21-year-old Blended Scotch Whisky
It’s days like these when I love my job. Spirit tasting and evaluating becomes a pleasure. It’s summer and we are enjoying some very hot days, but somehow Berry Bros. & Rudd – The Perspective Series 1 Blended Scotch Whisky has this sipper conjuring a leather armchair, log fire and shelves of classic books which will likely never be read.
Who are Berry Bros. & Rudd?
Berry Bros. & Rudd are the oldest independent bottler of spirits in the UK, having been doing it for over a century. They are a family-run British wine and spirits merchant established in London in 1698.
It was founded by the Widow Bourne at 3 St. James’s Street, which today is a Grade II listed building still used as the company’s headquarters. It was Berry Bros. & Rudd’s main retail premises until mid-2017, when they moved to a purpose-built shop nearby, at 63 Pall Mall.
The company initially sold coffee, and then diversified into cocoa, tea, snuff, spices, and other imported items. Lord Byron, the Aga Khan and Beau Brummell all did a bit of shopping at the original emporium. They have been and continue to be wine supplier to the great and the good including the British Royal Family since the reign of King George III. They received their first Royal Warrant of Appointment in 1903 from King Edward VII. Queen Elizabeth II granted the company her royal warrant in 1952 when she took the throne, and Prince Charles granted his warrant in 1998.
Marries both whisky distilling and photography
One would expect fine spirits from Berry Bros. & Rudd and The Perspective Series 1 Blended Scotch Whisky is in that category. Blended whisky is a melange of several whiskies, and enables distillers to create and maintain a consistent style and quality. This crisp and fruity 21-year-old blend marries both whisky distilling and photography. The bottle and the presentation canister are decorated with the beautiful work of photographer Lindsay Robertson, who is responsible for the images used throughout this collectable series. The photograph used for this bottle was taken at Sandwood Bay, in the Northwest of Scotland. This is a truly gift-quality selection.
Tasting Notes:
Vibrant dried fruit such as raisins are joined by subtle oak spice, vanilla, a hint of caramel and floral honey. The finish is pleasingly long and mellow. Try a sip neat and then just add a splash of water – just a suspicion – but that will release more aromas and flavours.