James Eadie’s Trade Mark X Blended Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Volume: 700ml           ABV: 45.6%           Age: No Age Statement            Country: Scotland

James Eadie Ltd was founded by Rupert Patrick in 2016. Rupert is James Eadie’s great-great-grandson, who has held positions at Diageo, Beam and Ian Macleod Distillers. James Eadie founded a brewery in Burton-on-Trent in 1854, the same year he developed the Trade Mark X Scotch blend. The blend was extremely popular and was sold to Eadie’s chain of public houses throughout the 19th century. In 1933 James’s business was sold to Bass who continued producing the blend till 1947. The resurrection of the blend along with the structuring of the independent bottling company by Rupert means that James Eadie can be remembered again and his past work can be enjoyed once more. The James Eadie Independent bottling’s consist of cask strength selections from various Scottish distilleries. Each bottle describes the distillery, the abv and the date of distillation and bottling as well as the maturation technique.

First produced in 1854 and it was not till 1877 it was trademarked. Sold across Eadie’s chain of public houses that numbered 300 by the end of the 19th century. So popular was the blend that in 1889 whisky writer Alfred Barnard remarked in his Noted Breweries of Great Britain and Irleand (Volume 2) that the ‘ancient Scotch mixture’ was ‘dispensed to a favoured few’ at the brewer’s head office. In 1933 the business was sold to Bass, which continued the production of Trade Mark X until discontinuing the brand in 1947.

Using 12 different whiskies from distilleries such as Caol Ila, Aberlour, Craiellachie and Lagavulin and also taking grain whisky from the closed distilleries of Cambus and Littlemill. ‘Trade Mark X was crafted during the first golden age of Scotch, when Victorian entrepreneurs like James Eadie produced elegant, high quality drinks and built them into strong brands. Bottled at 45.5% abv.

Tasting Notes

Nose: Loads of grassy peat and subtle malt. Bonfire smoke and vanilla ice cream.

Palate: Delicate yet smooth palate weight with layers of smoke that finish with a touch of crystalised ginger.

Finish: Savoury sweet, with a lick of smokiness that backs down slowly.