Spencer Collings Founders Reserve 10 year old

This is something special for the Members Small Batch Extra – An elegant fusion of three top quality 10 year old single malts from Speyside, the Northern Highlands and Islay from a guy that literally is a blending legend – The Spencer Collings Founders Reserve.

…so anyway, early this year I get a call from my friend and SMWC member, Ian Schmidt (Tin Shed Distilling, Iniquity Whisky and now Requiem Rum fame). He tells me I need to try this Founders Reserve from Spencer Collings. “Not a single malt, but a blended malt” he explains “But don’t hold that against it you bloody snob – it’s fantastic… TRY IT!”

Now when someone who MAKES renowned whisky tells you to try something – you bloody well get out and try it! And so try it I did. And WOW – good old Ian sure wasn’t wrong! It’s a bloody delightful whisky.  I knew after the first taste that I had to share this discovery with the club.

Now this is a ‘Blended Malt’ – as the name suggests made up of a blend of different single malt whiskies. In contrast – a ‘Blended Whisky’ contains a mix of single malt whisky AND column-still produced grain alcohol.

The creator of the Founders Reserve and one half of Spencer Colllings – Mike Holland is a whisky blending and marketing legend. You may not have ever heard of him, but I’ll bet you know some of the products he has created and worked on. Little brands like, for instance, Johnny Walker Blue (yep – that’s Mike’s baby!), Royal Lochnager and Diageo’s ‘Classic Malts’ range are just a taste of the products and brands who’s success he has contributed to during his career.

The breakdown of Founders Reserve whisky is right there on the label. 49gal of Madeira Barrique aged Speyside, 50gal of ex-Bourbon aged Northern Highlands malt and 103 gal of Oloroso Butt aged Speyside and Islay whisky. The peat influence in this whisky is next to none – so either there is not very much Islay in the 103gal – or it’s a non-peated Islay whisky such as Bruichladdich.

Colour: Luscious dark copper

Nose: Delicious choc caramel tart with raspberry coolie. Then wafts of Vanilla and it’s all wrapped up in a snug oakey embrace.

Palate: A warm spicy explosion initially which quickly coats the whole mouth then fades to spiced fruit mince with citrus-y notes then a suggestion of leathergoods (I can see why this struck a chord with Ian Schmidt! – his whisky has a similar note) and more of that lovely oakyness.

Finish: Lovely and warming, some more citrus and fruit but now with a sea-side salty influence.