Benji-Robert
Black Grouse (Discontinued)
Blended — Scotland
Reviewed
February 8, 2021 (edited June 8, 2021)
Tried this to see how different it is than the "smoky black". I'm not sure if one replaced the other, and page 1 of google didn't clarify
'Smoky black' I already reviewed, so this will be some comparisons. The tl;dr of that review is raisin nose, MILD peat, drinkable but very forgettable
This one trades down on the nose. Grease, wood varnish, chimney smoke, horehound candy, sweet orange. Presence of peat in nose is enough to make a peat head a lil thirsty.
Palate actually has enough peat to justify "black", even "smoky"! Unfortunately there isnt much else. Buttery shortcake, brandied raisin dryness is about all I got besides peat. I like peat, so this is great, but will honestly say it's not much else going for it.
Mouth is short but with a definitive pepperiness->salinity. Very light and easy drinking, no off-putting heat or ethanol anywhere.
At a higher proof this probably was great-but-boring sipping. At this proof it's just plain snooze-worthy. I'm giving it 3/5 because it's really drinkable, just nothing noteable.
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@BDanner @Ctrexman JW Black Label never fails either
I would go ardmore for a cheap smoke n coke mixer....perfectly good neat too
@Benji-Robert used to catch the Lap Select on sale for $35 and had no problem mixing it with Coke when I was in the mood for a mixed sweet cocktail (but with that great Peat flavor to balance it). Then it jumped to $55 and I’m not mixing that. Now I’m using Johnny Red and it’s passable, but still on the hunt for a good substitute.
@BDanner smoky isnt as good save the $ IMHO, and the definition of "cheap" across all peated scotches is getting crazy.
@Benji-Robert I have only had this in a couple 50ml bottles. Like you, I found that 15 minutes or so in the glass really helped. I almost picked up a bottle of the “Smoky” a couple days ago for $27 as I am still searching for something to make my Smoke and Cokes with after Lap Select made that huge price jump.
@CKarmios googling a little harder reveals that "black grouse " was replaced by "smoky black " in 2015/2016 . The bottle I have open has is 1/3 gone and has a dramatically improved nose--hazelnut, salt, cocoa. I went back and bought two more just to throw in the closet vault.
"You may very well be right. I’ve only tried Smoky Black and have found its peatiness wanting. Nothing a drop of Caol Ila 12 can’t fix though 😀 brings it up to JW Double Black level""
@CKarmios thanks for the insight. maybe my smoky black was kinda bleh peat-wise, and this black grouse is more than usual? the nose and palate on mine were both a solid "notch" above my smoky. that's weird, but thanks again. total wine probably put this out on the shelf from the deep back of some warehouse corner. my quest for the best budget peated blend continues.
The way I understand it is that Smoky Black has replaced Black Grouse and that Edrington have twigged the blend with the inclusion of Glenturret single malt. Smoky Black is meant to taste “peatier” than Black Grouse.
I let a half a dram sit in a glass neat for 20 or 30 minutes and the palate improved. some odd mix of sulfur, salinity dark-chocolate covered dried cherries. the nose had off-putti ng diesel fire, however.