Review by: The Muskox
Talk about a drop in quality from my last review! Here’s a review of a whisky nobody needs a review of. I don’t like it. It sists in my cupboard waiting for me to mix it with ginger ale. Today, however, I decided to challenge myself to see what I can get out of it. I also really love writing these reviews, so I went for it.
Distillery: Various.
Bottler: Edrington.
Region: Blend.
ABV: 40%.
Age: No age statement.
Cask type: Various.
Price: $28 CAD.
Color: e150. Chill-filtered.
Nose: Oof. There’s that metallic, solventy sharpness I always get right up front. However, after testing my patience and spending much longer with this dram than I thought it deserved, it did begin to fade. Right up front with the sharpness is the same buttery, crusty raisin challah note that I remember also being prominent in Grant’s Family Reserve. There’s some vanilla, citrus, lemongrass, and fresh, very floral honey. There’s a dustiness as well, something like sawdust. It’s a very light, sweet and sharp nose overall.
Palate: Watery. Doesn’t taste like a whole lot at first. Some caramelized sugar and more of that challah. Ethanol. There are some perfumy flowers in here, maybe roses? There isn’t too much of a development, except maybe a small amount of oak and black pepper. The honey comes back toward the end, but it’s drier and woodier now.
Finish: Medium-short. It goes right from the tannins into being creamy sweet. The ghost of vanilla. Yellow plum, grapefruit pith, caramel, and a little waxy milk chocolate. That solvent flavor does return though, which sucks.
Conclusion: Wow, I got a lot of notes out of this somehow. It’s better than I remembered, but that’s not saying much. I’m really glad that sharpness actually lifts a little, because it really is off-putting. I’m picking a beer over a glass of Grouse almost every time.
Final Score: 58.
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. (Aultmore 12)
- 60-69: Not so good. I might not turn down a glass if I needed a drink. (Glenmorangie 10)
- 50-59: Save it for mixing. (Old Pulteney 12)
- 0-49: Blech. (Muirhead’s Silver Seal 16)
Malt Runners 