mitchshrader
New Member
The concepts of 'cheap' and 'Scotch Whisky' aren't often found in the same bottle.. and if they ARE, you're mostly advised to avoid it, for the sake of your tongue, liver, and head..
But there are exceptions. A few. A bit ago, I tested (and tested, and Tested) some JW Gold, quite a nice swallow, even the 14th one.
smooth. 18 years old, about 55$
But. it lacked flavor and cost a lot and wasn't so very thrilling that gulping glasses full excited me.
NOW.. I've tried another blended scotch. Hey, when it's good, it's good. IF it is.. and this'n don't suck.
Dewar's 12 year old, 'Double Gold' (and that's even believeable, now that i've tasted it) .. basically, a 43% version with maybe a little less grain whisky in the mix, and a little less filtering.. more flavorful and a bit harsher on the edges.. NICE BOOZE. Now, JW Gold carefully avoids the word grain, and in the taste it's obvious.. Dewars 12 mentions grain very honestly, and in the taste it's NOT obvious.. (what's up with that? wierd marketing) ..
I'm drinking it neat, and it's not *the best* flavor I ever had, theres a little sweetness 'not there', it's a tiny bit sourish oak at first, more bourbony than scotchlike, but it's still GOOD, just not perfect.. and the nice old sherry cask taste jumps right in, hey I like this part.. Finish is short, clean, no aftertaste of corn, if there's grain here it's very civilized grain and not noticed. Nope, I don't get corn at all. It's a bit grittier (unmalted barley? oats?) than most 12 year old single malt scotch, but I'd guess that there's some (at least) 15 or 18 year old stuff in the mix, too. This is Very Easy to sip at, and i'm the guy never does anything to whisky.
If you ONLY like peat, don't buy it.
If you like canadian, light blends, sherry casked malts, or just 'decent' liquour .. this'll make ya smile. Not shabby at all, you can pour THIS in a decanter and let em guess what it is.
The nose is malty, like fresh beer, but moreso than most scotch. This is like very good dark ale or maybe a belgian beer, in odor. Strong, good deep yeast aroma, along with the malt.. Hint of bread pudding, cinnamon, mace in the glass
This ain't the best booze ever made. . but it's tastier than the JW Gold at twice the price. The JW was sweeter and 'slicker', but more corn taste, even though smoother and more filtered.. IMO not as good a liquour blend, even IF older and a hair smoother. Poured out of each other's bottles, you'ld have no trouble believing this one was the expensive one.
It don't get no better'n that. about 25$ a fifth.
Edit. After a couple ounces, second impressions, finish is very warming, clean, it 'hits' more like an older cask strength whisky. It has a long slow glow from the middle out, and that's the first thing that's reminded me of grain whisky. Not the taste, but the fact it's very warming for the actual alcohol level. Nice booze to drink straight, nice enough to pour for a friend, maybe not what you'ld want for weddings and funerals but darn sure good enough for everyday.
Touchdown.
Edit. 3rd Impressions (still the first drink, guys, relax!) There's a little vanilla at the front, from bourbon casks, and a whiff of almonds.. then rapidly the old sherry (rancio?) taste, what I call 'old wet dog' .. and a bit of stinging at the sides of the tongue.. the Only hint of youth, really.. not much wood on the finish, but no off flavors, a very 'pour another one' finish..
contemplating, and guessing.. I'd guess this 'grain' whisky is made at the highest possible proof, and casked in bourbon casks.. for 12 years and 1 day. legal, and so high proof it's close to vodka, and having darn little flavor other than the vanilla notes & 'bourbony' taste from the casks. I think the grain part has wheat, unmalted barley, and possibly a small amount of oats or corn. The OTHER part of this blend is, I think from the taste, some much older sherry casked single malt, perhaps a few REALLY old, 'Over The Hill' casks, to give it that nice antique flavor.. This is an exceptional use of blending components to give a final result that is tasty, affordable, and stands on it's own without apology. Buy some. Heck, buy some Extra, I might drop by. :whistling: If you've a bourbon loving friend, that just doesn't GET it about scotch, thinks it's all overpriced and full of smoke and seaweed and iodine.. THIS is the blend to offer em.
But there are exceptions. A few. A bit ago, I tested (and tested, and Tested) some JW Gold, quite a nice swallow, even the 14th one.
smooth. 18 years old, about 55$ But. it lacked flavor and cost a lot and wasn't so very thrilling that gulping glasses full excited me.
NOW.. I've tried another blended scotch. Hey, when it's good, it's good. IF it is.. and this'n don't suck.
Dewar's 12 year old, 'Double Gold' (and that's even believeable, now that i've tasted it) .. basically, a 43% version with maybe a little less grain whisky in the mix, and a little less filtering.. more flavorful and a bit harsher on the edges.. NICE BOOZE. Now, JW Gold carefully avoids the word grain, and in the taste it's obvious.. Dewars 12 mentions grain very honestly, and in the taste it's NOT obvious.. (what's up with that? wierd marketing) ..
I'm drinking it neat, and it's not *the best* flavor I ever had, theres a little sweetness 'not there', it's a tiny bit sourish oak at first, more bourbony than scotchlike, but it's still GOOD, just not perfect.. and the nice old sherry cask taste jumps right in, hey I like this part.. Finish is short, clean, no aftertaste of corn, if there's grain here it's very civilized grain and not noticed. Nope, I don't get corn at all. It's a bit grittier (unmalted barley? oats?) than most 12 year old single malt scotch, but I'd guess that there's some (at least) 15 or 18 year old stuff in the mix, too. This is Very Easy to sip at, and i'm the guy never does anything to whisky.
If you ONLY like peat, don't buy it.
If you like canadian, light blends, sherry casked malts, or just 'decent' liquour .. this'll make ya smile. Not shabby at all, you can pour THIS in a decanter and let em guess what it is.
The nose is malty, like fresh beer, but moreso than most scotch. This is like very good dark ale or maybe a belgian beer, in odor. Strong, good deep yeast aroma, along with the malt.. Hint of bread pudding, cinnamon, mace in the glass
This ain't the best booze ever made. . but it's tastier than the JW Gold at twice the price. The JW was sweeter and 'slicker', but more corn taste, even though smoother and more filtered.. IMO not as good a liquour blend, even IF older and a hair smoother. Poured out of each other's bottles, you'ld have no trouble believing this one was the expensive one.
It don't get no better'n that.
about 25$ a fifth. Edit. After a couple ounces, second impressions, finish is very warming, clean, it 'hits' more like an older cask strength whisky. It has a long slow glow from the middle out, and that's the first thing that's reminded me of grain whisky. Not the taste, but the fact it's very warming for the actual alcohol level. Nice booze to drink straight, nice enough to pour for a friend, maybe not what you'ld want for weddings and funerals but darn sure good enough for everyday.
Touchdown.
Edit. 3rd Impressions (still the first drink, guys, relax!) There's a little vanilla at the front, from bourbon casks, and a whiff of almonds.. then rapidly the old sherry (rancio?) taste, what I call 'old wet dog' .. and a bit of stinging at the sides of the tongue.. the Only hint of youth, really.. not much wood on the finish, but no off flavors, a very 'pour another one' finish..
contemplating, and guessing.. I'd guess this 'grain' whisky is made at the highest possible proof, and casked in bourbon casks.. for 12 years and 1 day.
legal, and so high proof it's close to vodka, and having darn little flavor other than the vanilla notes & 'bourbony' taste from the casks. I think the grain part has wheat, unmalted barley, and possibly a small amount of oats or corn. The OTHER part of this blend is, I think from the taste, some much older sherry casked single malt, perhaps a few REALLY old, 'Over The Hill' casks, to give it that nice antique flavor.. This is an exceptional use of blending components to give a final result that is tasty, affordable, and stands on it's own without apology. Buy some. Heck, buy some Extra, I might drop by. :whistling: If you've a bourbon loving friend, that just doesn't GET it about scotch, thinks it's all overpriced and full of smoke and seaweed and iodine.. THIS is the blend to offer em.
