt whisky enthusiasts have been raving about this year. C: Here’s an occasion where the hyperbole of a [typically new] product is fully justified, especially when you consider you’ll receive change from £30. Instantly satisfying first contact and form thereafter, as much as every other part of the process, Adelphi’s maturation policy shines through. Then there’s the ever-skillful blending from Master Blender Alex Bruce [SW]. Bravo.

slightly smoky, wet stone, light but still oily and mouth filling, fizzy but well aged grain with lots of caramel and coffee. Prominent milk chocolate lingers on the palate an changes with wet rocks and a raisin sea breeze. Very old school benromachy blend with a coastal whiff. Ticks all my boxes. Bang for my buck

S 8.5 Balanced mouthfeel with sufficient texture going on. Vibrant and flavourful. Not very complex and not much depth but the malt influence is apparent. GTrain is only there to add a bit of an alcohol punch occasionally. Most importantly, this dram evolves on the palate. Definitely not a festival dram, need time to enjoy and be impressed. Also, the transparency of the vat is applaudable, excellent price-to-quality ratio. 81-85 - Another dram welcomed

Very balanced, a nice sweet peat blend with no rough edges or peaks.

Tasted from a sample. Perfectly competent whisky albeit a blend. Well presented, weighty and characterful. Fairly compact profile, driven by peat smoke and savory maritime notes. Still I'm not going to buy a full bottle because at the price MacLean's Nose sells in Bulgaria I can have a bottle of Arran 10, Loch Lomond 12 (on special sale) or Glen Scotia Double Cask for even less money. All these malts I find superior to MacLean's Nose.

Maclean's Nose Blended Scotch Whisky, 46%. 25ml sample consumed Sep 2024. This may have been put out in batches – I’m not sure – but this dram is from a bottle of the first release. Pale golden. Aroma exhibits a new make peachiness and some ‘lactic’ vibes I associate with modern sherry casks (maybe like raspberry milkshake), as well as a charred vibe. Run-of-the-mill young whisky on the nose. Body is watery to lightly oily. Nicely soft on the palate to start. Creamy. Subtle - almost veering into non-descript, but it builds over time. Red apple peel. Hint of cranberry. Lightly briney. The smoke is light so that I perceive it more as char. A very drinkable whisky. Good at the price (I’ve seen it at £31 including delivery). 3.5/84-

Is this an absolute standout? No, but you shouldn't expect that for the very reasonable price. Nevertheless, for this price, it really does exceed expectations. Along with the Campbeltown Loch and Symingtons Blend, it stands in a small group of very successful and affordable drams. It has a profile similar to an Ardnamurchan, but milder and softer. It features a hint of peat on a base of vanilla, honey, and straw, and is otherwise very drinkable. You absolutely will not disappoint a whisky lover with this one.

Sound nose and palate. Would have really benefited from some additional ABV.

This is not a blend for beginners. At the beginning I always think to myself that I remember it better. After two sips and paying attention, however, it becomes a coastal whisky with strong character that will probably develop well in the bottle. 85/100 points.

Very good value for money. The nose in particular is phenomenal and complex. In terms of taste, it is more in the middle range. Many notes from the nose are no longer as effective in the mouth. The style is peaty (leathery, similar to Ardmore or like Bowmore Legend), maritime, salty. Sharp attack in the mouth, medium finish.

Aroma: Delicate, salt, iodine, minerality, menthol, pleasant honey sweetness, sweet fruits, ripe peach, pear, charred wood, something unusual, cheesy tones, parmesan(?) Taste: sweet, black pepper, sulfur, wet match, wood, burnt meat, spice, burnt caramel. Finish: Delicate, repeats the taste, more mineral, salty, more burnt meat, wood, bitter zest, longer than medium. Rating: 83 Bottom line: one of the best blended whiskies I've ever tried, a whisky with an island twist, sea, salt, minerality.

Zesty citrus oily, pineapple, vanilla, menthol, biscuity malt, somewhat  smokey. Hints of spices. Delicious. Quite short finish though.

Quicky: A very very good easy sipper...not complex just on point...ppv is awesome..The description on the bottle fits lemonpeel white chocolate, bonfire seasalt... + white peach and ginger/ chilly in the finish. EDit: Solid...Def not my Whisky of the year 2024 in Terms of quality and sensation but hey: Ralfy sure knows what he's doing - right? ;)

Really nice mix of west coast malts with some lighter, sweeter grain whisky. Definitely one of the higher quality blended scotches currently on the market (blows most JW out of the water imho) and a steal at under £30.

One of the best blended Scotch I've had so far. The grain content is not (negatively) noticeable to me. Really successful, only the JW Celebratory Blend was similarly pleasant.

Referring to both Charles MacLean and a rocky outcrop on the Ardnamurchan peninsula, Maclean's Nose is a new malt-forward blend by Adelphi. Hints of tinned peaches, sea salt and grilled cod rise from the glass, and there is a lovely interplay of citrus fruits, grist and slightly earthy notes. Mineral, briny and quite oily, the taste emphasizes black olives, herbal peat smoke and white pepper. Green walnuts, bitter lemon and a touch of menthol subside in the medium-length finish. This bottling knocks it out of the park, no wonder people are raving about it. RATING: 3.5/5.0 stars ≙ 84 pts → ABOVE AVERAGE

It is a perfect blend

Short notes from an online blind tasting round... For the price, an absolute recommendation.

A nice nose, but to me it's certainly not worth 30-35 €, a price point at which it competes with many much better entry-level single malts.

I don't think you can get a better blend for this money. Yes young, but very well balanced and absolutely fine for starting whisky drinkers or starting your whisky night with something light and a little sweet.

Very good price/quality buy. Not a high roller but for it's price a very nice blend. After few drops of water an easy sipper.

For me already one of the PLV winners this year. Very nice pleasant sipper that does a lot of things right and hasn't done anything wrong so far except for a not-so-overwhelming nose. Beautiful fruity spice runs like a red thread through the aroma. Great blend!

Nose 87: fermentative with notes of bread, sea, earth, barley and citrus. Clean, expressive and fine. Taste 88: lemon, salty, marine. Very pure and smoky coastal, cereal flavors. Finish 87: quite long, straight, balanced, salty which returns to the fermentation aromas. Blended whiskey but with 70% malt which gives it a beautiful structure with a deep and acidic structure. A light smoke with lots of finesse. Of race. We won't ask for more. Well done.

Nicely round and full with Ardnamurcham and Glen Scotia in the mix. Excellent price / quality ratio

Wow, what the hell is this? This was the starting whisky in a line up with my friends last Friday. None of us could believe this was a 3-4 year old blend! This has absolutely nothing to do with modern day blends. At approx. 32 Euro this is a BFYB!

Light smokey, a blend but not the bitterness which blends usually have for me. Pretty nice, not sensational

Just visited Ardnamurchan... not strange, shelves of this in the shop. Couldn't fit a bottle of blend in the suitcase, so thanks to Slàinte Mhath for leaving me the heels of his bottle. Lots of character for a blend, lots of whisky for the price.

Better blends out there right now

A nice whisky, doesn't hurt anyone, but it's also nothing special. I have no idea why this one can have so many points. PLV is of course really good, but the rating should happen separately from the price.

Rather young and grassy or hay like. Meadow, green malt, bonfire smoke, coconut, apple, a hint of cream.

Smoking always works as a plus in blends, and here is no exception - a nice nose, a normal taste and a pleasant warming aftertaste, so we have a really good quality blend! 20+ 20 20 20+ 81 Just one note, you need to have time to drink it, otherwise it will breathe and the soapiness will appear in the taste (((

Bang for the Buck. Not much depth. Great introductory whisky with very slight peat.

an underdog that could beat a lot of entry level single malt whiskies, and the price in Taiwan only USD.30.27 that’s really a steal.

Appearance: Pale to medium gold, oily. Nose: Light peat, ginger spice, caramel, vanilla, corn sugar, apple. Palate: Corn sugar, ginger, vanilla, light smoke, citrus, apple. Finish: Vanilla, spice. With Water: More rounded and malty, sweeter. Nice spice. Overall: Not particularly exciting to me. A decent blend, but I doubt it’s worth the expense. It is sweet, lightly smoky, and spicy. The fact that it’s 46% seems to be the winning one.

Nose has caramel, vanilla, grain, burnt wood and some minerality. On the palate there is a gentle sweetness, caramel, vanilla and a slight metallic finish.  Dry mouthfeel as I sat with it.  Mildly interesting for a blend.  Good value for a budget blend.

Buy again? Yes Recommend? Yes Drink if offerd? Yes

Great nose (pun intended). Give this time in the glass and slow down. There is much to explore on the nose. You'll be rewarded. Very approachable and enjoyable release from adelphi.

Aroma Peaty smoke, sweetish, toffee, more or less the grain note The taste Peat smoke, creamy, spicy, salt aftertaste Medium length, sweetish, smoke Depending on how you feel on the day, 85 or 86

Excellent stuff. West coast: yes, absolutly. Just a bit smoky and dirty. Sweet, not cloying. Fresh and aetheric. If blended Scotch would have kept such character, much of the single malt rise would not have happened. But as it is: I like such stuff, which is just high quality, clean, expressive, not overpowering.

Blended Scotch Whisky aus 40 ASB Bourbon barrels of malt whisky (West Highlands, 2018) + 5 ASB Bourbon barrels of malt whisky (Campbeltown, 2016) + 16 Sherry hogsheads of malt whisky (West Highlands, 2018) + 21 Bourbon hogsheads of grain whisky (Lowlands, 2017), 25.000 Flaschen Farbe - tiefgelb

Got this dram from a friend of mine. Not bad, but not special. For this price it´s ok!

I'm starting to think that it offers a tremendous experience for its price. Even though the nose isn't very deep, the palate and finish are considered to be at the top levels for a Blend whisky, so it's definitely worth buying and experiencing.

great whisky for its price point. shy nose, but speaks louder in the mouth

The grain flavor isn't noticeable. The smoke is great. The aromas are lovely, especially the carrot! The whisky is almost too smooth for my taste.

Quick note: This whisky is very smooth from the nose to the finish. Beautiful sherry notes with a subtle smoky note, in what I find a perfect balance. The alcohol is well integrated, with no overpowering or burning sensation. And for a price of around €35.00, it's unbeatable. I like it!

Don’t really get the hype for this one. Price might be a factor, but that advantage evaporates one you have to ship/import this whisky. I can’t say I would replace it.

Very pleasantly surprised by this blend. I finally understand why so many people are raving about this bottle. I can't say I immediately recognize ardnamurchin in it. But that is of course also the beauty of a blend. I've been told there's some glen scotia in there. I recognize that somewhere. Mainly on the nose. There's a soft dirty bourbon smell to it that I really appreciate. The taste in the mouth makes me lean more towards the citrus. Is this the part of the grain whisky? If I'm right I thought North britsh? I'm not sure. Certainly a successful edition. An easy drinker

Batch MN2302 New batch, marked MN2302 next to bar code (a detail not present on my earlier bottles, much welcome for a better point of reference), raises some interesting questions. Notably, the QR code still links to the original batch document, which lists same specific cask types, years, and origins. However, as the distillery mentioned in a mail correspondence, a solera system is in use to retain a portion of the previous batches for consistency. It’s unclear to me whether the cask specifications can remain identical and how information from the QR still fully apply to this batch. Even if casks with the same spec are used, with this solera system, technically, the number of casks involved should double, right? In addition to the newly added batch number, other subtle changes have been observed: the label now clearly states "un-chillfiltered / natural color" on the front (also much appreciated), and label position is slightly shifted. The whisky itself seems slightly lighter in color compared to earlier bottles, suggesting minor variations in the cask influence or blend composition. I'm waiting for further clarification from the distillery to enhance my understanding of these changes and will share it here once it reaches me. Despite this 'curiosity', I am very grateful to enjoy such a great whisky for such a small price which I feel remains the same caliber in quality and integrity of flavor. I will do a direct comparison in some time, but from how I remember my last bottle, it tends to take water even better, it is slightly more 'coastal', smoky, less fruity, notably drier, more on walnuts. A style I tend to prefer, especially as playing with different levels of dilution enhaces the experience. There's hay, hint of dried apricots, lemon tarts, oatmeal, chalk, dried herbs, clay, champagne.

Great value blend. Sweet toffee, caramels, vanilla, citrus and rich fruits of plums, berries and cherries. Pleasant every day warm up dram to get you going.

“For the price, this is pretty darn good” concludes just about every review of this bottle. I do not disagree with that, and there are few bottles in the same price range that can match the same savory profile; or, are suitable to drink straight up and not mix in cocktails. I would certainly pick this up above many of the bottles I listed above under the Naked Grouse review, but I would pick up that bird over this just about any day. The aroma was the star with tons of savory elements— the palate was not bad, but it was quite light and I found it a touch bitter, like caramel cooked a bit too long. That bitterness lingered onto the finish and always felt a tad askew from everything else. Overall, I would accept a pour of this, but I would not go out looking for it.

aroma Maritime. Salty sea air, delicate smoke, and a hint of charred wood. These are complemented by notes of apricot, bitter grapefruit, and slightly earthy herbs. The taste A creamy start. Sweet notes and a touch of dark chocolate mingle with subtle hints of sherry and stone fruit. In the background, a light smoke and a delicate salinity develop. Departure Medium to long finish, slightly dry. Aromatic notes of apple and orange, a touch of dark chocolate, herbs, and an elegant, salty smoke linger. Overall impression A surprisingly complex and maritime blended Scotch with a strong price-performance ratio.

Bang on! Perfect in a manhattan. Can’t fault it!

Nose-84; Taste-84; Finish-84.

N: Pickles, caramel, beach fire, salt, honey, citrus, mint S: Sweet, beach fire, salty, creamy, lemon, ginger, milk chocolate A: Warm, spicy, cinnamon, clove

The 30 euros are well invested for perhaps one of the most interesting blends in this price range. Lots of maritime character and a worthy companion for social gatherings. Every now and then you notice the grain. And since nothing is actually concealed by too much barrel here, it would probably have done a lot of good for the grain content. The malthead has to ask himself. Whether he doesn't want to pay the 20 euros more for the standard Ardnamurchan. It doesn't have the walnut notes, but it doesn't have any grain either and overall it goes in a similar direction. Still, of course, a nice release that shows what blended Scotch can do.

As this is 4 years old, apparently, the sherry influence makes it feel way older. Yet there are not the usual layers of depth in the smell and taste. For €31,95 this is a decent whisky! P/q is quite high.

Nose: the Ardnamurchan is palpable… Coastal, smoked cheese, saltine crackers, bubblegum, ham, cardboard, lemon rind, caramel, light cappuccino, white/milk chocolate blend, jam, candle wax, unripe pear, green apple, creamy peanut butter, chilli oil, white teas, celery salt, white pepper, slightly burnt crème brûlée crust, milk stout, key lime pie, lemon candy, touch of sage. Seriously good… I would’ve guessed a 8 year old malt blind. It is slightly more muted than the standard AD/ releases but very good nonetheless. Sweet very nicely balanced with, sour, salt and savoury—quite malty and vegetal. Lime, vanilla, brine, ham, horseradish, ginger, bread crust, sunflower seed oil, rosemary oil, hint of lavender and peanut butter. Slight mineral/pebble—reminiscent of Ardmore. Touch of ethanol is detectable. Coffee, lemon oil, dark chocolate and pastries in the finish.

fresh dry sherry casks, coastel notes with wiffs of smokes and soot, some bitter herbs, orange peel, Fanta, 'Big Red' cinnamon chewing gum, dried apricots, hints of almond/marzipan, dryed banana, despite its youth and being spirit driven it's packed with dense aromas, clay, chalk, sour dough, champagne, tobacco, orange candy, effervescent powder, gets sweeter with more aeration, reminiscent of older whisky bottlings, really ticking that 'old school' box like e.g. Springbank or Benromach

Nice. More than fun even. Although I think that the peat character really largely “carries” this whisky. The whiskey almost needs to be something. Although I know this sounds much more negative than it is intended.

A blend from independent bottler Adelphi, a company founded in 1993 and the owner of the Ardnamurchan distillery, which opened in 2014, but has already become a favorite among whisky connoisseurs. The release was first released in April 2023, its composition is declared to be at least 70% malt and 30% grain spirits, a significant proportion of sherry casks were used. The blend consists of the following components: 40 bourbon casks of malt spirits aged 5 years with Ardnamurchan, 5 casks of Campbeltown 7 year old bourbon malt whisky (probably Glen Scotia), 12 sherry hogsheads of Ardnamurchan 5 year old malt whisky and 21 hogsheads of bourbon 6-year-old Lowland grain whiskey. Bottled at 46% abv, uncolored and unfiltered. Renowned blogger Ralphy Mitchell has chosen this release as his 2024 whiskey of the year. Nose: The nose is quite smooth, pleasant, fresh, candy-like with an intriguing sourness. There is a slight menthol chill, reminiscent of the presence of grain alcohols. Candy caramel, lemon zest, dried orange peel, dried fruit tones, toasted bread, light campfire smoke, minerality, white pepper, oak bitterness Palate: pleasant texture, medium-bodied. The taste is slightly hot at first, peppery, with a noticeable smoky note. Candy caramel, vanilla, dried fruit tones, creaminess, saltiness, bitterness of lemon zest, white pepper, ginger, astringent tannins Finish: The finish is warming, peppery, astringent with dried fruit sweetness, malt, campfire smoke, citrus zest, minerality and tannins. Balance: a pleasant, balanced, smooth and rounded blend in the style of the West Highlands. Despite its youth, it has no flaws or defects, the grain spirits fit well into the overall composition of the drink. Another worthy product from Adelphi, an excellent example of openness and transparency in relations with the consumer. N21, P21, F21, B21

I can understand why this scored the wat it did at the oswas. Price quality wise this is a really good whisky. Can it beat some core range single malts? Yeah maybe a few. Especially for the price of €29 it's perfect.

For the price, this is exceptional. Bright flavours and a lovely balance between the sweet and sour notes.

Maclean’s Nose Batch 1 *Age statement: 5 years old, albeit absent from the bottle, through a QR-code its cask makeup is available. *Alcohol percentage at least 46%: yes, 46%. *Amount of filtration: unstated on the bottle, although it’s widely agreed to be non-chillfiltered. *Use of caramel coloring {E150a}: unstated, but likewise it ought to be naturally colored. (1 out of 4, regarding craft/integrity presentation). Without water Nose/olfaction: musky, a bit sweet, coastal breeze. Palate/gustation: orange oil, grapefruit, a bit funky. Finish/coda: smoked fish, ginger. With water Nose/olfaction: no discernable changes. Palate/gustation: loses the funkiness, which moves to the finish, and becomes even more fruity. Finish/coda: much more smoky. This is an amazing blended whisky, it is what Johnny Walker Black is portrayed to be, at least the design of the liquid. It is smoky, fruity, contains grain whisky, but it is much younger, although that really doesn’t matter anymore with Diageo’s atrocious cask management. Instead here we get some Glen Scotia mixed with Ardnamurchan and a part of Lowland grain whisky presented in a craft manner. All of these are good components, and to be fair it is not much more expensive than an inferior bottle of Walker Black, but it does taste a bit young.

Very good blend. Very high proportion of malt and sherry casks. It also reflects on the taste. Can't find the grain here. It's truly good. I payed 24 EUR for it and I think it's just a crazy good value. N: mostly cirtus fruits, some green apple, sea salt, bonfire smoke and a few dark fruits, some maltiness (88) P: burnt citrus peel, roasted pineapple, ash, salt, some dark oranges and figs along with tobacco leaves and some brine (91) F: long, dry, salty and ashy (87) 88 / 91 / 87 = 88.667 --> 89 pts / 100

The Ardnamurchan Pensinsula is a fairly remote peninsula opposite the Isle of Mull. Where Loch Sunart and the Sound on Mull meet, on the coast is the small town of Glenbeg with the Ardnamurchan Distillery from Adelphi Distillers. If you drive further west on the wonderful, single-lane coastal road, you will come to a lookout point with great views of the sea and the coast. The rocky outcrop opposite is called MacLean's Nose. And that fits wonderfully, because the head nose at Adelphi is Charles MacLean. And so this blended Scotch from Adelphi is called MacLean's Nose. It is a premium blend with 70% malt whiskey and a high proportion of sherry casks, bottled at 46% vol., not colored, not chill-filtered and slightly smoky. Just what a whiskey from the West Coast should be if it does what it promises. glen-efze.de

I am not really get what all the hype is about with this blend is my first thought..... But... when I add some single malt to beef things up a bit, then it's a good base... To just sip this thing... eh Don't get those 90+ ratings that some post... :/ Is it affordable? yes... Is it a stunner? eh, no .... it's okay-ish So a deserved 7/10

Opened for the first time four weeks ago and let it stand in the glass for 30 minutes before drinking today. What can I say: He really deserves this rating!

A solid, very likeable blend. There's a harmony between sherry, grain and coastal flavours going on.

decent blend - very good base for creating your own blend (just add your favourite malt to taste) - nothing spectacular - the price (and A-list distilleries blend) should not automatically up the rating.

This was a sample courtesy of Peatbogger. Nice enough but nothing new. It reminded me of this blend and that blend.

Maclean’s Nose *Age statement: 5 years old, all be it absent from the bottle, through a QR-code its cask makeup is available. *Alcohol percentage at least 46%: yes, 46%. *Amount of filtration: unstated on the bottle, although it’s widely agreed to be non-chillfiltered. *Use of caramel coloring {E150a}: unstated, but likewise it’s thought to be natural colored. (4 out of 4, regarding craft/integrity presentation). Nose: Furnace, lemon peel, walnut oil, fishbone. Palate: Rubber, black berry, moss. Finish: Cherry coke, cinnamon, all spice, ashtray, pineapple. Maclean’s nose feels like a rugged industrial blend with some sherry undertones. It’s fatty, a bit peaty, and there are peated sherry accords. However, the grain is indeed noticeable; this doesn’t taste like a malt whisky, even though it’s predominantly made up of malted spirit. And as a sherry cask hater, I don’t think the inclusion of these casks improves the sum of its part. Nonetheless is it cheap, well presented and very rugged.

Mooi gebalanceerd, subtiele peat/ zilt

Promoted with the promise of a mix of Ardnamurchan and Campbeltown, this wee blend made some buzz. It was good stuff but didn't wow me.

Great value for money, delicious whiskey.

Blended whisky tasting Maclean’s Nose https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/231925/macleans-nose-blended-scotch-whisky 84- Very Old Blended Whisky BW https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/167035/very-old-blended-whisky-bw 88- Blended Scotch Whisky 1979 BR https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/116204/blended-scotch-whisky-1979-br 90

Sweet, fruity, thin, short finish

A price-performance monster! The fact that it has come to Türkiye at this price is a separate success. A very tasteful bottle that reflects the West Highland character very accurately, carrying touches from the Islands. There are no defects, but it has a performance far above its price. Unfortunately, not many whiskies with this character come to Türkiye. Price performance: Very good Would I buy again?: Yes

A typical sweet whisky, with a faint grassy aroma, a common flavor of young bourbon cask whiskies, and a hint of lemon and honey. Overall, it's decent, but its low price boosts its score.

A very pleasant, if not overly complex, blend that is easily accessible and available for a small price. Perfect for newcomers to peaty whiskies who don't necessarily want to be overwhelmed by a wall of Islay smoke.