Berry Bros & Rudd St. James's Blended Scotch 10 Years Old (44.2%)

St. James's is a blended Scotch from Berry Bros & Rudd, labelled as 10 years old and bottled at 44.2%. It came about while casks of Speyside single malt, more than 20 years old, were being bottled and about ten litres of 10-year-old blended whisky were found left in the pipework. The contents are more than 99% of that Speyside malt and under 1% of the 10-year-old blend. The age on the label follows the youngest whisky in the mix. The nose offers ripe apple, pear and other orchard fruit, then soft caramel, vanilla and milk chocolate, with a fresh touch of lemon. The palate is round and generous, with juicy fruit, lemon sweets and a hint of black pepper. The finish is long, soft and creamy.