Tastes

Very light and bright. Oily flavors on the tongue with a peculiar sourness. It features a nice spice that sizzles across the tongue, settling on the back of the mouth like black pepper. A brine flavor supports the bright, near citrusy profile. Overall pleasant and unique taste, but ultimately nothing to write home about as the flavors seem to fall just a bit flat.

There is much better whisky, especially at the price point. The floral notes of this variety have no backing. There is no contrast, no strength. At times it reminds me of cheap wine. Sweet, but with no body. Notes of vanilla and tangerines linger on the tongue pleasantly, and then fade. There is a moment of smokey pepper, but it vanishes in an instant, never fully developing the flavor profile. After several sips, it becomes entirely uninteresting. It is exceedingly fragile and delicate, it often feels like a dram of the stuff could evaporate and disappear in the blink of an eye. A splash of water reduces the already light flavor profile to little more than a perfumed H2O. If you're a lover of bold and smokey whisky like me, this bottle isn't for you.

One of Dewar's better, but it lacks in boldness. This is a very light dram, full of sweetness and fruity tones. With all the mild, florally, airy notes drifting about, it lacks any sort of anchoring flavor to help carry the drinker along the tasting journey. It was pleasant enough to drink (especially at the price point – about $25 at my local liquor store) and offered nice hints of vanilla and molasses, however, the taste dies quickly on the tongue resulting in an entirely unmemorable Scotch. Like a cheap cologne, it comes on strong, offers a hint of depth and complexity, but ultimately falls apart all too quickly.

This Scotch is arguably one of the best values for your dollar. For a Scotch under $50, there is so much going on. It is a pure, bold, Islay dram that offers a huge suckerpunch of intense peatiness throughout. The Scotch features a wonderful smokiness that sizzles on the tongue, but offers some respite in the smooth finish.

A very fine Scotch! So bold and so strong. Very enjoyable and assertive straight, which opens up with a wonderful sweetness when splashed with water. Offers wonderful smokiness – briquettes on an open pit bbq – with a strong (if not slightly overpowering) peatiness that takes over. Finishes with a mild spice, lingering on the tongue with a briny overtone that resolves in notes of molasses, caramel, and honey.

Simple and clean – a good, drinkable Scotch. Bold at moments, but never overwhelming. Enjoyable to sip, but not anything I would drink to experience a strong and bold Scotch flavor.