Dewar's 15 Year The Monarch

Rating: 13/23 N: Sweet nectar (perhaps honey, but I don't get that bitterness I expect), a dash of malt, a whiff of grain, some tangerine and apricot. A little oil and a hint of alcohol. There's not a lot happening on the nose here, but what is present is sweet with a decently rounded richness. It's a very approachable nose. P: Light and sweet with some oil and spice. Lemon, faint tangerine, faint harshness. A bit of a floral side to the fruit. The alcohol flavor really shows more than I would expect from a 15 year old scotch, though there is a little bit of the bitter side of a honey flavor half-heartedly trying to explain it. This tastes more like a 12 year old to me. Some vanilla makes its way in. It does taste like there were some first fill bourbon barrels in here, though I don't get much more than vanilla that has some little bit of oak character to it. I can dig deeper for some other sweet, fruity characters coming off of the bit of malty richness that is here, but it's work for sure. The flavors really aren't very distinct here though and although they're soft the alcohol shows through a lot. F: Bitter alcohol with faint floral fruit and a dash of vanilla. The tangerine eventually comes out for a bit (in a very understated way) on the long finish. - Conclusion - I'm pretty disappointed by this one. It isn't bad, but I was hoping for something that could compete more seriously with Johnnie Walker Green. Of course, I knew that the grain whisky was a risk and I think that's what's done this one in with its youth and alcohol. Pure Scot (14) may not be as complex as this, but it has its rich profile nailed down, with its youth mainly showing from the fresh oak barrel. This, on the other hand, is more complex and traditionally flavored, but it has that youthful alcohol flavor. And it still is only kind of complex. I would take this Pure Scot over this. I won't go as low as an 11 here, but it's only getting a 12 or 13. I think this can have a 13.

Maybe the best budget 15 yo out there. Malty, smooth, honest. Totally wort it and comes with a very nice metal box.