Blend tasting!!!

My first ever Blend-tasting I believe, and not a trend that I'm gonna follow longer than maybe 3 or 4 more tastings, not necessarily immediate successors to this one, but somewhere before summertime I think. So, to keep it really easy I will do one blend that's perhaps not a winner in many, if any people's books, one that has collected a bit more praise over the years and one that's one of the most popular blended whiskies in the world. Keep in mind, I'm totally new to this blend thing, and therefore my scores are probably to be read with that taken to consideration.


Robbie Burns NAS 40% R.H. Thompson & Co. 80's

A lot of dye in this whisky, if not they must have used some very dark whisky in the vat. I doubt it. The nose is light, burnt sugar, mild spirit, after a while it gets more dusty, leather-ish, stout, not bad actually. The taste is all on orange zest, wheat beer, grape fruit, honey, salty crackers, cream cheese, tamarinds, strawberries, a really nice one, sort of a high strength sweet liqueur. I find it hard to believe there's only grain and single malt whiskies included in the mix here.

Well, could it be some sweet sherried whisky in the vat?: 6


White Heather 8yo 43%

A more established brand White Heather, I have now, of course after the tasting, seen what others had to say about it, and the only one I could find notes from was Serge at www.whiskyfun.com, which awarded it a solid 86Points. But as said, I've already tried it and my tasting notes were as follows. The color is light golden, such as most whiskies at about 8yo should be. It smells more spirity, with some nice maltiness, oregano, parsley, sawdust, toasted bread, wheat, it's very pleasant, just a tad passive on the nose. The taste is licorice, honey, toffee, butter, cream, luxurious stuff. I didn't expect to find so much good in blends as I usually find little to no attraction in grain whiskies. Perhaps I need to try more blends from now on. Although I have on rare occasions, when offered, had some sips of Famous Grouse, Johnnie Walker, J&B and such, and the memories are far from as good as the ones I'll have from this one.

Remarkable, value for money like never seen before, at least not by me: 8


Tullamore Dew NAS 40%

So an irish whisky then, and by selling numbers measured, the most popular whisky in this session by far. So, it should be able to make for an interesting whisky. The color is golden light, it smells light and easy, grainy, biscuits, wheat, perfumy, floral, not very pleasant, but easy and probably a commercial success. The taste is light, easy, sort of lowland-style, young Glenkinchie perhaps. No aftertaste, just some sweet vanilla and floral notes on the palate. One to easily forget I'm afraid.

Scotch's still #1, but Irish will make for better competition in weeks to follow: 2