Whyte & Mackay Special Blended Scotch

Nose: Toffee, caramel, brown sugar, butter - a rich and sweet aroma with a peculiar note that takes time to identify - it's chicory, a scent rarely encountered in scotch whisky. Palate: A firm, bold initial taste with abundant dark fruits and molasses. As it develops, vegetal spice emerges alongside a sharp flavor of hard toffee - reminiscent of burnt peanut brittle. This sensation persists throughout. The texture is adequate, but unremarkable, with a slight ethanol hint noticeable. Finish: Medium/short. Lacking significant length, but with a persistent bittersweet note of horehound, a very uncommon element in whisky. This is a powerful, old-school spirit of a type not frequently found today. It lacks subtlety or nuance entirely - think of the phrase "a bull in a china shop," that's this whisky. It possesses a strong brown sugar essence and a somewhat unusual herbal quality (I cannot recall another whisky with both chicory and horehound notes) however, the underlying malt is regrettably rather bland, dull, and carries an unmistakable trace of sulfur. The palate is less pleasing than the nose due to its intensely uncompromising burnt sugar character, but again, it's not actually unpleasant - just somewhat rough (a noted comparison for this spirit involved the enjoyment of rough sex). I cannot dislike this as intensely as many others, and I believe it warrants a higher score than the official 65 (perhaps not much higher, and certainly a sub-70/100 whisky). I would consume it at a bar in a difficult situation, especially if Grants was the only alternative. Avoid it neat - it's not suited for it and you'll only harm yourself - pair it with cola or dry ginger and plenty of ice, and it goes down smoothly. "Inferior": 69/100 (1.75 stars)

While vacationing in Maui at the Westin in Kaanapali, I was relaxing poolside with my kids. I decided to order room service, and as my preferences lean towards whiskey and red wine, my choices were limited. I noticed this on the menu; it was the only affordably priced option. In retrospect, I should have just ordered water. This is absolutely dreadful. Do you recall the scent from certain establishments before 42nd street was cleaned up in NYC – a mixture of bleach and cheap perfume? This evokes those memories. (Not that I frequented such places, heavens no). The taste is even worse. It resembles that stale, moldy bread found in a college dorm fridge. On a positive note, it did bring back many fond memories – perhaps that should be their marketing strategy: 'Relive your unrefined, taste-deprived college days'.

During Whisky Live Buenos Aires, I was determined to sample as many whiskies as possible. This involved trying 30 drams over two days, including this blended Scotch, which is typically not something you'd select over a JW Red Label. I'm pleased to report I genuinely enjoyed it; perhaps the circumstances influenced my perception, as it was the first whisky I tasted there. Presented at 40% ABV with a burnished gold hue. The nose is predominantly sweet, featuring notes of vanilla, honey, prunes, a subtle smokiness, and Worcestershire sauce. The palate is easy to drink, with hints of tobacco, ash, a very smooth texture, caramel, and ginger. The finish was long and well-balanced. Given it's from the same company as Dalmore and Jura, it's unsurprising they can produce a decent blend. I rate this non-age-statement, inexpensive dram an 84 out of 100. Cheers!

This was the fourth spirit I tasted tonight, with about a third of the bottle remaining. The aroma and taste are strongly of rubbing alcohol. It tastes like aged, sweet urine. There's a burning sensation from the alcohol in both the taste and aftertaste. It has prominent woody and tannic qualities.

It's actually not too bad, considering I paid $20 CAD and didn't have high expectations. It has a rum-like flavor with undertones of dark caramel and smoke. The taste profile is similar to Black Grouse, but smoother.

Another foul blend for the masses. A visitor always requests it, so it must be present! It serves acceptably as engine coolant. Nothing more.