Dewar's Portuguese Smooth

Another intriguing offering from Dewar's. Following my encounter with Ilegal (a good value and an easy, uncomplicated sipper), I was keen to explore more of the range. While the Japanese Smooth is reportedly the least well-regarded of the group and Ilegal the best, this sits somewhere in the middle. We'll see... Tasted neat and with a large ice sphere. Its color is a reddish copper, fitting for a Port finish. The aroma is typical Dewar's, with a bit too much grain alcohol, a trace of peat smoke, a generous amount of malt, and some fruitiness from the wine. This drinks better casually on ice than it does neat. I'm not overly critical as I don't expect a $25 bottle of scotch to be a sophisticated drink. On ice, the ethanol and grain alcohol notes are reduced, allowing the sweetness to become more prominent. Perhaps that's where this falls short. The finish makes this taste inexpensive. It's acceptable, but not at all impressive. It carries the standard Dewar's blended whisky profile (note: I appreciate Dewar's for what it is and have been drinking White Label since around '84). White Label is certainly not remarkable, but its appeal lies in its general lack of significant flaws. It's not inherently good, but it's also not bad or offensive. That's the standard Dewar's. (The 12yr Ancestor is a different story and much superior) This particular expression adds a sweetness from the finish on top of the standard Dewar's blended scotch profile. To my palate, this doesn't work as well as the Ilegal. The delightful mezcal finish of the Ilegal significantly contributed to my enjoyment. But this... This bottle offers nothing to recommend it; it's simply ordinary and lacks any redeeming qualities. The port finish here strongly resembles a cheap jug wine, which is unfortunate. The finish actually detracts from the core Dewar's character. It's essentially port-flavored boxed wine, and while it adds fruit and sweetness, it's poorly integrated. I believe Dewar should have chosen a better finishing cask. I use a simple rating system. 1 is outright bad - I try to avoid anything I perceive as being at this level, as life is too short to waste on poor quality. 2 to 3 is average, and most spirits will fall into this range according to a bell curve. That's not a negative. 3 to 4 is very good, and 4+ is exceptional. Portuguese Smooth is not a spirit destined for the top of my scale. I will finish the bottle and enjoy it, but I won't purchase it again. It's mediocre. Opt for the Ilegal Smooth; it's a satisfying guilty pleasure. This expression is simply regrettable.

Nose: Malt, apple skins, citrus, and stone fruits. The port cask finish is subtle, adding just a sheen of fortified wine to the standard Dewar’s distillate, which is pleasant and smooths out what could otherwise be a rather ordinary, though competently made, blended scotch nose. Compared to Dewar’s White Label, this is certainly the more intriguing scotch. Palate: It has a more substantial arrival than the other two “Dewar’s Smooth” expressions I recently tried, but it's also less sweet and engaging. It unexpectedly resembles an oloroso sherry finish more than port, with a significant amount of tannin giving it a sharp, dry quality (I question if European oak casks were used, surely not!). The texture is acceptable but is overwhelmed by the tannic dryness, making it seem thin. The palate doesn't live up to the nose. Finish: Medium length, featuring peppery, sharp spices, over-brewed tea, and aged walnut skins. The finish is another step down from the initial palate. This is the final expression from the Dewar’s Smooth finish range I purchased recently, and it's not my top choice. It begins reasonably well, but the taste and finish don't honor the nose. If it were smoother, better balanced, and had a bit more fruit on the palate, I would rate it higher. Adding a splash of water significantly reduces the tannins and generally improves the palate and mouthfeel, though the nose loses its presence. It handles water surprisingly well for a 40% ABV blended scotch; I suppose the oak spice must be beneficial for something. I suspect this would be best as a mixer, and when paired with something sweet like Coke or dry ginger ale, it's likely to be more than satisfactory. I'm ranking it one point above Dewar’s White Label, placing it within my current order of preference for these three expressions and previously rated Dewar’s scotches: 82/100 (3.25) - 15 Year Old “The Monarch” 81/100 (3) – 12 Year Old “The Ancestor” 81/100 (3) - Ilegal Smooth mescal cask 80/100 (3) - Japanese Smooth mizunara cask 79/100 (2.75) - Portuguese Smooth port cask 78/100 (2.75) – Dewar’s White Label Overall: 79/100 (2.75 stars)

The bottle indicates 8 years old, Dewar's double-aged, with a port wine cask finish. Their tasting notes suggest "apricot, honeydew melon, red cherries, heathered honey with vanilla notes." I'll concede the apricot, honey, and port influence; the rest is definitely an exaggeration. The nose is weak. The palate features distinct port cask notes, but they aren't harsh. It tastes like strawberry jam, raspberry ice cream, and plain dry grain. It lacks the floral notes typically found in this category. The silky Dewar's honey provides a sturdy backbone, much like the frame of a 1980 Fleetwood Cadillac. I'm a big Dewar's fan and had skipped the 'illegal smooth' line until this one. The mezcal received poor reviews, and I'm quite certain Glenlivet Caribbean would easily outperform Dewar's rum finish... I think this could be a refreshing change! This is an affordable scotch, but it's a respectable representation of a more upscale scotch style. It lacks heat and off-notes, but also any sophisticated depth, body, complexity, or class. I'm looking forward to experimenting with it; it's essentially strawberry jam on toast. If you've read this far, here's a helpful tip: I just learned today that the next release will be "Japanese smooth" with a MIZUNARA finish (amazing!!!). If it offers similar value for money as this one, it could be an incredible bargain. Chivas Mizu is now prohibitively expensive at over $50. Upgrade to 4/5 if you can find it under $25 and appreciate a well-executed surprise, or for how well the port is handled at this price point.

Searching for a smooth, port-finished whisky at an excellent price point? Consider picking up a bottle of Dewar's Portuguese Smooth. This is the third release in Dewar's "Smooth" line, which previously featured the Caribbean Smooth Rum Cask Finish and the Ilegal Smooth Mezcal Cask Finish. It's an 8-year-old Dewar's that undergoes a finishing period in ruby port casks. Think of it as an affordable alternative to Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban. It has a pinkish hue. The aroma is sweet and fruity. The palate is also quite sweet, with notes of strawberries, honey, and cereal. The finish is not very long-lasting and has a slight tartness with a hint of toasted nuts. A splash of water diminishes the slight tartness and introduces a note of sweet chocolate (reminiscent of Turkish delight?). This is not recommended for peat enthusiasts, but if you appreciate Dewar's or enjoy sherry/port finished scotches, this makes for an affordable everyday sipper that definitely satisfies. Additional note: it doesn't quite measure up to Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban, but it costs a third of the price!

Aroma of malt and fruit. On the palate, it's rather thin, offering malt flavor and ripe fruit from the port cask -- and... the burn from a high proportion of grain whisky. At least, that's my impression. I believe it has less malt than the white label version. It's inexpensive enough to be acceptable as a fruity finish Scotch for casual drinking, is certainly perceived as 'smoother' after a second pour, and is genuinely quite tasty in a simple highball. This is NOT what you drink while contemplating profound topics with a cigar.

An 8-year-old blend with a port cask finish for $21; why not? Yes, the grain character is still present, and it's not complex, blah blah blah. This is a pleasant, fruity blend with a subtle hint of peat. It's good and flavorful enough to drink neat, yet inexpensive enough to mix without hesitation. It surpasses standard Dewars, but the 12-year-old is superior for just a few dollars more in my area. The difference might be more significant elsewhere, adding to its value. At $20-25, you can't really go wrong, so give it a shot if you enjoy wine-finished scotch... 76/100