At the end of 2023 I did quite a lot of Tweet Tastings. By far some of the best marketing of samples came from Noble Rebel. Some/most companies just send some whisky out in pee sample bottles followed by those which send retail minisets. Only the select few will make bespoke marketing packaging for press but Noble Rebel are one of that select few.

This isn’t much of a surprise though because Noble Rebel isn’t a small SME making a new range of products but a blended malt brand within the Loch Loman Distillers family of distilleries. To describe their concept the website says:

Nobel Rebel is a flavour-packed range of blended malt whiskies, created by master blender Michael Henry and the team behind the award-winning single malts from Loch Lomond and Glen Scotia distilleries.

Each entry in the range is built around a different aspect of Scotch whisky’s character: zesty citrus and sweet orchard fruit, rich smoke and tart berries, and creamy oak and nuts. They’re just the thing for those looking to expand their horizons and look beyond single malts.

Loch Lomond Website

The Orchard Outburst one was the first I opened and it was immediately interesting as a summery dram with natural colour and no nasty filtering techniques.

The brand is a collection of blended malts where each blend tries to single out and celebrate a single bow string in the violin of Scotch whisky making. Orchard Outburst is singling out the apples and pears fruit forward note which comes from a range of whisky spirits which is then preserved in the final whisky by subtle cask maturation which doesn’t overpower the distillery spirit character.

Nose – just as you would expect from that lead up this is all pear drops and appletiser, crisp and bright orchard fruit notes all day long and the winter blues are gone and we are thinking about spring being on the horizon

Palate – While thinking of those future beach days to come there is definitely a saline note in here alongside the fresh apples and a touch of vanilla paste which would make the nicest of ice-creams.

Finish – You will never get a long finish on something highlighting short subtle maturation but right on the back of my throat I feel like a bit of lime juice is in there.

Final Thoughts

A great new whisky and all for under £40. You can’t go wrong and its much more involved and interesting than most supermarket single malt fodder at a similar price.