What type of Scotch is typically characterized by a mild flavor and sweet notes?

Blended malt Scotch is typically characterized by a mild flavor profile and sweet notes because it is made from a combination of single malts from different distilleries, which allows for a more balanced and approachable tasting experience. This blending process can soften the sometimes harsher characteristics of individual malts, resulting in a smoother spirit that is generally more palatable to a wider audience. The sweetness often emerges from the specific flavor profiles of the malted grains and the influence of cask maturation, which can impart notes of caramel, vanilla, and fruit.

In contrast, single malt Scotch, made from malted barley at a single distillery, may present a more robust and varied flavor profile depending on the distillery’s practices and regional characteristics. Single grain Scotch is produced using grains other than malted barley and usually leads to a lighter body that may not offer the complexity or sweetness found in blended malts. Blended Scotch combines both malt and grain whiskies, which can lead to a spectrum of flavors, but the emphasis may not always be on the mildness and sweetness that a blended malt typically offers.