The nominees: Blends


The nominees


Monkey Shoulder NOMINATED BY Automatic entry COMPANY William Grants


ABV 40%


“This blend was originally nominated by Duncan Ralph last year into the under £30 category. It blew our judges away and won gold beating off fi erce competition from the single malts. Julie


described the whisky as having a fabulously unusual nose with aromas of green leaves and tree sap, opal fruits and cream soda. Smooth easy drinking with a sweet cinnamon note. Let’s see how it performs this year against the other blends!”


The Naked Grouse


NOMINATED BY Automatic entry ABV 40% COMPANY Edrington “This new expression went down a treat in the summer challenge 2011. All the judges loved this blend and it won gold in the under £35 category. Darren thought this would be the perfect after dinner dram, with lots of cozy aromas of creamy coffee, chocolate


fudge brownies and syrup over pancakes. Has it got what it takes to win over the judges again?”


Black Bull 12yo


NOMINATED BY Duncan Ralph ABV 50%


REGION Highland


“This whisky has grown from strength to strength, winning award after award! It’s just won the two biggest awards in its category for the best blended Scotch whisky. Its unusual ratio of 50% grain & 50% single malts and 50% ABV makes it truly outstanding in its fi eld.”


Great King Street Compass box


NOMINATED BY Mike Lord ABV 43% REGION Speyside “A new blend from Compass Box and the fi rst with a real pronounced sherry infl uence. I really want to see how it does against the other blends blind – these days this is a very competitive and broad category.”


22 www.whiskychallenge.com


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