Another blended whisky, twice in a row? Yes, indeed. And why not? It is not a port Ellen, but it is something that most people buy, and that is what keeps Single malts in motion, Blended malts, we heart you (although we drink you only from time to time, which is a shame btw). So what’s new about this version of the Grouse you ask? The PR blurb says this:
The Famous Grouse Mellow Gold has been Blended for Smoothness and carefully crafted by Master Blender Gordon Motion. The master blender’s art is on full display, blending the finest scotch whiskies, matured in sherry and bourbon casks to deliver a smooth, well rounded whisky. Mellow Gold’s recipe has a higher proportion of sherry casks than The Famous Grouse to deliver a subtly sweeter, mellow flavour.
So, essentially this is a blen of more sherry casks than the regular formula of the grouse, which should make it sweeter, smoother and more sherry profile centric. Lets try it shall we?
The Famous Grouse – Mellow Gold , 40.0%, ~£21
Nose: Rather mellow and rounded with some sherry notes and hints of cereal vanilla and orange peel. Smooth and on the sweeter side with a malty edge.
Palate: Starts bitter sweet with candied orange, Dark chocolate and fudge. There’s certainly some dried fruit goodness in the form of sultana , baked apples and crumble. Quite round and sweeter than the regular grouse.
Finish: Milk chocolate. Toffee. Dried fruit and soft baking spices.
Bottom line:
This is a nice change from the well know formula of the grouse, it does offer a sweeter palate, with the chocolate and sultana touces, and will appeal to those who do appreciate a bit of sherry influence. A nice sipper for the blended whisky fan, and a nice mixer too if you fancy a whisky cocktail. Nothing ground breaking, but again, that was not the intent.
Score: 81/100
Official sample provide by the F.Grouse.
This may come across a quite naive or rudimentary…but, why is it that a blend cost so little compared to single malts? You ranked this 81…I can’t imagine a single malt at 81 score to be 21 pounds (or for us in the US…close to $35). From an economic perspective, isn’t it more expensive to get the single malts from distilleries, and hiring a skilled individual to blend them so it taste good? Seems like more steps are needed to make a blend than a single malt.
I think the main reason is that making grain whisky is cheaper. the process in which grain whisky is distilled is contonous, and the stills are producing malt 24/7, where distilling single malt in the traditional pot still is not really efficient. grain distilleries are usually HUGE plants that dwarf any single malt distillery (including the big ones, G.Livet and G.Fiddich). i guess this is the main reason.
Thanks Gal—that makes sense. So, it’s a matter of efficiency through scale.
yes, essentially it is. although I believe we’re being charged a permium because its’ “single malt”. and they can.