Review by: TOModera
It’s time to start finishing up the Beginner’s list, and other than not being able to obtain a dram of Glenfarclas 12 to save my life (It’s my sad white whale… like a White Mackeral), it’s time to do the ones I can find, and that means more blends.
Because we have to do Blends. They account for over 90% of the whisky sold in the world. Some blends are rather tasty. Johnnie Walker and such (some of them, at least). We’re not doing Johnnie today though. We’re doing Pig’s Nose.
Named because it’s smooth, and hard to find in Ontario (shows up once a year), I was able to order a dram through MoM, which was legally brought in by a good friend.
The blend is a mixture of oak-aged Speysides, Islay, and Lowland malts as well as Invergordon grain whiskies. Can’t tell if it’s then aged in first fill oak casks or not. Says 5 years on it, so there’s a young 5 year old in there as well.
Also pig’s are funny, so this should be fun.
Distillery: The Spencerfield Spirit Company.
Bottler: Distillery Bottling.
Region: Blend.
ABV: 40%.
Age: Unknown
Cask type: Unknown.
Price: N/A in Ontario at the moment.
Color: Clear yellow.
Nose: Corn, butterscotch, grain, white grapes, light strawberry
Faint nose on this, which isn’t a surprise. It’s young, it’s low Abv. Wait, maybe it is a surprise, as there’s some Islay in here. Even Bowmore has some of a sent.
Generic smells all around. Like cheap bacon.
Taste: Fake banana, Tabasco, cereal, burn, paprika, raisins
The fake flavour somewhat dominates until the cereal notes dominates and you’re reminded this is just a smooth blend with a little bit of burn. All in all not the worst blend I’ve had..
Finish: Corn, bitter lemon, fake fruit candy, Bran
The finish needs some help. It reminds me of a step down from Wild Turkey 81. Nothing special here, just some sausage.
Conclusion: I’ll chew the fat on this one, it’s pretty boring, nothing much going on, but it’s drinkable. If you’re going to try it, Hock it off someone else, as the “fruit” flavour throughout isn’t that special in the least. They need to dive into something more interesting.
Final Score: 63.
Scoring Legend:
- 95-100: As good as it gets. Jaw-dropping, eye-widening, unforgettable whisky.
- 90-94: Sublime, a personal favorite in its category.
- 85-89: Excellent, a standout dram.
- 80-84: Quite good. Quality stuff.
- 75-79: Decent whisky worth tasting.
- 70-74: Meh. It’s definitely drinkable, but it can do better.
- 60-69: Not so good. I might not turn down a glass if I needed a drink.
- 50-59: Save it for mixing.
- 0-49: Blech.
Malt Runners 