Blue Hanger 9th Release is a limited edition from Berry Bros & Rudd whose portfolio premium brands such as the Glenrothes, Penny Blue Single Estate Aged Rum and No. 3 London Dry Gin. The whisky is aimed at aficionados with only 2391 bottle of the 9th edition produced globally.
Blue Hanger 9th Release is a vatting of two Speyside single malts, Clynelish 17 yo and Glen Elgin 18 yo along with two Islay malts, Bunnahabhain 33 yo and Bunnahabhain 7 yo. The whisky is non chill filtered with no colour added. An introduction of this kind sets the expectation high yet Blue Hanger 9th Release isn’t quite what it promises.
Blue Hanger 9th Release Tasting Notes
- Country of Origin: Scotland
- ABV: 45.6%
- Type: Blended malt Scotch whisky
- Age: NAS
- Colour: pale straw, lacks viscosity in the glass
- Nose: estery, slightly sweet with vanilla and caramel, hints at being a very young whisky, faint peat smoke that borders on a synthetic aroma
- Palate: tingles on the palate with some alcohol burn at first then develops into Speyside fruit, vanilla and oak with a hint of dull orange peel, watery and thin on the palate
- Finish: short to medium, tapering into peat smoke
Comments: Although Blue Hanger is made from mainly older malts, it is a soft style of whisky that lacks vibrancy and maturity. The higher ABV amplifies some of the fruit and vanilla characters and the peat smoke at the end helps push it along but it finishes thin and weak and goes fast out in a puff of smoke. If this review sounds a little harsh, it is worth mentioning that the first time I tasted Blue Hanger 9, it was at a whisky show. The liquid was poured straight out of the bottle and it displayed more vibrant notes. This review is based on a 50ml sample provided, which in my experience, doesn’t always reflect the true flavour profile of a whisky and as such, it should be taken into consideration.
