Pig's Nose

A contest of blended scotch whiskies. Dewar’s White Label, Pig’s Nose, and Johnnie Walker Green Label. I am continuing to taste whiskies from my own collection that I have not yet reviewed. Although this group might seem unusual—the Dewar’s and Pig’s Nose are budget-friendly, while the Johnnie Walker 15 is premium—they are the only blended scotch whiskies I possess. Moreover, the Dewar’s and Pig’s Nose are formally Blended Scotch Whisky, meaning they contain both malt and grain whiskies. The Green Label is a Blended Malt Whisky, composed solely of single-malt whiskies. I have not sampled any of these for years. Based on my memory, I anticipate the scores will increase alphabetically as I taste them. Let’s see. Dewar’s White Label. The color is a clear Pantone 129. The aroma is very subtle, with light pear, saltiness, and hay. The palate has some surprising thickness, with a sweet honey flavor, shifting to mild white pepper and a touch of vanilla in a medium finish. I have never bought Dewar’s White Label. I remember this bottle was an opened party favor from years ago and has remained at 20% fill since then. After tasting it, I am quite surprised; it has no significant flaws. The positive qualities it possesses are merely subtle, making it less enjoyable rather than outright bad. I did not waste this drink, dear reader; my first Glencairn glass is now empty on my desk. Still, Dewar’s White Label should not be recommended as a beginner whisky. Oban 14, though pricier, is excellent for both newcomers and experts. This is a budget scotch meant for restaurants and gatherings, and for that purpose, I might be grateful if I had no other choice. The cost is clear: 40% ABV is the minimum for a whisky designation, and presumably, the owner, Bacardi, sources the undisclosed blending components cheaply and dilutes them. Dewar’s White Label is commonly found for around $25. Would I purchase it for the first time? No. But I would not refuse it at my son’s fraternity party during Parent’s Weekend. In fact, I would enjoy it. 40% ABV. No Age Statement. Pig’s Nose. The color is a bit darker than Dewar’s, Pantone 142. The aroma is sweet honey, with added apple, hay, salt, and a trace of peat. The mouthfeel is slightly less rich than Dewar’s but still present. The palate shows more honeyed sweetness. Very little spice, and a short finish. Nonetheless, Pig’s Nose seems more substantial than Dewar’s: think simple, but at a higher intensity. Where does the name come from? From the packaging: “It is said that our scotch is as soft and as smooth as a pig’s nose.” To continue the alliteration: it is not only soft and smooth, but also quite sweet, which is not a negative. Perhaps the marketing team could not think of a better description. Pig’s Nose is widely available for about $30. Would I buy it again? No, for the same reason I assessed Dewar’s. It’s not trying to be something it's not, but the flavor is still quite good. 40% ABV. 5-Year age statement. Johnnie Walker Green Label. The color is deeper than Pig’s Nose, Pantone 130. Aroma, palate, finish: everything about the Green Label is better than the previous two. The aroma has honey, salt, stewed-apple oatmeal, cured ham, gardenia, and a hint of smoke. The lightly rich palate bursts with the same flavors, with increased intensity (“bursts” is not an exaggeration here). There is some white pepper spice, and a long finish with the sweet, salty, smoky taste of bacon jam. As a blended malt whisky, Green Label combines Talisker, Linkwood, Cragganmore, and Caol Ila (possibly others). After hearing several online whisky friends praise Johnnie Walker Green Label, I decided to buy a bottle (this was a few years back). Finding one quickly was difficult. When I first tasted it some time ago, I couldn't understand the excitement. I am now correcting that deficiency. JW Green Label typically sells for around $60, which is close to what I paid. Would I buy it again? Yes. This is a complex whisky with a 15-year age statement (older components might be present), and it offers significant value considering these characteristics. I would enjoy tasting it at a higher proof; the aromas and flavor profile could certainly handle it. 43% ABV. 15-Year age statement. Separately: a friend rates this whisky at 95, and I generally agree. Green Label is very good. However, it is also concerning that the “Tasting Notes” by that person and others are on a 0-100 scale, while actual users have a 0-5 scale in quarter-point increments. This is poor design, frankly: I am knowledgeable about user experience, and I say this from the perspective of someone who started and sold a consumer software company. The scales should be consistent for both experts and users. There are other improvements to basic functionality, which I have communicated to the platform with little success. Enough of my rant—for now. Note: All spirits were tasted neat in a Glencairn glass.

Pig's Nose Acquired this during a visit to VA, as it's unavailable in NC. No other expressions from this distillery seem to be sold here. AROMA: Fruity & Malty. Notes of Peach Purée, Apple Sauce, or Apricot Preserves mixed with Warm Oatmeal or Cream of Wheat. After some time, the aroma gains a generous amount of Buttercream Icing and Citrus Peel. Some "Barnyard" scents also emerge, fitting for a whisky named Pig's Nose. There's perhaps a subtle hint of the Peated whiskies used. It's young, but quite pleasant. STRAIGHT: Light. Thin. Oily. Oaky. The fruit notes from the aroma are present but more subdued. Perhaps a bit of Butterscotch too? The Peat appears in the brief finish and aftertaste. It offers that enjoyable layered, building effect I like with Peat, Ash, Leather, and Straw developing on the palate. WITH A SPLASH: This brings some of the Peated notes forward in the Aroma and Palate. It also gains a slight bitterness. Adding water isn't necessary here. CONCLUSION: I genuinely enjoy this. For $26, it's an easy choice. This ranks alongside Cutty Sark Prohibition and Monkey Shoulder as excellent blends. On my next trip to VA, I will certainly buy another bottle.

After reading many positive assessments, I decided to try it. It was on sale for $25, a reasonable price, but there's no age statement. Served neat, it smells of buttery malt and grain with light apple and mild spice. It's comparable to Deanston Virgin Oak but less rich or full. A soft mouthfeel leads to a palate of sweet malt and grain, warm buttered rolls, oak, and heavily smoked char with more light apple. The profile is similar to the Deanston but has some grain alcohol notes. The finish features drying oak and strong char with a lingering light malt sweetness. Overall, it's a tasty scotch, despite some drawbacks of a blend. This profile, with little fruit and no peat, focusing more on the malt, is to my liking. I think Pigs Nose is superior to entry-level scotch blends like JW Red or Dewars White, and others. It's definitely better than lower-tier options. I would consider buying it again at around $25 or less, but for more than that, I'd spend the extra for a single malt and avoid the grain alcohol...78/100...if they could just refine some of the rough edges, this would be a truly solid scotch...it's still good, I enjoy the butter, malt, and char...the bottle improves with time.

A 5-year-old blended scotch from Whyte & Mackey, costing $30.00. Tasted on 11/30/15 with 1.5 teaspoons of water in a Glencairn spirits nosing glass. Smell - Quite young and sharp, with notes of glue, soap, sawdust, corn, and subtle vanilla and sherry influences. Palate - Light cherrywood, naturally sweet, with vegetal notes and an earthiness reminiscent of black-eyed peas. Finishes with a brief flavor and a burning sensation. Overall score: 3/5. The reason for a higher mark? The texture. The mouthfeel of this whisky is among the best I've ever experienced; its incredible smoothness, oiliness, slickness, and softness are remarkable. It's so easy to drink that it earns a decent score. Don't expect complexity, but the taste is good, and the mouthfeel makes it a delightful whisky for extended enjoyment. I would certainly buy it again and keep it on hand.

This spirit really isn't for me. It smells sour and like leather, and the taste is also leathery, dusty, and oily. There's a subtle sweetness under the salty, malty leather, but even with ice, the bitterness prevents me from finding anything enjoyable. I'm definitely skipping this one. EDIT: Subsequent tastings have helped me appreciate these notes more, though I still don't love them.

Who are these individuals who have reviewed this incredibly overlooked scotch. It's smooth; if you dislike scotch, then don't consume it. Amazingly smooth, it surpasses everything in its price bracket. Light smoke with a sweet honey flavor and a hint of earthy, almost sea-salty malt. If you don't like Scotch, please refrain from drinking this and then reviewing it. Enjoy this inexpensive and simple luxury neat for what it is.