White Horse

Nose: Faint malt and cereal scents mingled with grain whisky. Some very light sweet orchard fruit notes, and with time, a few brown sugar/syrup aromas emerge, supported by a barely perceptible hint of ashen smoke. After a considerable time, some light citrus becomes noticeable. [Interestingly, the aroma from the empty glass is quite leathery and smoky]. Palate: A sweet arrival with diluted barley sugar and overcooked caramel sauce poured over thin porridge. The slightest trace of dusty malt, a faint echo of cardboard-like ash, and a dusting of white pepper. There is no evolution. Finish: Short and quick, leaving a slightly sweet aftertaste from the grain whisky. The nose is not unpleasant at all, but it is very thin and soft. It struck me as a potentially good nose that has been overly diluted. You continue to smell it more and more deeply, hoping something exciting will appear, but it always seems just out of reach. The palate is simplistic and fast, and again tastes very much like the blend contains too much grain whisky relative to malt, although both components are of good quality. I recall drinking White Horse back in the day but haven't seen it on local shelves for a long time. This bottle I'm tasting from is a 750ml US version and was acquired from a vendor with contacts in the grey market. I purchased it for nostalgia and to refresh my memory, but I wouldn't bother again. Like Teacher's, this was once a robust and characterful blended scotch that is now merely a shadow of its former self. However, it is harmless and very easy to drink and would likely suit someone seeking an extremely mild and approachable sipping blend. "Adequate": 70/100 (2 stars)

Produced in the 19th century by James Logan Mackie and his nephew, Peter Jeffrey Mackie, who owned Lagavulin Malt: Lagavulin, Talisker, Craigellachie, Glen Elgin, and Linkwood One of Vinicius de Moraes's favorite whiskies Origin of the name “the bottled dog” One of the first Scotches to enter the national market Nose: light smokiness and toasted barrel notes, sweetness from white sugar, vanilla, light floral, pear fruitiness, grain whisky, strong perception of machine oil, and a bit of alcohol warmth. Palate: sweet, simple, fruity, light vanilla, slight bitterness, toasted cereals, slightly buttery, light smokiness, and alcohol warmth. Finish: short, with a sweet aftertaste, smoky, and with considerable alcohol warmth. General Impressions: a whisky for mixing with soda or energy drinks, for those who enjoy that combination at clubs. Not recommended for drinking with ice or neat. For cocktails, there are better options available.

I acquired a large bottle of this today for $30. The last time I had it was quite a few years back. This brand has been available for a long time and is known for a significant amount of malt in its mix and a strong presence of peat smoke, comparable to another well-known whisky. I'd say it's a very satisfying blend with notes of malt, honey, and biscuit. However, if you're expecting intense peat, you might be let down. This bottle has considerably less peat than the one I purchased previously. For me, that's not entirely a negative. It remains a well-balanced and exceptionally affordable blend, suitable for casual drinking or mixing. I just observe that the blend seems to have changed over time. Maybe it was to save costs, or perhaps to cater to evolving modern preferences.

[Converted from BRL to USD] White Horse fooled me for a while until I started getting quite tired of its taste. On the palate, it burns a bit and presents unpleasant notes of fermented character with EXTREME peat (so much so that it pairs very well with a cigar). I don't think I'm the biggest fan of blendeds because of this active malt characteristic, but I tried another blended scotch and found it light and smooth, whereas White Horse is heavy, and there are clearly better whiskies available for less money. The finish is short and abrupt, offering nothing.

White Horse Scotch was a decent blended Scotch. It no longer features Lagavulin on the label. White Horse is composed of 40% malt from Speyside malts. The aroma presents spices, caramel, and sandalwood. It enters the mouth with creaminess and a taste of toffee and spice. The finish concludes with sandalwood and citrus. I miss the peat from Lagavulin. There's no peat, smoke, heather, or honey. It's a sad day Diageo removed the Scotch flavors from this Scotch blend. If tasted blindfolded, I would have mistaken this for a lower-tier Irish Whisky.

Few inexpensive blends match the quality of this one. It's consistently good year after year, offering a full, sweet flavor with just a hint of smoke, and it doesn't taste watered down like many similar blends. It provides excellent value for the money. Recommended for Penicillin cocktails. If you're in America and seeking an affordable peaty scotch, my best suggestion is to buy a $30 smoke gun online and infuse a glass of this. It won't replicate Lagavulin, but it will come surprisingly close.