Black & White Blended Scotch

Nose: Grain and a touch of sherry, some citrus, malt, and fresh bread. The aroma isn't particularly distinctive, but it lacks ethanol harshness and has a faint hint of smoke. It reminds me somewhat of Johnnie Walker's profile, but it's superior – pleasantly sharp and light. [The empty glass reveals a more noticeable smoky note]. Palate: Incredible! Quite unexpected! It enters with a full, creamy sensation and excellent harmony. Initially sweet and fruity, but then a substantial amount of well-defined smoke arrives on the palate, preceding a malt intensity that fills the mouth. Its presence is brief but leaves a remarkable impression. The mouthfeel is smooth and soft, with a subtle spicy quality that persists to the very end. Finish: Moderate length. Malty, spicy, and sweet, leaving a lingering taste. The end features a crisp, light cereal graininess that is rather refined and free of any metallic harshness. This is my first encounter with Black & White, and I understand its appeal to some, though I can also see why it might be disliked by others. It truly showcases grain whisky – very FINE grain whisky with superb flavor and texture – while the malt component serves solely to provide a dramatic and sharply defined contrast of malt, fruit, and smoke. It's an unconventional approach to blending. Its strength lies in its great simplicity and clear profile, which is also its weakness. If you don't favor light and airy blends with a silky texture, it might seem either flavorless or excessively focused on "sweet but unremarkable" grain whisky. Those seeking a blend where malt whisky is the dominant element will likely not enjoy this. It performs exceptionally well either served straight (making it dangerously easy to drink!) or with soda, as the character isn't dulled by dilution. In fact, I'd venture to say this is among the finest lower-mid shelf blends I've sampled in a simple highball. The main drawback is its price, which positions it against Johnnie Walker Black Label, Ballantine's 12, Dewer's 12, and numerous other quality mid-shelf blends. In that company, it tends to get overlooked, which is unfortunate given its quality. A lower price point would certainly lead to a repeat purchase. I believe the official rating of 74 is unnecessarily harsh; this is easily on par with blends that have received significantly higher scores here and, in my opinion, deserves at least an 80. One more thought: if you're a big fan of Compass Box Hedonism blended grain whisky, try tasting that followed immediately by a neat sip of this. You'll grasp the concept instantly, and Black & White might just become your preferred blended scotch. "Above Average": 80/100 (3 stars)

While it's not unusual for a whiskey distillery to have over 130 years of history, it's less common for a whiskey itself to have the same longevity. Officially, its name wasn't Black and White until 1902, but it was known as such long before that. It initially incorporated Dalwhinnie, Clynelish, and Glendullan malts, but it's uncertain what the current mixture is. They still sell over 1 million cases these days. Many moons ago (well, actually last month) at NZ Dramfest, I was fortunate; a friend mentioned a free talk on rare whiskeys. I had sadly missed out on purchasing the paid session (and my chance to taste a Brora, damn it!), but I took what I thought was a break from drinking whiskey to listen to some talking from Dave Broom, Charles MacLean, and the founder of the festival. To my surprise, they also allowed us a sample of a 30-year-old, 30% example of this drop. It was one of my most interesting whiskey experiences, completely different from today's style or even single malts of similar age. One word: Molasses! It's hard to judge it as it's a unique beast, but I'll say 3.5.

I'm 69 years old and had never seen this in my area until yesterday. I knew its reputation was to be rather average, though some folks rate it to be one of the better traditional blends. To be forthright, some average Scotches are among my favorites because they hit some of the flavor notes I really enjoy. This is is a decent "bottom shelf" blend. There is malt, a bit of sweetness and a whiff of smoke. It lies soft in the mouth with only a little heat. It is overall smooth and inoffensive. I am sure the blenders had that as their goal. But, nothing really stands out for me. There are other bottom or near-bottom shelf blended whiskies I prefer the taste of--such as Grant's Family Reserve, Loch Lomond or Teacher's Highland Cream. This would be a fine mixer and would work great at parties as a "middle of the road" Scotch that should not offend anyone--nor enthrall them.

Taiwan boasts a vibrant convenience store scotch scene, with a strong appreciation for single malts. I purchased this on impulse, and it's neither offensive nor memorable. Upon opening, the aroma is intensely noticeable from a distance. Everything about this suggests a spirit aiming to assert its identity or demand serious consideration. I'm uncertain of the nose's components. Alcohol? Perhaps a subtle hint of licorice. The palate offers notes of herbs and inexpensive potpourri. This might sound like a criticism, but it isn't. The bottle is adequate, reasonably priced, and convenient for hotel stays.

Received this 1.75L as a holiday gift from a student's parents, who clearly understand what teachers need for mixed drinks over the break, saving the better spirits for myself. It would have been acceptable back when I regularly drank Rob Roys, but it's definitely not a top-tier sipping scotch, much like other lower-shelf scotches. For half the cost, I'd opt for Highland's Mist, as the difference is undetectable when mixed with sweet and dry vermouth and bitters.

They say lightning doesn't strike twice, but I stumbled upon an old Black and White at a local liquor store. The last one I sampled was from the 1980s. This particular bottle dates back to 1966, and at $10 USD per pour or $200 USD per bottle, it represented excellent value. I observed the partially opened cask with several unopened bottles remaining. It bears similarities to the 1980s version from dramfest. It's like molasses and burnt rich toffee. Quite intriguing. A stark contrast to today's uninspired offerings. I still can't believe you can still find 50+ year old bottlings so reasonably priced.