Scottish Leader Original Whisky

I love tasting whiskies with South African connections, like this Scottish Leader Original blended Scotch whisky. It is even more special when I have had the privilege to meet the Master Distiller and hear all about their vision for a whisky.

And when this Master Distiller is the phenomenal Dr Kirstie Mccallum, it makes the experience even more special.Scottish Leader is owned by Burn Stewart Distillers, part of the Distell Group. Other brands in the Distell portfolio include the Three Ships and Bain’s whisky as well as Bunnahabhain.

The Scottish Leader blend was only created in 1976, so a rather young blend, compared to some of the more established blends around. Regardless of the young status, Scottish Leader is already sold in over 30 countries around the world.

I was fortunate to meet Dr Mccallum during one of her visits to SA, and it was so refreshing to listen to her talk about her vision for the blend. I wrote extensively about Dr Mccallum in this blog post.

Also Read: Glenbrynth Bourbon Cask whisky

At the end of 2014, the Scottish Leader whisky was re-launched with a new look and updated packaging. The old logo of a deer was replaced with a soaring eagle. At the same time, they also released the new Scottish Leader Signature whisky expression to complement the Scottish Leader Original.

The updated blend includes an increased single malt content to create a richer blend with improved body and balance while retaining the existing characteristics of the original blend.

The blending team used the original 40-year-old recipe to ensure the DNA of Scottish Leader is maintained. The blend includes over 40 different grain and single malt whiskies, including some Tobermory.

Scottish Leader Original Whisky Review

ABV: 43%

COLOUR: Copper gold

NOSE: Malt, oak, honey-drizzled fruit salad  with a soft smokiness in the background. Hints of  sherry sweetness, greenery wood spices.

PALATE: Creamed honey sweetness with hints of smoke and fruit. There are bits of orange with a caramel and nut base. The Original is smooth with a great spice/sweetness balance. Not the most complex dram, but easy drinking with a few drops of water.

FINISH: Medium length and ends in notes of sweetness and smoke with hints of oak.

RATING: VERY GOOD

The Scottish Leader Original blended Scotch whisky is smooth and rich. A lovely release. I do prefer the 12 yo and the Signature release to this bottle as they have more complexity, but that is a personal preference. It is a great all-round dram.

It is also very affordable in SA. The retail price is  around R 200. It is a versatile whisky that can easily be added to cocktails and work well with food. This is a dram that should be on your ‘To try’ list – if you have not tried it already.

The award-winning Scottish Leader Original pairs beautifully with some Royal Ashton cheese.

Also Read: Bell’s Whisky