Review by: Raygun

Back with another Thanksgiving review courtesy of my uncle. Haven’t had the big family Thanksgiving gathering for a few years now, but this year we’re back at it, which means trying what my uncle has bought for the occasion. Usually it’s from Trader Joe’s, but not this year. Shieldaig is a village in Scotland, and also a Total Wine Scotch brand. This one is obviously the Highland version and it’s a single malt, but beyond that, I don’t know where it’s from. Poured into a plastic cup and rested about 10 minutes.

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Distillery: Unknown

Bottler: William Maxwell & Co. 

Region/style: Highlands single malt Scotch

ABV: 40%

Age: NAS  

Cask type: Unknown

Color: 1.0 deep copper. As colored and chill-filtered as they can make it.

Price: Around $22

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Nose: Fairly nondescript. Some caramel, orange, and musty basement. 

Palate: Quite nondescript here as well. Some malt, caramel, vanilla, and a bit of citrus. It’s really fairly flavorless, and it takes some digging to get much out.  

Finish: Malt and a touch of caramel. Strangely, carrot. That’s about it. Even less here than on the palate.  

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Conclusion: It’s not terrible, which is kind of a win. As boring a single malt as I’ve ever had, but not actually bad. Not a bad alternative for Glenmorangie 10 or Glenlivet 12, and cheaper than either. Mercifully free of young grain taste. You could do worse; that’s the best I can say. 

Buy a bottle? Never

Final Score: 61

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Scoring Legend:

• 95-100: As good as it gets. Jaw-dropping, eye-widening, unforgettable whisky. (Convalmore 36)
• 90-94: Sublime, a personal favorite in its category. (Bruichladdich Black Art 4.1)
• 85-89: Excellent, a standout dram. (Ledaig 13 Amontillado)
• 80-84: Quite good. Quality stuff. (Tomatin 18)
• 75-79: Decent whisky worth tasting. (Glen Scotia 15)
• 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)