J&B Rare Blended Scotch

A pour to celebrate Burns Night '21. Justerini has been supporting Brooks for ages, and I'm not hesitant to state that! Appears a pale, aged gold. A bit slow to leave legs, but in a respectable manner. The aroma is butterscotch and coffee creamer. I detect very slight barrel tannins; something akin to sherried wood. Cabbage and sulfuric notes. There's a hint of peated smoke, which is unexpected; earthy potting soil. The taste is an explosion of butterscotch, red apple skins, butter, and cream, immediately followed by tobacco ash and smoke upon swallowing, almost like accidentally gulping liquid that had cigarette ashes in it. (But not in a bad way.) More of the barrel character that's partly puckering, partly sherry sweetness. A distinctly perfume-like flavor is present in the middle of the mouth. The finish is like sipping a bottle of perfume, accompanied by that sherry afterglow. A very characteristic cigarette/tobacco end that brings to mind Sundays at my grandfather's place. (He kept both cigarettes and J&B in the cabinet.) A curious note of white plastic appears at the very end. I can only assume that this was the very first Scotch for countless young people, and while this one isn't complex or particularly outstanding, it will suffice when you need to mix in something a little smoky without dipping into your single malt collection.

Nose: faint medicinal smoke, iodine, band-aid, light vanilla, sweet fruit, orange citrus, grain whisky, and alcohol warmth. Palate: Essentially the same notes from the nose, but with a more pronounced sweetness, peppery notes, and more alcohol. The citrus is also more apparent and, combined with a mild bitterness, it brings to mind grapefruit or bitter oranges. Finish: Short, sweet, spicy, and alcoholic. Overall impressions: A standard introductory blended whisky, recommended for cocktails. Due to the presence of smoky and citrus notes, it can be used in various types of mixed drinks, especially those using citrus fruits like oranges. Comes in a liter bottle and is affordably priced.

This was the only spirit I genuinely couldn't stomach. Utterly terrible. After a sip, I chose to discard it immediately, despite the initial aroma being pleasant enough – straightforward, mellow, with notes of citrus, vanilla, and a hint of smoke. The flavor, however, was vastly different. It possessed a sharp chemical, medicinal quality. I doubt even a mixed drink could redeem it. Compared to this, Johnnie Walker Red Label and Jim Beam Original are significantly superior, which speaks volumes.

While not anticipating anything extraordinary, establishing a baseline is always valuable. In this instance, it represents blended scotch. On the nose: Sweet and delicately aromatic with faint peat, succulent pears and apples, light malt, vanilla, and a hint of corn (spirit). On the palate: Sweet and light with mild peat, malt, vanilla, pear, corn spirit, and a touch of cayenne pepper at the finish. On the finish: Medium duration with sweet vanilla and a whisper of peat lingering, accompanied by a cayenne pepper tingle. For a typical blended whiskey, this one actually exceeded my hopes. It possesses just enough intrigue to make sipping enjoyable. A respectable, budget-friendly blended scotch.

This might not reflect the current J & B because I will explain why later. This is an honest tasting of the item I have. A while back, my grandfather flew the CEO of a restaurant group. Now retired, he possesses a large collection of tiny liquor bottles stored in his basement for twenty years. The J&B I’m sampling is from one of these small plastic containers, but the bottle likely held

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 06/07/2021 Antalya Nose: Very light fruity and nutty scents accompanied by oak. Alcohol is noticeable. Warm and sweet. Palate: Sweet and warm on the palate, similar to the nose. Alcohol is dominant. A slightly salty taste is detected. Finish: Short length and warm. Very little oak and imperceptible saltiness is felt. Overall: With the dominant young alcohol character, it is best preferred with a cocktail. If preferred neat, drinking it with ice is more suitable. It can be preferred for its price and availability. 66/100