You know, I didn't bother to answer the thread on recommendations for blends because my taste in blends runs towards premium blends which usually cost as much as a single malt and most of you just don't see the sense in spending that much on a blend/bland... ;o)
I myself don't care for blends that don't have some age on them as I a) far prefer aged grain whisky and, b) find that more care is taken when vatting an aged blend, although not necessarily always.
So which premium blends are on people's A-list? Or am I alone in foolishly wasting my money on blends when there are so many deserving malts looking for a home? ;o)
Here is my current list of blends that rival many a single malt:
Chivas 18yo -- really well spiced, with nice pepper notes, don't knock it til you've tried it.
Ballantine 17yo -- bought it for next to nothing and now find out it's in fact an expensive Asian blend
Islay Mist 17yo -- picked this up in the Netherlands, very much worth the money
Johnnie Walker Black -- old standby, just can't go wrong here
Johnnie Walker Blue -- great blend, go ahead & abuse me, it's just sourgrapes cuz ya can't afford it ;o) (and neither can I usually!)
Whyte & MacKay 30yo -- another of the world's great blends that I can't afford, a sample thanks to Bushido
Blue Hanger -- another sample thanks to Bushido, what I wouldn't do to find a whole bottle, I've asked Berry Bros & Rudd several times but to no avail (and no, the Blue Hanger 25yo is just the name resurrected, it's a vatted Glen Grant/Glenlivet, not an aged version of the original blend)
Campbeltown Loch 25yo -- I should have bought a case when I had the chance, excellent quality-price ratio when it was around (I believe only the 21yo is available now)
Cutty Sark 25yo -- was available locally for a very good price, a dram of this will likely convince most of you that a blend can be worth every penny of a good single malt
That's all off the top of my head -- anyone else enjoy a premium blend from time to time? I've heard good things about Angus Dundee 25yo -- has anyone here tried this one?
Johanna