Dewar's Caribbean Smooth

Having recently reviewed pours from the 12/15/18 year bottles I received for Christmas, this was an inexpensive purchase that I anticipated would be at least interesting. I've begun to adapt to different sherry and wine finishes, but I'm not even sure I've had a rum finish before. The aroma is soft and sweet, with butterscotch and vanilla leading the way. However, those aromas don't put up much of a fight; they quickly blend into cereal and ethanol. It's still enjoyable, but you can tell the bottle cost 33 CAD. The palate is more intriguing than the aroma, if only slightly. It begins with a somewhat syrupy sweetness, not like honey, fruit, or maple... just sugary. It then transitions into classic blended scotch territory, offering malted grain, earthy umami notes, and concluding with some faint baking spices. The finish might be the most surprising of all; it actually develops from the somewhat flat palate. Dry notes from the wood initially, but then an unexpected burst of sweetness that does create a nice finish. Is it great? No, but it's less expensive than JW Red here, and only 5 dollars more than White Label, which I detest. For a budget blended scotch, this is sweet and easy, and I only wish it had some smoke.

Nose: Quite gentle and mild, with caramel, brown sugar, and tropical fruits genuinely standing out from the usual Dewar's character. I'm surprised it smells so much like rum after only 6 months in rum casks. Nonetheless, it smells perfectly fine for what it is presented as. Taste: Smooth and immediately on the sweet side. Plenty of caramel and brown sugar here, along with tropical fruits. The standard Dewar's base notes are lurking just below the surface, though. This whisky truly feels like they combined two very different beverages. It's not bad, but not a skillfully crafted blend. Finish: Short and sweet. Meaning, very much on the sweet end of the spectrum. Final thoughts: This tastes like a genuine 8 years in blends plus 6 months in rum casks. It's a decent enough blend where the grain doesn't dominate the primary taste. If you enjoy caramel and sugar in your whisky, go for it. I'd prefer some proper malt, however. Oh, and this is undeniably better than the Tullamore Rum Cask finish (yes, the one they call XO that tastes about half as old as this Dewar's).

The name should be "Taint's Scotch." It's not smooth, it's not scotch, it's not Dewars. A peculiar frankenscotch that combines the harshness of rum with the roughness of young grain whisky scotch. Look, I'm not some malt whisky snob. I enjoy a fine blended scotch any day of the week, and I particularly like Dewars 12. But as a Scotch, the Caribbean Smooth just doesn't work. At best, it's a minor improvement over Dewars white label, but so is a hot cup of vinegar with a pair of dentures floating in it. The spirit here is rather wild, uncivilized blend that is part scotch and heavy rum. It's actually quite impressive how the rum character comes through. Now, if you're the type who enjoys creating your own drinks, this has some interesting potential due to its hybrid nature. But as a sipper, even on ice, it's a bit of a confused mess. The good news is that it's only $22 a bottle. But for the money, I'd rather purchase Chivas 12 or Monkey Shoulder.

Aromas of brown sugar, ripe banana, lemon, lanolin, leather, and a hint of passion fruit. A rounded mouthfeel. On the palate, more brown sugar, lemon, passion fruit, and lanolin – with a medium-long finish dominated by oak and baking spices. Quite Good (neat)

Excellent value scotch. Very accessible, sweet, with notes of vanilla, oak, and a hint of smoke; it certainly goes down smoothly. It possesses more complexity than the original, but don't expect to be amazed for $25; you get what you pay for. It's not a single malt, but it serves its purpose.

I appreciate this whisky. It's sweeter than typical but not cloying, and I detect hints of rum from the finishing casks. It would be excellent in any sweet cocktail, though I've been drinking it straight on ice. Very reasonably priced.