Trader Joe's Blended Scotch Whisky

This private label blended Scotch has a clear, amber appearance. The aroma is of corn and a touch of white bread. The flavor is of nuts, vanilla, and generalized grain. The body is medium, and it finishes moderately long. RJT

Nose: alcohol and a paint thinner-like punch off the cuff (you can tell it’s a cheap-o budget Scotch, hard to get past), light orchard fruits, light honey, shiny grainy notes, herbal grassiness, almost a neat funk that I just can’t place what it is, nothing spectacular in the nose, alcohol smell never really goes away. Taste: light and thin, watery, a light sweetness that gives way to the alcohol mixed with a touch of barrel char, some herbal notes, overall very little to it on flavor. For a budget blend, is actually quite serviceable and is ideal for scotch and soda, i.e. whatever mixer that just needs a blended scotch. For the price, this is more than appropriate to put on that bottom shelf.

2.8.22 Served: Neat, Flute Bottle Open: 2 years, almost empty. Likely highly oxidized. Aroma: Banana, walnuts, and caramel. Flavor: Light and smooth texture. Banana Bread is the biggest impression (mostly bready). Starts with papaya. Mids with caramel and banana bread. A little bit of harshness on the back end. Banana candy notes begin to stand out after palate fatigue. Overall pleasant for sipping. Also tried it in a toddy, (honey, angostura, orange blossom, lemon) and it was quite pleasant.

It’s hard to argue the bang for buck factor here. This has a unique ‘funk’ I’ve picked up in several of TJ’s scotches, but it’s not unpleasant. I usually pick up a couple of these when I’m up in WA. $11 for a full liter ($17 after the state sticks it in without lube) is hard to beat for a basic blend that’ll make a solid scotch n soda everytime. I like it on the rocks or even neat.

Smells terrible and tastes like the precursor to a series of bad decisions. We all need a night like this now and then.