High Commissioner Blended Scotch

Smooth at the start with vanilla oak sweetness. The end is short with lip tingling spice

Nose: Generic, light whisky aromas. Nothing outstanding but nothing unpleasant. Palate: Sweet light cereal arrival, a little malt & fruit in the development but it is very slight. Again, well balanced with no significant problems. Finish: Short and nondescript. No bitterness or sourness. The best overall description for this is “inoffensive”. There is not much character to speak of, but we are talking about a bottom shelf blend and in context there is nothing to criticize. It avoids any overt ethanol intrusion and has a pleasant if restrained and pedestrian profile. It’s a mixer, pure and simple, and a serviceable, inexpensive one. In a pinch it can be enjoyed neat over ice. It's better than a lot of other bottom-shelf blends but overshadowed by a couple of competitors in the same price band – not the least Loch Lomond Reserve and Loch Lomond Original, from the same distillery. “Adequate” : 72/100 (2 stars)

Nose: Ethanol, malt and some distant peat and smoke but I could be mistaken as it so faint. Coloured blend. Taste of sweet malt and vanilla finishing in tart woody tannin but nicely balanced. For a cheap blend its nicely smooth and there are certainly worse to be had at this price point. It has a decent mouth feel and a touch of oil and a hint of salt and charcoal. 2.5 starts 86 points. Not bad at all if you are after a cheap blend.