IanMacLeod’s“AsWeGetIt”HighlandSingleMalt(700mL)

<p>We’d say it’s a cask strength Speysider with a dash of Sherried oak… but…</p><p>Ian MacLeod & Company LTD was founded in 1933 as a Scottish Whisky broker — buying, selling, trading production lots from the major distilleries around Scotland. Over the years the company has grown quite a bit, including more than <em>three dozen house brands</em> and an untold number of private label offerings. Now owned by<em> the Russell family,</em> they run the gamut from Whiskies to Vodkas to Rums, but their core business is still Scotch Whisky.</p><p>One of their smaller brand labels is the <em>“As We Get It” </em>range of Single Malts. As the name implies, this range is comprised of limited editions of crazy-good Single Malts at cask strength without blending or adding colorings and flavorings. The catch is that they are contractually <em>not allowed to specifically identify the distillery</em> these premium drams came from. But you’re not taking much of a chance here… the good folks at Ian Macleod & Company have their reputations on the line and this project is a labor of love, so each bottle is gosh-darn tasty stuff. We haven’t been disappointed yet.</p><p>To our palate, Ian MacLeod’s As We Get It Highland Single Malt smacks of orchard fruits, Sherried wood, and creamy milk chocolate. But at a blistering <em>64% ABV</em>, a few spoons of water are in order to let the flavors bloom.</p>