Andrew was the first.  Then again, maybe he wasn’t. 

That’s the thing about the history of usquebaugh [late 16th century Gaelic pronounciation of whisky]; sometimes it’s like a non-chill filtered whisky – a little cloudy.

A Tale Of Two Andrews

This is the tale of two Andrews: Andrew I and Andrew II.

The year was 1813. Getting into the spirits industry was an à propos business venture to get into, so that’s what Andrew I did. Things really got interesting a few years later when Andrew I met George from the Drumin distillery through a business Tinder hook up (I told you the history was cloudy). George would send 600 gallons of whisky a month.  Andrew I would vat the whisky casks, then sell the whisky as agent representative for George and the Drumin Distillery.

Andrew Usher I

By 1848 Andrew II, the sequel, joined his dad’s business. Five years later, they released an expression that was made up of “vatted” casks from the Drumin distillery called OVG (Old Vatted Glenlivet). Eventually, the Andrews got their own distillery and blended their casks with Drumin’s.  So the original OVG vatted release became a blended scotch. Oh, and if you time travelled and picked up a bottle, you’d notice the label read: Usher’s Old Vatted Glenlivet. 

Yes, those Ushers.

Now this is where the history haziness shows up.  While Andrew Usher I and II indeed experimented with vatting and blending, others during the same time were as well. However, Andrew Usher II was the first recorded whisky blender which means Usher II can proudly proclaim: “So there”.

Andrew Usher II

Does This Blended Scotch Make Me Look Vat?

Ninety percent of the scotch whisky sold is a blended scotch; however it’s not a homogenous category. In fact, there are three different types of blends:

1. Blended Scotch Whisky: This type of scotch is a marriage of malt and grain whiskies from up to 40 different distilleries. Most single malt whiskies end up in blends.
2. Blended Malt Whisky:  This is a blend of at least two single malt scotches. Once referred as vatted malt. In 2009, the Scotch Whisky Regulations poured that term out and replaced it with Blended Malt.
3. Blended Grain Whisky:  This is a blend of at least two single grain scotches. A single grain scotch is a whisky made of two grains from one distillery.

Compass Box is a popular blended grain release

Not wanting to start a glassless debate about single malts versus blends. Over a glass – perhaps. I will say this about blends: they’re an ideal way to introduce non scotch drinkers to said world. Also, it takes a blending wizard to be able to blend other distilleries’ whiskies which have their own character and then create a new whisky with its own personality. 

With that, get your glass ready to pour:

The Last Word

Again, as with these lists that include ‘only’ five suggestions – it certainly doesn’t mean any other blended whiskies shouldn’t be explored. 

At the end of the day, enjoy what you enjoy, recommend what you have, and try what you haven’t.  

Cheers.

– Renaud Timson