Blended Whiskies - April 3-12

[pkt77242]

Occasionally I find some whiskies that desensitize my palate. These can be the first things that I have and I'm shot for an hour. What I really find is that my mind starts to wonder long before the palate goes.

Thanks Ganga. Just poured a dram of JW Gold with some water. nose is all honey.

N: honey, honey, pear, and papaya.
P: pear drizzled in honey. very sweet.
F: short. still slightly off but the finish is better with water than without.

Sean

[pkt77242]

Enjoy yourselves gentlemen, I am retiring for the evening. the whisky has gone to my head. I a little tanked right not. Have a good one!

Good night NSF.

Sean

[Ganga]

Good night NSF. Enjoyed having you here.

Ok, I'm moving off the blends tonight. I'll check in tomorrow.

[jhershauer]

Back to tasting notes after getting the kids to bed...

JW Green
Brand : Johnnie Walker Expression : Green
Nose : Peat, something slightly medicinal, not as sweet as the other JWs Palate : Stronger than Gold, peppery, some sweet spices, a bit hot Finish : Pepper, earthy peat, lasting Comment : I like this JW. It's much more interesting than the Gold, and makes for a nice gateway to Talisker and Islay single malts. Colour : - Score : 0
Age : 15 Years Old Vintage : 0 ABV : 43% Bottler : -	Type : - Region : - Water : - Ice : - Glass : Riedel Spirit Notes : -
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I think I'm going to call it quits on the blends for tonight after a JW trifecta. Tomorrow I'll pull out the Teachers and Black Bottle 10 year.

Jeff

[pkt77242]

Good night Jeff.

Sean

[Ganga]

I thought I would provide a reminder to all that this is the 2nd weekend for tasting blended whiskies. Depending on how things go, I will show up sometime to retry some of the blends in chilled glasses and on the rocks.

Slainte.

[Novice Scotch Fan]

Ganga? You or anyone else around tonight to continue a tasting of blends?

[Willie JJ]

I'll try to do a couple of blends tonight. I missed last weekend due to being in Skye. I'm back now though (dammit).

Cheers

[Ganga]

Trying some blends this morning/afternoon. I will be trying several first in a chilled brandy glass and second in a tumbler with ice. First up Dewar's white.

[Ganga]

Dewar's White Label
Brand : Dewar's Expression : White Label
Nose : rancid maltiness but much lighter than previous experience, little bit of cinnamon too. Palate : Palate is actually not to bad. cinnamon buns. Finish : short, bitter malt Comment : - Colour : - Score : 0
Age : NAS Years Old Vintage : 0 ABV : 40% Bottler : John Dewar & Sons	Type : Blended Region : Scotland Water : - Ice : Cubes Glass : Tumbler Notes : -
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[Ganga]

Dewar's White Label
Brand : Dewar's Expression : White Label
Nose : Bad malty notes grow in intensity as the whisky and glass warm Palate : Much more intense flavors of cinnamon and bread Finish : longer with bitter chocolate and cinnamon Comment : - Colour : - Score : 0
Age : NAS Years Old Vintage : 0 ABV : 40%% Bottler : John Dewar and Sons	Type : Blended Region : Scotland Water : - Ice : - Glass : Brandy Glass Notes : Chilled brandy glass
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[Ganga]

Reflecting back on last weekend, I would say that I got the most enjoyment out of the White Label in a tumbler with ice.

[Willie JJ]

Reflecting back on last weekend, I would say that I got the most enjoyment out of the White Label in a tumbler with ice.

Nice Rich. Maybe that's because you can't taste it so much,

[Ganga]

I'd suggest that water cuts the flavors down and the cold temperature mutes it some more.

Next up the Cutty Sark.

[Ganga]

Cutty Sark Blended
Brand : Cutty Sark Expression : Blended NAS
Nose : sour balls, rough oak Palate : oaky, wheaty (whole grains including the husks) Finish : short, touch of spices Comment : - Colour : - Score : 0
Age : NAS Years Old Vintage : 0 ABV : 40% Bottler : Berry Bros & Rudd	Type : Blended Region : Scotland Water : - Ice : Cubes Glass : Tumbler Notes : -
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[Ganga]

Cutty Sark Blended
Brand : Cutty Sark Expression : Blended NAS
Nose : sour maltiness Palate : harsh mixture of grains, husky Finish : very short, grainy Comment : - Colour : - Score : 0
Age : NAS Years Old Vintage : 0 ABV : 40% Bottler : Berry Bros & Rudd	Type : Blended Region : Scotland Water : - Ice : Cubes Glass : Brandy Glass Notes : chilled glass
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[Ganga]

I think Cutty benefits from the addition of water. That's right, water drowns some of the flavor.

J&B is up next.

[Ganga]

J&B Rare Blended
Brand : J&B Expression : Rare Blended Scotch Whisky
Nose : very light maltiness and spices. Palate : cinnamon and grist Finish : short Comment : - Colour : - Score : 0
Age : NAS Years Old Vintage : 0 ABV : 43% Bottler : Justerini & Brooks Ltd	Type : Blended Region : Scotland Water : - Ice : Cubes Glass : Tumbler Notes : -
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[Ganga]

J&B Rare Blended
Brand : J&B Expression : Rare Belnded Scotch Whisky
Nose : light straw, cocoa powder Palate : vanilla, cinnamon, oak, straw Finish : medium, cinnamon oakiness Comment : - Colour : - Score : 0
Age : NAS Years Old Vintage : 0 ABV : 43% Bottler : Justerini & Brooks Ltd	Type : Blended Region : Scotland Water : - Ice : - Glass : Brandy Glass Notes : chilled glass
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[Ganga]

I really didn't care for this last time but in the chilled glass it is more than drinkable; it's enjoyable.

Hmm, what next? Grant's NAS

[Ganga]

Grant's Blended
Brand : William Grant's Expression : Blended NAS
Nose : Strong grain alcohol.acetone, wet flour, lemons Palate : bitter cocoa beans, buttery, lemons Finish : short astringent oak Comment : - Colour : - Score : 0
Age : NAS Years Old Vintage : 0 ABV : 43% Bottler : William Grant & Sons Ltd	Type : Blended Region : Scotland Water : - Ice : Cubes Glass : Tumbler Notes : -
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[Ganga]

Grant's Blended
Brand : William Grant's Expression : Blended NAS
Nose : lemon sweets in dk chocolate, as it warms up a little thrashed straw, Palate : chocolate covered barley, lemon rinds Finish : bit anestisizing, lemony barley Comment : - Colour : - Score : 0
Age : NAS Years Old Vintage : 0 ABV : 43% Bottler : Willian Grant & Sons Ltd	Type : Blended Region : Scotland Water : - Ice : - Glass : Brandy Glass Notes : Chilled glass
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[Ganga]

Hm, Grants has the most going for it although not necessarily the most enjoyable thus far. Each way presents a different and interesting perspective to the whisky. I'd suggest that there is no "best way" to have this particular whisky.

[Ganga]

Famous Grouse 12
Brand : Famous Grouse Expression : Blended 12
Nose : rich maltiness, citrus, cinnamon dust, oaky Palate : like following a combine during harvest-dusty grains mixed with chaf and straw, dry lemon rinds Finish : short, gristy Comment : - Colour : - Score : 0
Age : 12 Years Old Vintage : 0 ABV : 40% Bottler : Famous Grouse	Type : Blended Region : Scotland Water : - Ice : Cubes Glass : Tumbler Notes : -
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Highly quaffable with ice.

[Ganga]

Famous Grouse 12
Brand : Famouse Grouse Expression : Blended 12
Nose : not much initially, lemony straw starts to come in, Palate : cinnamon, oak, vanilla, waxiness Finish : moderate, cinnamon with lingering waxiness Comment : - Colour : - Score : 0
Age : 12 Years Old Vintage : 0 ABV : 40% Bottler : Famous Grouse	Type : Blended Region : Scotland Water : - Ice : - Glass : Brandy Glass Notes : Chilled glass
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[Ganga]

I really enjoyed the Grouse today. Chilled is a very interesting way to have the Grouse as the flavors tend to appear at different times as it warms up.

Old St. Andrews next.

[Ganga]

Old St Andrews 12
Brand : Old St Andrews Expression : Blended 12
Nose : squeezed lemons, August wheat field, chocolate butter Palate : roasted barley, chocolate, cinnamon Finish : moderate, sublte barley notes Comment : - Colour : - Score : 0
Age : 12 Years Old Vintage : 0 ABV : 40% Bottler : Old St Andrews	Type : Blended Region : Scotland Water : - Ice : Cubes Glass : Tumbler Notes : -
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[Ganga]

Old St Andrews 12
Brand : Old St Andrews Expression : Blended 12
Nose : old straw, dusty, Palate : roasting peanuts, creamy chocolatiness starts to come in later, lemons even later. Finish : longer, rich, chocolatey barley Comment : - Colour : - Score : 0
Age : 12 Years Old Vintage : 0 ABV : 40% Bottler : Old St Andrews	Type : Blended Region : Scotland Water : - Ice : - Glass : Brandy Glass Notes : chilled glass
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[Ganga]

Really enjoyable in the chilled glass.

Next, Chivas 18

[Ganga]

I'm sorry, needed a small break for a late lunch. Chivas Regal 18 is up next.

[Ganga]

Chivas Regal 18
Brand : Chivas Regal Expression : 18
Nose : italian spices, heather Palate : nutmeg, cinnamon, barley, limey citrus Finish : short, nutmeg and spices Comment : - Colour : - Score : 0
Age : 0 Years Old Vintage : 0 ABV : 0% Bottler : Chivas Regal	Type : Blended Region : Scotland Water : - Ice : Cubes Glass : Tumbler Notes : -
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[Ganga]

Chivas Regal 18
Brand : Chivas Regal Expression : 18
Nose : wheat straw, arctic air Palate : very bitter, old barley kernels, early lemons Finish : short and bitter Comment : - Colour : - Score : 0
Age : 18 Years Old Vintage : 0 ABV : 40% Bottler : Chivas Regal	Type : Blended Region : Scotland Water : - Ice : - Glass : Brandy Glass Notes : Chilled Glass
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[Ganga]

Well, give me the Chivas Regal straight up or with a dash of water. Ice and chilled glasses make this one really bitter.

JW Red next.

[Ganga]

JW Red
Brand : Johnnie Walker Expression : Red NAS
Nose : Very peppery, little maltiness Palate : gristy/doughy, ground pepper Finish : long, peppery, slightly bitter Comment : - Colour : - Score : 0
Age : NAS Years Old Vintage : 0 ABV : 40% Bottler : JOhnnie Walker	Type : Blended Region : Scotland Water : - Ice : Cubes Glass : Tumbler Notes : -
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[Ganga]

JW Red
Brand : Johnnie Walker Expression : Red NAS
Nose : astringent malt, lightly smoked grains Palate : nice cracked pepper mixed with raw grains, Finish : short, grainy Comment : - Colour : - Score : 0
Age : NAS Years Old Vintage : 0 ABV : 40% Bottler : Johnnie Walker	Type : Blended Region : Scotland Water : - Ice : - Glass : Brandy Glass Notes : chilled glass
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