Review #541; Scotch #178: The Famous Grouse Smokey Black

This blend, occupying the feared bottom shelf, is a super budget blended scotch. A rebrand of the former Black Grouse, it is like The Famous Grouse, but has an addition of peated malt to it. Let’s dive in.

ABV: 40%

Nose: Vanilla, faint ash, raspberry, apple, very faint smoke.

Palate: Light mouthfeel, raspberry, vanilla, faint fig, slight smoke.

Finish: Short, slight smoke, raspberry, vanilla, fig.

Rating: 5/10

Light on flavor, but it has some decent ones in there. I expected this to be much worse, but it’s a perfectly acceptable cocktailing whiskey. Dole out in your mixed drinks of choice, or throw it in a glass to enjoy without having to think too much. Fruit, slight smoke, faint peat, nothing offensive. About what I expect out of a super bottom shelf blend like this.

1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out.

2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.

3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.

4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists.

5 | Good | Good, just fine.

6 | Very Good | A cut above.

7 | Great | Well above average

8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional.

9 | Incredible | An all time favorite

10 | Perfect | Perfect


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