Scoresby Rare

Over the weekend, while visiting family for an event, I found this mostly empty Scoresby Rare bottle in my sister's liquor cabinet. It was part of my grandfather's collection, and I'd never seen it before (perhaps that's what 'Rare' refers to?). With so little left, I decided to review it for posterity, taking a trip back to a time when blended scotch was the norm for that generation. This is bottled at 43% and has a light golden hue. The initial aroma is delicately sweet, with vanilla, caramel, and butterscotch. After some time, a fruity character emerges, reminiscent of Granny Smith apples, canned pears, and a hint of apricots. The body is medium-light. A slight sugary sweetness is present at the outset, quickly fading, giving way to a distinct lemon zest bitterness and a touch of black pepper spice. The lingering notes are lemon zest bitterness and bar soap, with a subtle woodiness that leaves the mouth feeling slightly dry. What was a promising nose quickly unraveled on the palate and finish. This whiskey is intended for mixing with soda or ice, not for sipping neat. The unpleasant soapiness makes it unsuitable for neat enjoyment. That said, it was interesting to revisit that era of inexpensive blended whisky. [Tasted: 11/20/18][79/100]

Man. When you can snag this swill along with a bottle of EH Taylor Small Batch for $10 less than the Taylor alone... you just know it's not going to be good. So why do I keep doing this to myself? Let's get this started. The aroma is reminiscent of rubbing alcohol, soggy prunes, and grape jelly for some reason. The young age is already apparent in the scent, suggesting a harsh astringency. Surprisingly, and this is perhaps the kindest thing I'll say about this blended whiskey, it's not overly harsh or offensive. It just tastes like a diluted, mediocre blend. Which is likely exactly what it is. The initial taste is... well, not much. Maybe a hint of those soggy prunes, but hard to detect. As the flavor develops, the alcohol burn makes your tongue and mouth tingle. Again, difficult to discern much flavor, but I'm getting a flat Dr. Pepper impression from this. The finish turns strangely sour, like the aftermath of consuming corn syrup. You know that odd, lingering sourness after drinking a Coca-Cola? That kind of sourness. Do yourself a favor. If you ever get a bottle of this for free (or even get paid to take it), use it for something other than drinking.

It's a bit dull and lacks complexity, but it's an affordable Scotch I'm happy to use in mixed drinks to save my better spirits. My preference stems from its lower sweetness compared to bourbon and its lower cost than rye.

It's not bad, considering it's a bottom-shelf blend. The flavor is inoffensive, making it a suitable mixer.

This is not a very good scotch.

It's not great.