Grant's Family Reserve

Light colour with minimal tears on the glass. Looks a little like cheap pouring honey. On the nose, mainly ethanol with slight popcorn / pancake sweetness. On the palette, a light to medium mouthfeel with burnt sugar tastes. Adding water you open the flavour profile up and smooth the drink. Not my favourite whisky, fairly generic taste to go with the generic label.

I really do enjoy this blend. It is smooth enough to drink neat. There is a little smoke, iodine, malty honey, a touch of caramel and vanilla. It hits most of the tasting notes I enjoy! No it is not a special 18 yro single malt; but, it is a well crafted blend and is very consistent from year to year. And a bargain for $25-$30 for a 1.75 bottle.

Hanging out on the bottom shelf with this scotch looking for value. Poured neat, light thin legs. Nose has mild fruit, pear, apple with some gentle malt honey and faint smoke. Soft better than expected mouthfeel. Palate is smoked honey, caramel malt and barrel wood with char. After some time in the glass a milk chocolate note develops . Grain alcohol is certainly there but not overdone. Finish is medium with drying wood, trailing smoke, char and malt. For the $15 I paid this is decent. Not a world beater or deep and complex just a nice cheap blend with good smoke to it. I would give the edge to Teachers but this is one of the better low cost blends. Take it over JW red or Dewars white (not sayin much).........72/100 blend score..........not sure if I like the funky bottle though