NSS - The Speyside Connection - 10 Year Blended Malt

THE SPEYSIDE CONNECTION, 10 YEAR OLD BLENDED MALT Macallan 35 · Tamdhu 20 · First-Fill Oloroso Speyside 10 · All Sherry Wood Region Speyside Style Blended Malt Age 10 years ABV 52% Contains Macallan & Tamdhu Cask Sherry Hogshead & Butts Read the recipe twice: Macallan aged 35 years, Tamdhu aged 20 years, and a 10 year old Speyside single malt from a first fill Oloroso cask, married into one blended malt. The age statement says 10, because the youngest component sets the number. The liquid says considerably more. This is the fourth release in North Star Spirits' Connections series, the Glasgow independent bottler's project of building region-true blended malts from casks most bottlers cannot reach. The European allocation sold out almost immediately. Youngest distillate 2015, bottled 2026 at 52%, non-chill filtered, natural colour. Imported by The Whiskey Lab. The component whiskies Macallan, 35 years: the most collected single malt on earth, famous for its sherry-seasoned house style. Independent Macallan of any age is scarce; 35 year old Macallan in a blend at this price is nearly unheard of. Tamdhu, 20 years (2006 stock): the quiet sherry specialist of Speyside, founded 1897 on the banks of the Spey. Twenty year old Tamdhu is deep, autumnal, and rich. Speyside single malt, 10 years: the youngest whisky in the mix, drawn from a first fill Oloroso cask that brings fresh sherry vibrancy to the older parcels. The blend A blended malt contains only single malts, no grain whisky. Here North Star married three parcels of sherry-matured Speyside: a 35 year old Macallan for depth, a 20 year old Tamdhu for structure, and a 10 year old first fill Oloroso Speyside malt for lift. Everything was matured in sherry hogshead and butts, so the whole blend speaks one language. In North Star's own words: bold yet harmonious, with the luxurious texture, vibrant fruit and lingering warmth that define expertly sherry-matured Scotch. At 52% the texture stays luxurious and the sherry spice carries long. This is old-school sherried Speyside, assembled from names that usually live behind glass, at a price that lets you actually open the bottle. Tasting notes (North Star Spirits) Nose Inviting aromas of sultanas, honeyed toffee, cinnamon and polished oak. Palate Bold yet harmonious. Luxurious in texture with vibrant fruit, the old Macallan lending depth while the first fill Oloroso stock keeps it lively at 52%. Finish The lingering warmth of expertly sherry-matured Scotch: cinnamon, polished oak, and a last return of honeyed toffee. Specification Details Brand North Star Spirits, Connections series (4th release) Whisky style Blended malt Scotch whisky (100% Speyside) Region Speyside Composition Macallan 35 year, Tamdhu 20 year, and a 10 year first fill Oloroso Speyside single malt Cask types Sherry hogshead & butts (youngest component: first fill Oloroso) Age 10 years (youngest component) Youngest distillate 2015 Bottled 2026 ABV 52% Volume 700 ml Non-chill filtered Yes Natural colour Yes Availability Open release