Black Grouse (Discontinued)

Nose - Faintly smoky charcoal, dark apple/pear cider/juice, ripe strawberry/cherry hard candies. Taste - Apple juice with a hint of bright cherry/strawberry juice sweetness, initial subtle smoky ash that shifts into a white pepper heat. Finish - Lingering sweet smoky apple juice, faint white pepper heat, smoky ash that becomes an ashy bitterness on the tongue, similar to inhaling deeply at a campfire after it has died down. Score - 71/100 Overall - This isn't bad, but it isn't exceptional either. It's relatively lightly peated and not as off-putting as the rubber/iodine/bandaid notes I get from a Laphroaig 10. This is more akin to an old campfire ash peat, which is acceptable. It has this lightly sherried apple/pear juice intense sweetness throughout, with a very thin mouthfeel. I could imagine this being used as a lightly peated component in a blended scotch for cocktails. I would find it difficult to sip this neat regularly. Would I drink it if offered? - No Would I specifically order it? - No Would I buy a bottle? - No

I tried this to see how it differed from the "smoky black." I'm not certain if one replaced the other, and a quick search didn't provide clarity. My review of "Smoky Black" is already posted, so this will involve some comparisons. The summary of that review is a nose of raisins, mild peat, drinkable but utterly forgettable. This expression is less impressive on the nose. It has notes of grease, wood varnish, chimney smoke, horehound candy, and sweet orange. The peat in the aroma is sufficient to make a peat enthusiast a little thirsty. The palate actually has enough peat to warrant the name "black," even "smoky"! Unfortunately, there's not much else. Buttery shortbread and a brandied raisin dryness are about all I detected besides the peat. I enjoy peat, so this is enjoyable, but I'll honestly admit it doesn't offer much else. The mouthfeel is brief but has a distinct peppery quality leading to salinity. It's very light and easy to drink, with no unpleasant heat or ethanol present. This might have been a great-but-boring sipper at a higher proof--at this proof, it's simply dull. I'm rating it 3/5 because it's quite drinkable, just not memorable.

A touch of smoke and a whisper of peat, followed by a sense of incompleteness. It's somewhat lacking in both body and flavor. The finish is brief and sweet, leaving an ashy taste. Considering the $35 price point, this is a rather respectable Scotch, with nothing truly objectionable and a few commendable aspects. If you typically drink popular blends, I highly recommend it over the standard J&B, Dewars White, and it's far better than Johnnie Walker Red Label. JW Black Label offers considerably more smoothness, body, and overall polish, but it lacks the smokiness found in Black Grouse. For its cost, it's definitely worth seeking out and purchasing.

I purchased a small 50ml sample of this to try after enjoying my bottle of Famous Grouse. It definitely has more peat and smoke than the standard "Famous" expression. Initially, I didn't enjoy it as much as the "Famous," but after about 10-15 minutes in the glass, it significantly improved. It developed a distinct chocolate malt note that complemented the peat, giving it an advantage over the "Famous." It's worth the slight extra cost to upgrade. I can foresee myself buying a full-sized bottle of this in the near future.

I would likely rate this three stars generally, but it earns extra points for value because it's significantly better than anticipated for a $30 Canadian blend. It has notes of heather honey, surprisingly rich smoke, and a touch of fruit. Sweet. Its origin is apparent; I certainly detect some characteristics of Highland Park, which I've heard is an included malt. It's good to have on hand for when you've already had a couple of finer drinks but the evening continues. It's sweet and shows its heritage.

It's thin, with a smoky sensation, a leafy finish, and a sharp burn as it goes down. But sometimes that's perfectly fine. Perhaps it's the beautiful grouse image on the label influencing me, but it would be ideal for a flask, carried while waiting for game to appear for dinner. In my opinion, it's much better than Black Bottle at a similar price.