$33/750 ml at Papa Joe's in Richmond, IN.
This is a blended malt Scotch, not a blended Scotch, which is a big difference stylistically. Blended Scotches usually contain considerable non-malt Scotch grain spirits, such as corn or wheat, while a blended Scotch malt contains only malt Scotches, a mixture of so-called 'singles'. In this case the sources are three: Balvenie, Kininvie, and Glenfiddich, all Gordon-owned Speysiders kept in Bourbon oak.
Although blended malts are nothing new in Scotland, this is a relatively new marketing adventure, a mid-priced whisky with the flavors of malt but with a lower price than many of them; indeed, than many blended Scotches.
From Riedel malt glass. Warm yellow-green. Quick-dropping tears. Undergirded with corn fatty acids, a warm, broad-sided, with a little orange oil and baked cherry. Not a comer in either style or flavor, but designed for easy drinking. Leather and grass and pipe tobacco, a very small amount of peat; a dry dram, with a short finish edged with spearmint. Leaves a versatile hint of tannin on the tongue. Water not needed. Good value for money.
It stands up well to quality mix. A short one of an ounce of it, shaken with ice and the juice of one medium lemon and 2 teaspoonfuls of organic Florida cane sugar and a splash of Gerolsteiner, was distinctive, clean, and harmonious.
For the new explorer of malt Scotch whiskey, a solid bottle to build a good-value collection around. Also a good one for the aficionado to have around for those embarassing moments when asked for a grain blend that you don't have in your locker--'Oh, if you like xxx I have one that will please you a lot'.