In focus: The Hive malt whisky – 15% OFF NOW! – Scotch Whisky News
The Hive is a malt whisky carefully created from a selection of high quality casks from Scottish distilleries, with a predominant focus on Speyside malt whiskies.
Over 50 single malt distilleries can be found in Speyside and whilst the most famous whiskies from this region are know for their estery fruit character, there are indeed many different styles of malt whisky that can be found in the region, from light and delicate, oily, meaty and even smoky.
It is from this diverse selection of malt whiskies that we select casks to create a subtle yet complex blend with the ultimate aim of creating luscious honey like sweetness. Additional notes of flower blossom, malty spice and orange oil can also be detected on the nose and palate.
THE HIVE PAIRS WELL WITH:
Cheese: A soft and fresh goats cheese or even a lighter cream cheese.
Meat: Honey and clove roast ham works perfectly when paired The Hive. The whisky refreshes the palate from the saltiness of the meat, whilst maintaining the honey flavours.
Dessert: A creamy Vanilla Panna Cotta or the richer caramlised sugar flavours from a Crème Brûlée work well against The Hive’s medium sweetness.
Beer: Innis and Gun Original. Both The Hive and Innis and Gunn Original impart sweet honey, vanilla and malty characteristics making an intense and indulgent pairing although the orange notes in the whisky and citrus notes from the hops in the beer should stop it from being to cloying.
Poised and complex, with typically lifted fruitiness: strawberry ice cream, pineapple, peach, balanced by delicate oak, bamboo shoot-like delicacy, then lemon. The palate is more rounded than that very forward nose, with toffee notes adding some weight. A touch of smoke comes along in the mid-palate, before fruits and caramelized coffee biscuits. Water allows the flavors to flood the palate. Exemplary blending skills and classically Hibiki. (DB, Winter 2015) 
(12/2015)
