Blend Project #8 The Famous Grouse...

The Famous Grouse (40.0%): It's been quite a while since I reviewed a whisky for the blend project. It is a lovely Saturday evening here in Cambridge and I have Edrington Group's work horse Famous Grouse in front of me. It's the best selling whisky in Scotland and contains malts from The Macallan, Highland Park and The Glenrothes as well as grain whiskies from North British and Cambus distilleries. A classic affordable blend for about $25 which kept me company for long years in many pubs across the world and mostly in UK. It has been always one of my favorites in its class and it will be fun to spend some time with it again tonight. I feel like hosting an old friend... Color: Medium amber, caramel coloring at its best. Nose: First impression is way more on the grainy side than I remember. Young grain whisky aromas hit bad right away but fade out quick. After airing it just a little butter toffee candy, thin honey and very subtle peat aromas evolve. It's getting even better and calmer in time: sweet malt, oatmeal raisin cookie dough, warm brioche, zante currants and cooked prunes. Palate: Chewy and viscous. Roasted pecans, toffee, hazelnut praline, malt with sweet eggy notes: custard and Mexican flan with toasted coconuts. Finish: Pretty short like expected but not frustrating. Hint of spice: maybe a little white pepper, whiff of smoke and roasted hazelnuts. Overall: Absolutely nothing wrong with this blend but nothing to be super excited for either. It sure doesn't have anything edgy on its palate but isn't it the point? It is designed to be a crowd pleaser and it is. For me it tastes like the perfect accompanist to a malty and bold British ale. Exactly like I remembered. Oh, sweet London memories...

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