Noble Rebel Trio
Blended Malts | 46% ABV
The bolder the flavours, the better they get.
These are three flavour-led whiskies which do their best to introduce blended malts.
This review only came into existence on a second attempt. The first attempt used official samples from Loch Lomond Group’s agency, where the liquid was delivered in sachets along with extras including a branded jigger and some pins, the function of which I couldn’t really work out. There was a lot of packaging which doesn’t endear the whisky enthusiast who wants to focus on whisky. It wasn’t a great start.
Things got worse when I opened the sachets and discovered the whisky seemed to be tainted by their novel plastic containers. There was a distinctive, soapy off-note that hung over each malt like a cloud. All of them were strangely sour, lacking in balance. This experience ended in a long essay about whisky versus packaging, malt versus marketing. Readers may be relieved to know what they’re currently laying eyes on is not that essay, which will remain on my computer as a relic gathering digital cobwebs. As well as that article being a whinge articulated in 1,500 words, it just wasn’t fair to opine about something I couldn’t taste properly — even if that taste had (as far as I could tell) been masked by that less-than-brilliant packaging choice.
Intrigued by the whiskies’ natural presentation and upset about our experience, Wally delved into the Dramface coffers. This is a wonderful position to be in; thank you supporting members. He bought a bottle of each for investigation and shared samples with each of the reviewers below — in inert, clean, generous, and re-useable glass bottles.
Usually our practice, when offered whisky of genuine interest is for our editorial team to accept; as long as there are no strings attached. To bolster integrity it’s then shipped to another, third party member of the team to carry out the review with complete isolation from the source, as in this (original) case.
The blended malts are presented at 46%, natural colour, and non-chill filtered, satisfying what have become the three cardinal virtues for malt enthusiasts. This is a clear gesture of seriousness and goodwill towards the knowledgeable customer.
From other clues of graphic design, however, we can tell these whiskies have been marketed towards some notion of the ‘youngster’ or the ‘outsider’. Look at the fonts, the bright orange (taking a leaf out of Glenmorangie’s recent facelift), and the cheeky collaged labels. Then look at the names of each whisky. These are descriptive titles that could be shouted across to a bartender in a crowded establishment, pronounced correctly, and understood. They don’t refer to provenance, history, or place: they refer to flavour.
Taken together, these are whiskies that are clearly trying to reach out to new audiences yet refusing to patronise them with something watered down and substandard. I think that aim is laudable. With our second attempt I managed a proper tasting of the three Noble Rebel malts.
Review 1/3
Noble Rebel Orchard Outburst, Blended Malt, Natural colour, un-chill filtered, 46% ABV
£40 RRP
Nose
This is bright and fresh — fruit characteristics and what wine nerds would call ‘primary’ aromas: things which have been rounded off by ageing but which are familiar to newmake. Banana is dominant, plus a little sharpness. Overall, I’m getting something pleasant if not hugely complex. This is miles better than the version in-sachet. The tainted notes are gone and that relatively fragile nose is pure and unadulterated. The closest beast to this dram I had to hand was a Campbeltown Loch and on the nose these two are remarkably similar. Perhaps on the palate, the J&A Mitchell offering is a little thicker, but these two liquids are close relatives. This feels logical given we are dealing with the Loch Lomond Group and therefore at least some of the malt might hail from Glen Scotia in Campbeltown. On the other hand, perhaps this is just what happens when young malt whisky is vatted together at a decent strength.
No apple detected in this Orchard, mind you.
Palate
A small amount of sweetness plus a little spirit burn, and I’m afraid there’s a note I can only describe as “barley”— in other words, a graininess or biscuit note. A little vanilla.
Score: 5/10 AB
Review 2/3
Noble Rebel Hazelnut Harmony, Blended Malt, Natural colour, un-chill filtered, 46% ABV
£40 RRP
Nose
As well as being free from taint this time, the differences between each dram are far clearer. The nose here absolutely justifies the name of this whisky. It is indeed nuttier than the Orchard Outburst and that’s by far the easiest thing to find in this one. Otherwise, there’s detectable vanilla and banana under the surface, sharing some character with the Orchard Outburst.
Palate
A little more textured than the Orchard partner, this has a decent finish. What we have here is far more substantial than many downright watery big-batch blends. Then again, I’m not sure that would be a fair comparison given we’re dealing with a blended malt — known for greater texture — and one whose integrity has been preserved at 46%.
Score: 5/10 AB
Review 3/3
Noble Rebel Smoke Symphony, Blended Malt, Natural colour, un-chill filtered, 46% ABV
£40 RRP
Nose
This is a peated malt and it immediately shows on the nose. Whether one can hack the musical metaphors delivered with according assonance, these names are all undeniably accurate. The whisky is really just trying to tell us what it’s going to taste like and fair play to them. The nose here is by far my favourite. Against the peat smoke, there’s a hefty, dark caramel or vinous note which is holding its own. The interplay between these two aromas is quite engaging and reminds me of Lagavulin 16. Heretically, I actually prefer this, since Lagavulin is a touch ashy for my palate.
Palate
More vinous-like elements on the palate, plus that savoury-sweet interplay which I’m really enjoying at this point in the tasting. A tiny weeny cheesy note as it develops, which I get reasonably often in peated malts. This Smoke Symphony has the longest finish of the three and we return to a little vanilla at the very end. Here, there’s none of the drying tannic quality that I would find in a Lagavulin —another bonus for me.
Score: 6/10 AB
The Dregs (from Arthur)
All three of the malts here are flavour-led in a pleasingly transparent way. My scores increase as those flavours get bolder and a lot more engaging. I’d love to see weirder flavours being pursued here, perhaps taking a leaf out of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society book and going for obscurity and whimsy.
Obviously, these drams are marketed towards a less stuffy audience so they want to go for as wide a base as possible. But it’s often the case that the more specific something is, the wider its appeal: specific is memorable.
Team Reviews
Gallie’s Review 1/3
Noble Rebel Orchard Outburst, Blended Malt, Natural colour, un-chill filtered, 46% ABV
£40 RRP
Nose
Powdered sugar. There’s also a smell of super sweet marshmallows, but this settles down after a while, becoming straightforward foam bananas. Then, buttered popcorn. This is definitely and straightforwardly a sweet-tooth malt, and not of the raisin variety.
Palate
I’m reminded of fake fruity squash, cough medicine, and maybe popsicles. Intriguingly, I’m also getting cinnamon. There is a strong aftertaste of tinned peaches, and I may be imagining it, but the texture is slightly syrupy. These aren’t my kind of flavours, but I’m intrigued.
Score: 5/10 GMc
Gallie’s Review 2/3
Noble Rebel Hazelnut Harmony, Blended Malt, Natural colour, un-chill filtered, 46% ABV
£40 RRP
Nose
Sweet baking spices, milk chocolate, Spanish laundry soap. This is more reticent than the Orchard Outburst.
Palate
You guessed it, it’s nutty. Specifically, it reminds me of one of those nut-flavoured Starbucks lattes. I’m also tasting cacao beans. This is quite smooth, and again I believe there’s less going on than in the Orchard Outburst. It doesn’t quite manage to pique my interest, even though these notes would normally appeal more to me.
Score: 4/10 GMc
Gallie’s Review 3/3
Noble Rebel Smoke Symphony, Blended Malt, Natural colour, un-chill filtered, 46% ABV
£40 RRP
Nose
Boom — a very savoury smoked sausage. It’s accompanied by something vaguely acidic and the smell of new plastic toys.
Palate
It tastes just like the nose, just with added sweetness. It’s almost like liquorice; there’s a mentholic medicinal note. This dram reminds me of Talisker 10yo. Also, what was cinnamon in the Orchard Outburst and baking spices in the Hazelnut Harmony seems to be back again — I wonder what component is behind that? Despite the simplicity of the nose, the complexity added to the palate by the presence of flavours that are not sweet makes the Smoke Symphony the standout ‘Rebel’ for me.
Score: 6/10 GMc
The Dregs (from Gallie)
All of three blended malts very much feel like someone set out to create specific flavour profiles rather than be led by what was in the barrels. These whiskies are strangely direct in their notes and they’re clearly trying to please the crowd in both flavours and appearance. This approach doesn’t speak to me as much as something a bit more mysterious, although that cinnamon note I found across the board did keep things interesting, but I applaud the integrity of the liquid and the blended malt focus all the same. I agree that it would be great to see ‘weirder’ flavours being pursued.
That said, that funky Ben Nevis I raved about recently? It tasted like bin juice after this — but in a good way.
GM
Ramsay’s Review 1/3
Noble Rebel Orchard Outburst, Blended Malt, Natural colour, un-chill filtered, 46% ABV
£40 RRP
Nose
Well, what else were you expecting? It’s apples and plenty of them. Sweet, confectionery apple with a slightly acidic sourness to it. There’s also peaches covered in vanilla cream and fudge.
Palate
There’s more sweet apple again, but I’d describe it is more like a fresh, sweet eating apple rather than confectionery. The sourness of the apple kicks in quickly afterwards as does a little bitter oak, white pepper and caramel.
The apple on the nose is really pleasant and hits the brief perfectly. It’s fairly simple and straightforward whisky, but there is nothing offensive and it is a good easy summer pour.
Score: 5/10 RT
Ramsay’s Review 2/3
Noble Rebel Hazelnut Harmony, Blended Malt, Natural colour, un-chill filtered, 46% ABV
£40 RRP
Nose
We are in orchard fruit territory again here. More pear than apple this time, but it still has that sweet and sour thing going on. It gives a slight white wine vibe too. There’s rich, dark caramel and possibly a nuttiness, but I feel the branding may be leading me there, whereas the Orchard Outburst’s fruit is irrefutable. Gummy bears.
Palate
Apple strudel dusted with icing sugar initially, before that apple turns sour and some lemon comes into the mix too. Oak comes in next, turning slightly charred as it develops, with continuing orchard fruit sweetness coated in honey.
I don’t think I get much in the way of nuttiness with this, but again as with the Orchard Outburst, it’s a pleasant and inoffensive pour that I could happily sip.
Score: 5/10 RT
Ramsay’s Review 3/3
Noble Rebel Smoke Symphony, Blended Malt, Natural colour, un-chill filtered, 46% ABV
£40 RRP
Nose
I get a really big note of sausages on the nose. Specifically Richmond sausages if you’re familiar with the brand. It’s herbal with sage and rosemary along with fresh red berries and a hint of rubber.
Palate
Smoky icing sugar dusted bacon with honey on a pile of American pancakes. There’s a medicinal sticking plaster flavour along with gingery spice and bitter charred oak. The smoke lingers and lingers, with red berries, dusty pebbles, and a slightly artificial sweetness, but nevertheless a tasty dram.
Score: 6/10 RT
The Dregs (from Ramsay)
The Smoke Symphony is my pick of the three, which I didn’t expect going into tasting these, as fruity ex-bourbon cask whisky is one of my big go-to styles. Those sausages on the nose and the icing sugar dusted bacon are really specific notes that endear me further to the dram.
The only issue I have with these three is what they’re competing with at the price point. The Orchard Outburst and Hazelnut Harmony have competition from the likes of Glencadam 10, which I think is a bit better for around the same money and has similar traits. The Smoke Symphony goes head to head with Ledaig Rioja, and again although I do like it, the Ledaig would be my pick.
RT
Wally’s Review 1/3
Noble Rebel Orchard Outburst, Blended Malt, Natural colour, un-chill filtered, 46% ABV
£40 RRP
Nose
Powdered sugar, fruit pastilles, juicy, ripe pears, limoncello, a glass of chardonnay. Slight milkiness, like milk bottle sweets or melted ice cream, but clean not sour or lactic. After some time in the glass a cereal grassiness, like warm hayfields.
Palate
A light to medium-bodied arrival brings a soft fizz, confectionary laden, like sherbert. There’s a sweet apple pie and a dusting of white pepper for heat. Some acidity. Sharpness through the mineralic and chalky development on to a drying, sugary finish. Vanilla and mint, like Tic Tacs.
Score: 6/10 WMc
Wally’s Review 2/3
Noble Rebel Hazelnut Harmony, Blended Malt, Natural colour, un-chill filtered, 46% ABV
£40 RRP
Nose
Cereal and maltiness forward, almost like passing a busy brewery. Cappuccino, chocolate wrappers and pencil case, apple cider and cinnamon sticks.
Palate
Viscous and oily, firmer and creamier. Cold coffee and soft baking spices, chocolate - I’ll take the bait - hazelnut pralines. Allover richer with a medium, drying finish. Reaching for another.
Score: 7/10 WMc
Wally’s Review 3/3
Noble Rebel Smoke Symphony, Blended Malt, Natural colour, un-chill filtered, 46% ABV
£40 RRP
Nose
A warm earthiness, mulled wine and cloves with a burnt orange skin tinge. Red fruits; redcurrant and blackberries. A savoury side, Tellicherry peppercorns and honeyed barbecue meats.
Palate
Savoury smoke, barbecue wood-chip style. Light-to-medium body once more with a sharp red fruitiness like blackcurrant wine gums. A little mild chilli and a sprig of spearmint. Perhaps the longest finish, the smoke helping things hang around.
Score: 6/10 WMc
The Dregs (from Wally)
I get the feeling my overall experience with these may be similar to my peers; there’s really nothing negative to cover here, just good solid and shareable bottles of malt. Yet, I’ve deliberately scored a smidge higher.
I would have likely bought these anyway, but after the false start from Albert they were bumped up the priority list in order to get a proper review arranged. Whiskies from plastic sachets suck in my experience.
I’ve been lucky enough to tinker with the bottles since originally sharing them back in March, and my experiences with more liquid has revealed some interesting things from the luxury of compare-and-contrast.
Firstly, like Ramsay, I used Glencadam 10yo and Ledaig Rioja to compare the Orchard and Smoke varieties. At first I was surprised at our like-mindedness, but thinking about it they’re probably obvious picks. I picked a Craigellachie 13yo for the Hazelnut comparison, just from mood and a desire to test out that viscosity.
The Glencadam 10 is a firmer and more rounded experience with more defined, creamy fruit, yet it brings the zing and fizz out of the Noble Rebel fruit-fest nicely. It draws your attention to texture and that idea of a positive fragility on the palate; it really feels like it dissolves. Interestingly, comparing this blended malt to another; Orchard House, the Noble Rebel won out, highlighting a new-make-like, spirity youthfulness in the much celebrated Compass Box release.
Likewise, in the Ledaig we have a much more solid and robust malt from Tobermory, and at first you think it has the blended malts measure, no problem. But spending a little more time you find yourself drawn to more detail and a less-shouty peat profile from the Noble Rebel. Overall though, the dialled up saturation of the Ledaig wins out. However if this is a style of whisky you love, you don’t have to choose. At these prices you may have both.
The comparison of the Hazelnut Harmony against the Craigellachie was the most fun, they really brought attention to the strengths in each glass rather than highlight any deficiencies. The Speyside single malt ended up rich and creamy with bright yellow starfruit and a pleasing, previously undiscovered waxiness, while the blended malt just smothered my palate in milk chocolate. At one point I was craving a Topic.
However, the main reason I’m excited about these is similar in vibe to the releases from Thompson Bros and many others; blended malts bringing really easy-to-access, delicious bottles at a great price. When they proudly plaster the natural presentation clearly on the labels and price them for anxiety-free enjoyment too - it’s the modern way and I’m in.
WMc
Tried these? Share your thoughts in the comments below. AB
Other opinions on these:
The Whiskey Novice (Hazelnut Harmony -video)
Got a link to a reliable review? Tell us.