Nose: Shy malt with a light orchard and stone-fruit presence. You do notice aromas associated with agave spirit but they are light and if nosed blind I would not be able to say if this was a mescal or tequila cask, and I certainly couldn’t pick the brand. It’s just not bold enough to allow that sort of discrimination. There’s a tiny hint of ash in the foundation which is very pleasant.
Palate: Typical sweet and mildly fruit/cereal Dewar’s house style in the arrival, but it gives way to a growing mescal note as it develops. A little spice is the first thing noticed but instead of the expected gingery quality it takes a left turn into mild vegetal and peppery flavours, with a touch of ash in the background. As with the nose you definitely notice something different to standard Dewars White Label (or 12 year old for that matter), but it’s really not until you know it is mezcal cask finished that the nature of what you are tasting becomes clear. Once you do, however, the presence of mescal as a finish is obvious, and it works very well. The texture is good for a blend, with the foundation Aberfeldy distillate contributing its usual creamy and honeyed qualities.
Finish: Very Short. Cereal and a trace of peppered honey with a green vegetative background at the end, but it is a very fast finish. A minute after swallowing there is hardly any trace you ever had it on the palate.
This is the second of the Dewar’s cask finished “smooth” range I’m currently tasting. As with the mizunara cask expression I had yesterday it’s satisfying that it has an identifiably individual finish (I wonder if the port cask Portuguese Smooth I’m tasting next will continue the trend?).
There’s not much more to add. This blended scotch is just fine as an easy, relaxing sipper neat or over ice, it works as a mixer and it’s reasonably priced. It does offer something more than the standard White Label blend and I'd happily buy this again. I like it a fraction better than the mizunara cask expression so I'm giving it one percentage point more, which gives it the same rating I've previously given to Dewar's 12 year old.
“Above Average” : 81/100 (3 stars)
68.0
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I have ZERO experience with Mezcal, so I have opened and tried this, but haven't reviewed it yet. I was struggling for descriptors, but you nailed it fairly well. I was definitely out there a bit and I liked it, just didn't know how to review it if that makes sense.
@cascode the issue isn’t too many whiskeys. It’s we drink very little. 😀
@PBMichiganWolverine Too … many … whiskies 😁 I have the same problem. I see something on special and grab it only to find I already have one. Must remember to check the database first.
@cascode you’re right…I should’ve known, I have that Kilchoman. There’s also a Rock Island Islay blend finished in mezcal, which I apparently have, and didn’t know.
@PBMichiganWolverine Can't find a Lagavulin but there has apparently been a few Kilchomans, Including one from a local club - I may have to join :-)
@PBMichiganWolverine Cheers - I'll follow that up.
@cascode i think Lagavulin had a feis ile or jazz release that was mezcal finished.
Question for enquiring minds - has any Islay distillery done a mezcal cask finish? And if not, why not? Having tasted this it's a no-brainer.
@PBMichiganWolverine That's the most recent of this "smooth" series, I believe. Not seen it here yet but I'll keep an eye out. So far I'd recommend both the mizunara cask and certainly this mezcal cask finish. Based on 8 year old Dewars spirit the basic bourbon-matured whisky sits somewhere between White Label and the 12 or even 15 year old, but with the very well handled finishes I'd so far equate them with the 12 year old at least. I may pick up anoth bottle of the mizunara, but I'm looking to find a case of this Ilegal mezcal finish. It's a bit of a cracker.
@cascode i’ve never had a Dewars (or if i did, probably can’t recall…same difference). But I’ve heard their calvados one is pretty good.