Bell's Original

Nose: light, fruity, crisp orchard fruits, light sweetness, honey notes, some sharp grain notes, alcohol tones. For science, do something that’s a little unorthodox with this one. Let it sit and open up a bit. Also, let it warm a little in the glass with your hand as the nose will change. The alcohol vapors will subside and let it be what it actually is. Inhale very, very slowly and very gently. You will get the fruitiness, but with the faintest hint of briny sea air and peat. It is subtle but it is there. Taste: fruity, light, a little alcohol, peppery oak cask notes, malt, spicy almost cinnamon like, the peat flashes for a moment and fades quick enough, finish is medium in length with spicy peppery tones and a light malty sweetness. You actually can drink this neat but is likely better as a mixing scotch. For the price, very surprised it is was it is.

Used to find this the most repulsive of bottom shelf, scottish blends in my teens/early20s. I'm sure I wasn't alone!... However, after years of developing the palate, trying scores of different single malts, Japanese, bourbons, Irish etc in the process, have recently revisited Bells and must say for the basement price point, punches well above its weight flavour-wise. Considerably better than a 70.