Dewar's 15 Year

Rating: 13/23 Nose: Sweet nectar (possibly honey, but without the bitterness I anticipate), a dash of malt, a whiff of grain, some tangerine and apricot. A little oiliness and a hint of alcohol. Not much is happening on the nose, but what's there is sweet with a reasonably well-rounded richness. It's a very easy-to-approach nose. Palate: Light and sweet with some oil and spice. Lemon, faint tangerine, slight harshness. A bit of a floral aspect to the fruit. The alcohol flavor is more apparent than I'd expect from a 15 year old scotch, though there's a touch of the bitter side of honey trying weakly to explain it. This tastes more like a 12 year old to me. Some vanilla makes an appearance. It does seem like there were some first-fill bourbon barrels used, though I don't detect much beyond vanilla with a slight oak character. I can search deeper for other sweet, fruity notes from the bit of malty richness present, but it requires effort. The flavors aren't very distinct here, and although they're mild, the alcohol comes through noticeably. Finish: Bitter alcohol with faint floral fruit and a dash of vanilla. The tangerine eventually emerges subtly on the long finish. - Conclusion - I'm quite let down by this one. It's not bad, but I was hoping for something that could more seriously rival Johnnie Walker Green. Of course, I knew the grain whisky was a gamble, and I think its youth and alcohol content are what have compromised this one. Pure Scot (14) might not be as complex, but it nails its rich profile, with its youth mainly showing from the fresh oak barrel. This, conversely, is more complex and traditionally flavored, but it has that youthful alcohol taste. And it's still only somewhat complex. I'd prefer this Pure Scot over this one. I won't rate it as low as an 11, but it's only getting a 12 or 13. I think a 13 is appropriate.

Johnnie Walker 12 year black move over for the Monarch 15 year old from Dewar's. One thing that I always noticed and kept me from absolutely loving the JW black label was the heavy presence of the grain whiskey. The Dewar's also contains grain to be sure but it isn't leaping out of the glass at me probably because it's hidden behind a sherry cask layer. Nose is immediately fruit both the darker sherry raisin, plum, fig but also the lighter pear and apple. Floral hay/grass and heather is also very distinct on this one. Some underlying sweetness like light honey and vanilla. Palate is very inviting the light fruit and sweet honey notes come out first with some of the floral grass notes then the sherry cask comes in with the red fruit and notable sherry flavor (think GlenDronach) because the oak comes in next and makes for a semi dry oaky sherry flavor. Finally some barrel spice and a touch of alcohol tingle comes in toward the finish to make this dram mouthwatering. Finish is the longer end of short with the fruit, sherry, sweet and oak lingering around but with no bitterness. This is steps above J&B or Cutty Sark and has even edged out JW Black for me as a daily drinker and one I wouldn't be hurt to add some ice to in the summer. It's 15 years and roughly the same price tag as the JW black 12 year, however still doesn't rise above the taste of the JW Double black or the quality of the all single malt 15 year from JW.

Aroma: apple, honey, pear, fig, apricot, faint sulphur, grass, cereal grain, vanilla, lemon, caramel, nutmeg, floral notes, slight ethanol burn. Taste: pear, honey, baked apple, buttery cinnamon, peach, mint, ginger, white pepper, fig, cereal grain, grass, lemon zest, pineapple, mild to moderate alcohol sting, concluding with a medium-length finish of orchard fruit, honey, and citrus flavors. I haven't had a Dewar's older than 12 years previously, so this should be interesting. My prior encounters were rather unremarkable, so I'm not anticipating much. The aroma is typical of a blended malt. Orchard fruits, honey, citrus, caramel, and vanilla. Uncomplicated yet inviting, with perhaps a trace of sulphur. The flavor is similarly light, but the texture has a pleasing oiliness. The same notes are present, but it's clearly underproofed, making the dram taste brighter and more sour than it should. Overall, this is comparable to entry-level Dewar's blends, perhaps slightly better due to the marginally improved texture and finish. At around $45 a bottle near me, I'll pass. Honestly, if I were seeking an inexpensive blend, I would opt for something under $30. This sits in an odd spot, neither particularly cheap nor exceptionally good. It's better than average for me, but it just barely meets the criteria. Thanks to a friend for the generous sample!

Nose: Sweet fruit appears first, followed by floral and medicinal notes. The fruit starts as peach, then moves to orchard fruit like pear and apple. There are also faint bready and nutty undertones. It's very pleasant, but also somewhat unmemorable. Swirling too hard releases much more ethanol than anticipated; casual drinking and nosing don't reach this point, but a vigorous swirl in pursuit of more scents is met with alcohol and numbness. Mouth: Interestingly distinct from the nose. Dark cherries, milk chocolate powder, then apples with a slight tartness. Very subtle smoke with distant leather and cigar-like notes. It has a heavy, coating mouthfeel, almost chewy – and quite enjoyable in that regard. The finish is light but lasting, with cinnamon and clove. Chocolate flavors also develop over time and blend nicely with the spice. Nothing truly stands out and wows in this bottle, but the overall experience is, as I mentioned, quite enjoyable. It seems appropriate for the cost. Definitely a step up from the 12 year. I would purchase this again, but I wouldn't make a special effort to find it either.

After opening a bottle of the 12-year, I decided to try the 15-year for a comparison. The aroma of this 15-year is inviting, with a velvety and subtle quality that encourages further investigation. After a few minutes, it reveals scents of honey, caramel, and vanilla, with just a trace of ethanol. The taste is less sweet than anticipated, moving directly to malted barley and grain with baking spices, offering little in the way of transition or development; it's a brief experience. The finish is thin but provides a decent warmth from the alcohol content, similar to the 12-year, with a touch of pepper. Both this and the 12-year are quite comparable; the 15-year has a more luxurious aroma, while the 12-year offers a slightly more engaging, though less refined, palate. It's a good scotch, but not exceptional.

The aroma is coconut and salty butterscotch, distinctly tropical and creamy, reminiscent of vanilla and toffee. There are some woody notes from the barrel, followed by jasmine and heather-like florals. It also has a slightly sulphuric character. While the scent isn't my favorite, it's not unpleasant, with coconut being the dominant note. The taste is like piña colada and more coconut. The creamy vanilla is followed by a sharp, bitter sensation from barrel tannins and a whisper of bitter sherry. Adding a drop of water significantly improves it, allowing the vanilla to become richer and sweeter. The texture is slick and oily, and the flavor lingers. The finish has a sharp, bitter taste that doesn't quite work for me, featuring barrel char and tobacco ash, like a plastic toy. It's excessively harsh for a drink aged for fifteen years.