The Spencerfield Spirit Company Ltd. Sheep Dip Malt Whisky

I am always on the lookout to find a good quality everyday sipper that doesn't put a large dent into my wallet; on that I don't feel guilty about coming home from work and pouring a glass whether neat or with a cube of ice.

Recently I was browsing around the local liquor store and seeing nothing else I decided to jump on this bottle of Sheep Dip; the name alone had pushed me away from it for quite some time, but I figured what the hell. At 26 USD for a 750ml it will be a good learning experience even if I hate it. Suffice to say I don't hate it; I am actually stunned.

On the nose I get a good dollop of honey, along with some grassy notes and a distinct sea-salt/breeze character, and there is a wisp of smoke throughout.

On the palate there is sweetness, an immediate saltiness but not too strong, some spicy oak/vanilla, citrus, grass and a touch of raisins. The finish fades off with lingering sea-salt, smoke and sandalwood; the finish is actually quite long and I am still able to taste it for a good 45 seconds after swallowing. It's not hot or offensive in any way, and I'm also now getting a little bit of fresh cracked pepper.

For 26 dollars this is a true, honest-to-goodness malt blend that isn't the most complex thing on the face of the earth, but it's not simple either. There are plenty of more expensive whiskeys that don't give me this much enjoyment. It just tastes very pleasant and I can't really see this offending/turning-off anyone just getting into scotch, but has just enough complexities to make an experienced whisky drinker satisfied.

The normal price I have seen this for is around 30-35, and even then I think this is a worthy dram; for the price it definetely outshines a blended malt like JW Green (though it's not quite as complex, but at around half the price you can't really expect it to be). If you see it, grab it.