Faultline Blended Scotch is K&L’s very own proprietary blended scotch they worked out with Douglas Laing & Co. This blend is unique in that it has a high quantity of malt (well over 50% from what I hear) that puts it way above the blended industry averages of 20-40%. This keeps the whisky from picking up any of those harsher grain alcohol notes you can find in things like Johnny Walker Red.
This K&L blend is a mix of “Island whiskies” (typically mean Islay & Skye), a Highland whisky and then finally some grain whisky. And speaking of Johnny Walker Red… let’s chat for 2 seconds about value shall we? A typical 750ml of JWR will run you about $27 and tastes absolutely awful. This costs $25 and tastes good. Which begs the question, if a little shop in California can work with a blending house in Scotland put together a decent tasting blended whisky for $25, then what the hell is everyone else’s excuse?
Faultline Blended Scotch Whisky – 2015 Review
Blender: Douglas Laing & Co.
Age: NAS
ABV: 50%
Price: $25
Natural color
EYE
White grape juice
NOSE
Peat, vanilla frosting, orchard fruit (pears and apples) with a touch of honey, yellow cake and cider spice. Comes across light and crisp and while it’s doesn’t have a whole lot of depth to it, what’s there is really nice.
PALATE
Peat, orchard fruit, vanilla cupcake with vanilla frosting, honey and a touch of spice with a sweet malty undertone. Again, it’s not wildly deep, but what shows up is pleasant and easy to sip on.
FINISH
Peat, pears, honey and spice fade out at a medium pace.
BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
There is a nice symmetry between the peat and sweet that I’m enjoying and it has a light smooth quality to it that makes it easy to drink.
OVERALL
The Faultline Blended Scotch isn’t wildly complex, but there is something nice about it’s light simplicity I enjoy. I’ve often mentioned “kick around drams” and this is a nice peaty version of that. $25 and it mixes well in cocktails like a Churchill or thrown into a glass filled with ice, club soda and lemon to make a long drink, but also nice enough to drink neat when what’s in your glass isn’t your main focus, like cleaning the apt or doing dishes. Basically it’s just a nice simple yet flavorful whisky that’s priced right. What’s not to like about that?
SCORE: 82/100
Faultline Blended Scotch
Value
At $25 this whisky is a great value. 10x better than any other blend at a similar price point and versatile as they come.
Overall
- Nose - 82
- Palate - 83
- Finish - 81
- Balance, Body & Feel - 82
User Review
( votes)( reviews)
Is this chill-filtered?
I don’t believe it is.
I thought this was pretty nondescript and had nothing going for it beyond the specs (50% ABV, NC). I ended up dumping the rest of my bottle together with the remnants of the Hepburn’s Choice Caol Ila (also from K&L, as convenience would have it) which solved all problems on both sides.
I have a food blog, and people always think that must be so much fun.
Something tells me you’re having a LOT more fun than I possibly could w/ food.
Thanks for the review; it’s in my cart at K&L because the price point was just right for a “drink anytime” kind of scotch, and Caol Ila is going to put me out of business quickly when used as such.
A food blog does sound like fun, but you’re right I am having a LOT of fun running this little thing! :)
That’s awesome that you picked it up. Hope you like it. I was sipping on some just last night.
Cheers!