Hankey Bannister Original Blend

This is the eighth whisky from the recent selection of 12 affordable blends I am evaluating. Nose: Gentle sherry complemented by decent oak, a significant grain component, a touch of malt, and subtle citrus and vanilla. Essentially, it carries the aromas a robust grain whisky can extract from used casks. It presents a fairly encompassing aroma, reminiscent of JW Red Label, but it's warmer and smoother. Palate: A slight disappointment following the promising nose. Light cereal, malt, nuttiness, vanilla, and some indistinct "fruit," but it's a bit thin. Finish: Medium length, tending towards sour/bitter/metallic as it fades. It doesn't stand out as a blended scotch until a dash of water is added, at which point it significantly improves. The nose's intensity diminishes while the overall character remains the same, but the palate becomes much better. Light honey sweetness is revealed, and the finish also improves, with the metallic/sour notes transforming into a firm (though tired) oak influence. It also pairs well with cola or soda, but less so with dry ginger. I wouldn't consider it a remarkable dram, but when handled correctly, it's acceptable. "Adequate": 74/100 (2.25 stars)

In my goodie bag from the Inver House tasting last week was a small bottle of this. Now, there were two strikes against Hankey Bannister already - 1. It's a bit anticlimactic to go from tasting some of the best single malts I've ever had to a cheap, bottom shelf blended scotch, and 2. I can't think of anything connected with "Mr. Hankey" without images of a giant, anthropomorphized turd coming to mind first. Thanks, South Park. That said, I had to give this a try because...well, you're reading this. You'd have tried it, too. The nose is actually quite pleasant - chocolate covered banana, coconut, a little bit of lemon. The palate is, sadly, less exciting than the nose, but hardly bad - light, sweet vanilla, a hint of chocolate, some toasted almond slivers (like what you'd put in a salad), less of the tropical fruits than the nose, but there's a distinct hint of pineapple on the otherwise short and unremarkable finish. It's not bad by any means - there are worse blends out there. But, I'm probably never going to rush home to pour myself a dram of this neat, either...maybe a great pick for making homemade Drambuie?

I've been stocking up on my favorite Scotch and Irish whiskies before the 25% tariff increase takes effect in three days. While shopping, I found this in 1.75 liter bottles on clearance for less than half price. I had already been curious about it; after all, it's rated in the first tier at Proof66, and a reviewer gave it an 86 score---so I bought it. Their website states it's a blend of Lowland grain whisky with a mix of Highland and Speyside malts. It's fruity, sweet, and spicy. It has a medium finish and is slightly dry. I have no idea where it comes from, but I sometimes detect a hint of iodine on the finish. This dram has no smoke. I found this to be an acceptable basic blended Scotch. In that category, I would prefer Grant's Family Reserve (now Three Woods) or Highland Leader, but I think this is comparable to the current Famous Grouse, and is better than Cutty Sark, Ballantine's, etc.

The nutty chocolate aroma was a pleasant surprise, and the taste is decent, like a typical blended whiskey at this price point. Its main issue is the lingering bitterness in the aftertaste. However, for the 15 USD I paid for this 1-liter bottle, it's acceptable.

First drink of the evening. 3/5 remaining. The flavor is strongly negative. Intense, prolonged burning from the alcohol. Lots of wood, tannins, black pepper, and vodka in both the taste and finish. Some burnt grains linger. Nothing else. The aroma burns and tickles the nose.

Pleasant sweetness and an agreeable metallic and earthy aroma on the nose. The palate has smooth, warm honey and vanilla, a hint of fruit, and a strong tobacco finish. The mouthfeel is nice. It's superior to some single malts I've sampled and is worth having a bottle on hand, especially considering its cost.