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Dewar's Ilegal Smooth
Distiller Score 80
An intriguing application from Dewar's, although it doesn't ultimately expand beyond the basic sum of its parts. A cheerful fruitiness opens on the nose with apricot leading the way. Malty and nutty aromas give way to some agave notes from the barrel finish. The spirit drinks with a nice plushness, offering pound cake and citrus flavors. In the finish, the agave returns with a spicy, bitter accent.
Reviewed by Colin Howard
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Famous Grouse
Distiller Score 85
Whoa! This is an intensely aromatic whisky with loads of malt on your nose. This mingles along with salty sea air, chewy caramels, and orange zest. The body of the whisky is greater than your average blend. As the dram winds down, honey and citrus are the last guests at the party.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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Johnnie Walker Blenders' Batch Red Rye Finish
Distiller Score 80
Quite a versatile whisky that can be enjoyed both neat or as a perfect base for cocktails. Fairly easy-drinking, light and sweet with some bourbon-esque hints of vanilla, caramel & honey. Banoffee, rye bread and sweet oak spices come wrap this all up in a pleasant creamy mouthfeel.
Reviewed by Anne-Sophie Bigot
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Bank Note 5 Year Scotch Whisky
Distiller Score 80
Mild honey, delicate tangy citrus, hints of stone fruit, and cereal chewy grains greet you as you bring this blended whisky to your nose. The palate is more of the same; under promise and over deliver. Upon your first sip you will taste creamy vanilla nougat, milk chocolate, more grainy malts and a bitter and slightly astringent lemon zest. The finish is short and sweet of toasted bread, caramel, citrus and the most delicate wisps of peat smoke.
Reviewed by Ryan Conklin
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Hankey Bannister Original Blend
Distiller Score 82
The nose contains a rich and malty aroma, but proceeds on the palate more delicately. The whisky is very agreeable on the palate with a touch of almonds, vanilla, and sweet creamed corn. The wood and gingery spices come through on the finish ending pleasantly bitter.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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Speyburn Bradan Orach
Distiller Score 78
The nose is full of rich malt, lemon, and some vanilla. There is a bit of a dirty quality on the nose, but despite the unevenness of the whisky, it is a good value for its price. The finish is full of fruity and honey tastes followed by a slight bitterness.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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Black Grouse (Discontinued)
Distiller Score 82
There is a sweet, smoky style to the aroma with less of a medicinal tone to the peat smoke. The fruits are more on the stone and orchard fruit side while the malt component comes in loud and clear. The sweetness and the smoke are pretty equal throughout the dram, but in the end, the smoke wins by a nose.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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Dewar's White Label
Distiller Score 84
The aroma is pleasantly sweet and full of cereal, honey, and apples. There is a slight floral quality intertwined with more honey and cereal on the palate with the whisky coming to an end with oak notes. The White Label is never over-powering and really does well on the rocks.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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Teacher's Highland Cream
Distiller Score 77
For a blend, the texture of the whisky is fairly lush and silky. The peat smoke is mild with the whisky offering honeyed cereal with cooked apples. The finish is short, but sweet.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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Dewar's French Cask Smooth
Distiller Score 89
This whisky is like two desserts in one! The nose is all spiced apple cake slathered in vanilla frosting, with hints of sandalwood. The palate is tarte tartin with flavors of baked granny smith apples, orange and lemon zest, cinnamon, nutmeg, and a generous dollop of vanilla cream. There is a slight toasty, sesame-like element that pulls the flavors out of the cloying realm and carries them into a roasty, spicy, and fruity finish with more of that vanilla having the final word. It's definitely a dessert whisky, or one to sip as an aperitif with mild cheeses and pate.
Reviewed by Amanda Schuster
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Duggan's Dew O'Kirkintilloch
Distiller Score 73
It's not going to make you spontaneously jump up to do a Highland jig, but it won't kill you. It's really sweet, with lots of vanilla, caramel and milk chocolate and finishes with somewhat of an acetone kick. But at this price, there are plenty of worse things to drink, especially clear things, and you can always mix it with some soda, ginger ale or put it in a Rob Roy.
Reviewed by Amanda Schuster
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Dewar's Caribbean Smooth
Distiller Score 86
This is a fun blended Scotch from Dewar's, with finishing in rum casks bringing a little more depth to a fairly straightforward blend. It's a pleasantly sweet whisky, with notes of cereal, vanilla, orange peel, and chamomile. A rounded, butterscotch sweetness gives it weight. At 80-proof and affordably priced, it's a very sessionable Scotch.
Reviewed by Jacob Grier