It's been said a million times, but blends make up a majority of the Scotch market and yet go relatively unappreciated. I myself am guilty of this. So I grabbed this Famous Grouse. I had it long time ago, maybe when I was a teenager. I don't remember one thing about it, but the fact that Macallan and Highland Park are blended into this one is encouraging. Let's get it a go. Nose: Ethanol and grain. Butterscotch, caramel, and cornbread. Red grape and milk chocolate. Those last two notes are subdued. A wood note. Maybe some vanilla. It's decent. Palate: It's relatively thin and grainy. Grape and golden raisin. Milk chocolate and vanilla. Honey and butterscotch. Green and grassy. The grain yields a cucumber note. Dole diced peaches. Once again, decent. A slight improvement on the nose. Finish: Caramel, vanilla, and black pepper. Grain and ethanol on the way out. Short to the point where there's no question it's 40% ABV. Underwhelming but not terrible. Not a lot to say. It's drinkable, and clears that hurdle by a decent amount. It offers no complexity, nor a hint of Macallan or Highland Park lineage. It's a decent blend that can be purchased at a reasonable price. Speaking of which, this was $23. Far from a burden on my wallet. This bottle features the black screw that was redesigned a few years ago. Not sure how it stacks up to the stuff Edrington is putting out today, but this one is only good for 2.25 stars, even at the price. This a good bottle if you're in a rush and need something to throw in a flask for a concert. Otherwise, throw an extra $10 and get a cheap single malt.