jonwilkinson7309
Faultline Blended Scotch Whisky
Blended — Scotland
Reviewed
February 8, 2021 (edited January 22, 2022)
Wow. This is a K&L exclusive, blended by Douglas Liang. I don't write a lot of reviews of bespoke bottles, but this one deserves it.
Faultline is a blend of Highland and Island whiskies. The Highlands provide a rich, fruity, creamy base, with a pleasant smoke from the Island contribution. It works beautifully.
What other whiskies have a super rich fruity and creamy base with a nice layer of smoke? (I'm talking super fruity and creamy. By comparison, take for Balvenie Peat Week - fantastic whisky but not in the same rich, lush category) There are only two other whiskies I'm familiar with that make for a useful comparison - Glenglassaugh Torfa and Compass Box Lost Blend. (Feel free to let me know if I'm missing some obvious ones). So how does the Faultline compare? Fortunately, I have a bottle of the No Name on hand, along with a sample of the Torfa.
The Torfa (which I very much enjoy) is frequently described as rich, buttery, and creamy. I agree, but the Faultline is richer, creamier, and more buttery. The Torfa has just a hint of youthful harshness; the Faultline does not. The peat of the Torfa is slightly barbeque; the Faultline's peat note doesn't have a barbeque aspect, but it's a very nice smoke nevertheless - not at all bitter or ashy. Two solid performances, but I give the nod to the Faultline.
The Lost Blend (excellent, IMO) is not richer or creamier (but about equal) but is more complex - more nuance in the fruit notes, a hint of wood spice, and a more distinguishable oak influence. The Lost Blend's peat is a bit stronger, while still allowing the fruit to shine. The winner? The Lost Blend. But still, the Faultline keeps it respectable.
I've made both comparisons without regard to price. The Torfa goes from $60-80 here in the U.S., while I believe I paid $99 at Binney's for the Lost Blend. The Lost Blend is once again...lost...as a limited edition, it's mostly sold out, unless you want to pay $1600 for it at Cask Cartel (no, I'm not exaggerating). So at $25 and with an ABV of 50%, the Faultline is a stunning accomplishment.
I don't consume enough whisky to require a "daily drinker", particularly given my stockpile of bottles that refuses to stop growing. Nevertheless, I've already ordered a second Faultline bottle. K&L does releases like this on a batch-by-batch basis, and this is one I'd like to have on hand indefinitely. And since Cask Cartel is not going to get $1600 out of me, it may be as good as it gets in this niche!
25.0
USD
per
Bottle
Create Account
or
Sign in
to comment on this review
@jonwilkinson7309 Very interesting. Looks like they ship to DC. I’ll need to find someone there to receive some packages for me :) Unfortunately, finding retailers that ship to Virginia are few and far between.
@jdriip. Hope you like it! I'll be interested to hear what you think.
@Whiskey_Hound. That's a good one, and I'm a big fan of the Machir Bay. I would say it's more peat-dominant than the others, but it's not too much of a stretch.
@ctbeck11 They may have contradictory statements on the web site - I recall once seeing on the web site that sprits were CA only. The reality, stated elsewhere, is that they do deliver to a number of states, including NH. NH has a somewhat burdensome registration process for liquor importers, so some retailers deliver here, but others do not. But I live about 10 minutes from the Maine border, where most anything goes. So I keep a virtual mailbox at a pack and ship place. If I can't get something delivered to my house, it goes to Maine. The things I do...
@jonwilkinson7309 that probably exactly is the strategy. Cost of that inventory is merely a bit of shelf space + the original $100 price...so, worthwhile approach, especially if they’re the only ones that have it. And me...somewhere in my stash.
Great review! You asked for a bottle with a profile similar to this one. I haven't this or the other two you reference, but I'd like to throw Kilchoman Machir Bay into the mix based on your notes
@jonwilkinson7309 great review. I’ve straddled the fence about buying this for a while now. Your review convinced me to pull the trigger. Can’t wait to taste it.
@jonwilkinson7309 Looking forward to it. On an unrelated note, how are you able to get K&L orders shipped to you? My understanding is that they only ship spirits within California. Do you have a mule, or is there some loophole?
Thanks for reviewing this. I’ve killed many an hour talking up the staff at K&L, and it’s one of the things I’ve missed most during the pandemic.
@PBMichiganWolverine. Robbery indeed. Not surprisingly, it appears it may be the last place I'm the world that still is selling it online. What's the strategy here? Give it an absolutely stupid price, hoping that someone will actually but it, even if it takes years for that fool to come along??
@ctbeck11 They nailed it. Unless I'm losing my mind! I'll be interested to see what you think.
$1600 for the CB???!! It was good...but, wow...that’s just plain robbery. Besides Balvenie, Torfa, and some CB products, the only other one that comes to mind is the Macallan Black——which I thought blew the others away. Not sure if it’s still available
What?! A 4.5 from you on a $25 bottle? Sounds like this is in some serious value territory.