Whyte and Mackay Blended Scotch Whisky

This is W&M's answer to the already swamped market of standard blended Whisky under 8 year old. This is often the one you see in pubs, bars and clubs and is often the one that can be found in supermarkets around the UK. I paid £13 at Sainsbury's as it was on offer and i would advise you to pay no more than £15 for the 70cl bottle. Which is comparable price wise to Famous Grouse.

The colour is traditional for a blended Whisky and although the bottle does not state it has Caramel E150 colouring in it i would guess that it has, simply as the colour is so dark for such a young Whisky (between 4-8 years in this blend). However, do not let the fact they have added caramel colouring put you off!

NOSE: Toffee and a hint of vanilla although i would advise you add a drop of water to this from the off as it immediately brings out additional aromas including Raisins and of course a deep scent of Sherry from the casks. I would add that even before you add water this Whisky is quite smooth on the nose and at no point is overpowering!

PALATE: Sweet, smooth with hints of toffee, mellow dries fruits and lots of spice with black pepper playing a big role. With the addition of water it's much more smoother in the mouth and many of the flavors are easier to detect with the alcoholic bite being reduced to a balanced level. I cannot stress how much of an improvement this Whisky is when a little water is added and it tastes significantly better than the bottle of Famous Grouse i had over the past two weeks.

FINISH: The many flavors from this young blend linger in the mouth longer than virtually any of it's competitors. The sweetness at the end is most enjoyable with almost a tea taste around the sides of your tongue. There is very little burn from this Whisky although there is some on the tip of the tongue and at the back but it's dramatically less than what you expect from such a young blend. This does warm you as it goes down yet doesn't burn which again is something i welcome.

VERDICT: Now i don't pretend to call myself a Whisky expert yet but i do trust my taste-buds and nose and this Whisky has lots to offer for it's age and price. In summary, the nose drastically opens up when water is added and in the mouth it is significantly smoother. Considering it's age and price and the fact that this is a mass-market blended Whisky i have to say it impressed me more than Famous Grouse... not only did i smell more aromas and a deep Sherry input, the taste was far more pleasant and the long finish gives excellent value for money

Don't expect anything spectacular but for a basic blend this is very impressive in my book and has taken up residence as our go to blended Whisky - something i would be happy to drink whenever and whatever the circumstances. It also works very well as a mixer or over ice but personally i would stick to drinking with a drop of cool still water.

Recommended as an everyday Whisky around the house. It's better than you think!!

This is not a smooth whisky or a whisky to buy to enjoy the nose. I would say it has a rough taste and you feel a slight burn as you drnk and swallow it, but this is what makes it enjoyable to drink. I score it high as I've scored it for what it is and I'm not comparing it to the single malts of the world. It's a simple whisky that has nothing fancy and no complexity but you can certainly enjoy it.

I find it's a great whisky after a hard day at work or when things are stressful. It's a whisky to bring you back down to earth and you will feel that you're drinking it. I like to take enjoyment from the slight harshness of it. It's a constant in my collection and I happily stand it alongside the single malts. Fantastic value as well!

A straight forward blended scotch, easy drinking and pleasant but with little depth or character. This stuff is reminiscent of cough medicine, so one to keep at the back of the cupboard for hot toddies me thinks.

Picked this up for 10 quid so I'm not disappointed for the money.

However, Nose - has orange, honey and sugar. Body - Toffee, smooth, no bite. Finish - short, some malt, sprinkle of spice, slight citrus.

It's basic. It's well blended but has nothing special to offer. Has no smoke which I crave and very little depth. Spend a few quid more for Teachers.

This is a so-called 'Blended & Vatted whisky’. It got a ‘double marriage’. First the different malt whiskies were vatted, while the 14 grainwhiskies got vatted seperately. They were then married together to create a mellow taste.

The nose is somewhat unbalanced for me: sweet and sour are battling for first place. I smelled some oranges and apricots but mostly this smells like cough syrup to me.

It tastes better than it smells. Slightly spicy with soft honey. But mostly sweet fruits.

The finish is rather short and not very enthusiastic. If you are distracted for a second, you'll have forgotten all about this dram.

I think this 'Special' is a misnomer, for it's rather ordinairy - but of course it wouldn't do to have that on the label. Not a bad blend, but nothing 'Special' in my book. The only thing that I like a lot about this bottle is the low price.