Nice review comrade! Nothing you've mentioned put me off of this one. For that price, a blended malt which you can sip is a non brainer. Thanks for the review 🥃
Hi Shane... Just wanted to highlight that I stumbled onto an artical on a scottish Islay distillery doing rum which I found really interesting. Called 'islay rum' .. they even produce one variant with peated orange .... Sounds wild. Haven't tried yet but considering your recent foray into rum thought you might be interested.
To them, there has to be a mask that chill filtering does especially as it seems to be done alot on cheaper NAS whisky. It would be really interesting to do a side by aide comparison. I remember you doing a barrier filtered video which was really good but the chilling process must make the liquid more palatable. The philosophy should work the other way around.. more work done to the whisky the more expensive it is. Ive switched tack with buying fewer but better bottles now (mostly from cadenheads) from IBs then OBs. Still have alot of OBs working through but getting less and less. Good review on a decent affordable whiksy 👍
Thanks! I tried to replicate chill filtration in my experiment too. Although I feel that what I did was probably gentler than what industry does. Still, my results were that barrier filtration removes some flavour. Chill filtration removes a LOT of flavour. Worrying! Cheers 🥃
Great review Shane! Unfortunately, this one isn't available here in NZ. I agree with you on the taxing on ABV. The Government here keeps raising the alcohol excise tax every year and it does nothing to stop the social harm which is predominantly from those drinking alcohol at the lower ABV range. In fact, it probably makes it worse as more liquor stores are being robbed. I'm pretty sure the thieves aren't stealing Bruichladdichs, Ardnamurchans and Craigellachies. Cheers!
It's a sad and bizarre situation isn't it? I'm sure the people in charge know that the real problems are elsewhere but it's a lot easier to raise taxes and pretend you've fixed the problem 😕 Cheers 🥃
I haven't had it for a while but I found Glen Orchy 5 fine for sipping with realistic expectations. I wouldn't sip Queen Margot... and the various Ben Brackens can be hit and miss 🤷♂️ This Glendower reminds me of Glen Orchy (many cheap supermarket blended malts do!) but perhaps slightly better.
@@WhiskyLock I didn't know that Glen Orchy 5 was blended malt when I bought it, I probably read up to "blended" and thought it was blended with some grain spirit, as the taste had some bitterness and varnish notes. My bottom line of "sipping whiskey" were Naked Grouse or Tamnavulin SC, with recently added Glen Grant 10 28euro/1L QMargot is good for killing bacterias only BBrackens basic malts are good as a present to the table at some party, where you know for sure, that it will be consumed with cola or juice
I began my whisky journey last week and bought some miniatures from a local garage, JD and Famous Grouse. I had a small drop of the JD one night and it wasn't too bad, but the only smell I got from it was like a green apple skin smell. The next day, I had the rest of the JD and it was absolutely horrible and gave me a severe headache a couple of hours later. The Famous Grouse is disgusting and I've only had a drop of it and will likely pour the rest down the drain. I'm looking forward to try AnCnoc 12, Aberfeldy 12, and Old Pultney 12 now because I think after having tried the lowest of the low, I'll be able to actually see a difference when I try soem real whisky.
@@MISTERLOLCRACKERS I did drink water afterwards. It would seem a lot of people are in the same boat as I've read quite a few reviews for JD that state it gave them a headache.
It's a journey and we all start from somewhere. Don't beat yourself up because it's an ongoing discovery. Those miniatures go into your whisky locker book and are part of the ongoing reference. Remember that that cheap stuff vastly outsells the good stuff. There's a very profitable market. Single malt nerds are a minority elite and a thorn in the side of companies like Diageo.
Hi! It's important to have tried some of these lower tier mass produced whiskies... but also important to realise that there is a world of better stuff out there 😉 many of the people who say that 'All whisky tastes the same' and that people who come out with a whole list of tasting notes are just making it up think that because they never went further than JD and Famous Grouse. The Grouse is worth keeping for future comparison although I agree that it's awful... You could always tip the remainder into a glass of cola or a ton of ice. Which will show you why things like Grouse sell so well (because the way most people drink it you can't taste it!). Hope you enjoy the better drams. Cheers 🥃
mmm...It sounds like affordable cider. I'm really glad you do these reviews because there is value out there but is this it? I can get a very good bottle of wine for this price. I'm such a slob I'd kill this bottle in a sitting listening to some music but I get where you're coming from. Great review as always. WT
Affordable cider 😂 I think it all comes down to whether there's a space in your life and your drinks cabinet for a 40%er. As we've talked about before; I think the light and sweet nature of this somewhat excuses the light ABV. For me, it works and I'll be buying another bottle soon. It's a different kind of value to Black Bottle Alchemy or Cutty Prohibition though. Cheers 🥃
I'd like to see a review of NAS Lismore Single Malt someday if you can find it. It generally sells for about $25 in the USA and is rumored to be ex-bourbon matured Glenfarclas ✌️
Glenrogers... Great name! I do sometimes wonder if a lot of these budget blended malts are being made in the same place. A lot of them are similar... but very good for the money 👍
Sounds interesting, but how does it compare to a cheap single malt like Glen Moray Elgin Classic? Admittedly that one is a bit of a freak in being so low priced for a single malt, but when others such as Glenmorangie 10 are discounted below £30, is it still worth picking this up at £17 or paying more for a basic single malt in the £25 region?
Great question. Glen Moray Elgin Classic is a solid malt and a screaming bargain. I think this blended malt holds up well though. Even compared to Glenmo 10. These cheap Blended malts always seem to have a really intense sweet fruitiness than budget single malt doesn't. To me it's too close to call. Buy both 😁 Cheers 🥃
Have you tried "Royal Park"? It's a super cheap blend sold in the Norwegian duty free, maybe in other countries as well, around £12.50 for a whole liter bottle. I don't expect it to be great but the price makes me curious.
I don't understand -- if you are buying a cheap supermarket whisky, especially in a non-clear bottle, why would you care if a whisky is filtered or coloured? I mean, you don't expect grandeur either, you're buying tomatoes in December anyhow. Why do distillers go through the extra effort which adds additional costs?
Bizarre isn't it? You've got all these distilleries doing something that damages the flavour in order to make the whisky look like it tastes good 🤯 apparently they think their customers are stupid...
Blended Malts should not be mentioned in the same sentence as Blended Scotches. They are All-Malt whiskies just like Single Malts are, and are potentially the superior of the two given the range of malts a blender can draw upon to formulate a recipe ✌️
Yes I think after the SWA made everyone change the terminology from Pure Malt to Blended Malt it's thrown a spanner in the works for the promotion of Blended Malts as a category. The majority of people don't know enough to realise the difference. Shame. I find cheap Blended Malt to consistently outperform both blends and similarly priced single malt. Fantastic 🥃
@@WhiskyLock Agreed! The SWA royally screwed that one up. I much preferred Pure or Vatted Malt, but I think All-Malt Whisky is even simpler to understand.
Too bad the socialist edition isn't available here. I would buy that. There's an 8-year old version on the market here for €26. But I think I'll settle for my Rock Island 😄. Sipping on my vintage early 1980s Dimple 12 certainly takes me to a (in some respects) simpler, better time.
I saw that 8yo when I was researching this but haven't tried it. I agree that Rock Oyster is probably the better buy at that price point. I also have an unopened bottle of 1980s Dimple on my shelf. So I'm glad to hear that you're enjoying it! 🥃
Nice review comrade! Nothing you've mentioned put me off of this one. For that price, a blended malt which you can sip is a non brainer. Thanks for the review 🥃
Khorosho! A humble dram but you get far more than you pay for. Cheers 🥃
Hi Shane... Just wanted to highlight that I stumbled onto an artical on a scottish Islay distillery doing rum which I found really interesting. Called 'islay rum' .. they even produce one variant with peated orange .... Sounds wild. Haven't tried yet but considering your recent foray into rum thought you might be interested.
Thanks for highlighting this. Sounds very interesting. I'm glad they're offering some higher ABVs too. Cheers 🥃
Thanks for yet another excellent review Shane.
Interesting and informative as usual.
Slàinte mhath
Cheers buddy 🥃
I always crave these light blends in the hot months of the year. I just finished a bottle of Copper Dog yesterday and quite enjoyed it.
Absolutely. Light and pleasant has its place, especially when it starts getting hotter 😎🥃
Glendower is available in Korea. Will definitely try!
Great! What's the price like over there?
To them, there has to be a mask that chill filtering does especially as it seems to be done alot on cheaper NAS whisky. It would be really interesting to do a side by aide comparison. I remember you doing a barrier filtered video which was really good but the chilling process must make the liquid more palatable. The philosophy should work the other way around.. more work done to the whisky the more expensive it is.
Ive switched tack with buying fewer but better bottles now (mostly from cadenheads) from IBs then OBs. Still have alot of OBs working through but getting less and less.
Good review on a decent affordable whiksy 👍
Thanks! I tried to replicate chill filtration in my experiment too. Although I feel that what I did was probably gentler than what industry does. Still, my results were that barrier filtration removes some flavour. Chill filtration removes a LOT of flavour. Worrying! Cheers 🥃
Great review Shane! Unfortunately, this one isn't available here in NZ. I agree with you on the taxing on ABV. The Government here keeps raising the alcohol excise tax every year and it does nothing to stop the social harm which is predominantly from those drinking alcohol at the lower ABV range. In fact, it probably makes it worse as more liquor stores are being robbed. I'm pretty sure the thieves aren't stealing Bruichladdichs, Ardnamurchans and Craigellachies. Cheers!
It's a sad and bizarre situation isn't it? I'm sure the people in charge know that the real problems are elsewhere but it's a lot easier to raise taxes and pretend you've fixed the problem 😕 Cheers 🥃
in our "village" Glen Orchy 5-year-old blended malt was 7.99euro, Ben Bracken Single Malt was 11 euro
Insanely cheap!
@@WhiskyLock yes, but they are good for cocktails only, not for sipping
I haven't had it for a while but I found Glen Orchy 5 fine for sipping with realistic expectations. I wouldn't sip Queen Margot... and the various Ben Brackens can be hit and miss 🤷♂️
This Glendower reminds me of Glen Orchy (many cheap supermarket blended malts do!) but perhaps slightly better.
@@WhiskyLock I didn't know that Glen Orchy 5 was blended malt when I bought it, I probably read up to "blended" and thought it was blended with some grain spirit, as the taste had some bitterness and varnish notes. My bottom line of "sipping whiskey" were Naked Grouse or Tamnavulin SC, with recently added Glen Grant 10 28euro/1L
QMargot is good for killing bacterias only
BBrackens basic malts are good as a present to the table at some party, where you know for sure, that it will be consumed with cola or juice
I began my whisky journey last week and bought some miniatures from a local garage, JD and Famous Grouse. I had a small drop of the JD one night and it wasn't too bad, but the only smell I got from it was like a green apple skin smell. The next day, I had the rest of the JD and it was absolutely horrible and gave me a severe headache a couple of hours later. The Famous Grouse is disgusting and I've only had a drop of it and will likely pour the rest down the drain. I'm looking forward to try AnCnoc 12, Aberfeldy 12, and Old Pultney 12 now because I think after having tried the lowest of the low, I'll be able to actually see a difference when I try soem real whisky.
Whiskey will dehydrate you pretty quickly. I always make sure to drink a glass of water after having a dram. Could help prevent those headaches.
@@MISTERLOLCRACKERS I did drink water afterwards. It would seem a lot of people are in the same boat as I've read quite a few reviews for JD that state it gave them a headache.
It's a journey and we all start from somewhere. Don't beat yourself up because it's an ongoing discovery. Those miniatures go into your whisky locker book and are part of the ongoing reference. Remember that that cheap stuff vastly outsells the good stuff. There's a very profitable market. Single malt nerds are a minority elite and a thorn in the side of companies like Diageo.
Hi! It's important to have tried some of these lower tier mass produced whiskies... but also important to realise that there is a world of better stuff out there 😉 many of the people who say that 'All whisky tastes the same' and that people who come out with a whole list of tasting notes are just making it up think that because they never went further than JD and Famous Grouse.
The Grouse is worth keeping for future comparison although I agree that it's awful... You could always tip the remainder into a glass of cola or a ton of ice. Which will show you why things like Grouse sell so well (because the way most people drink it you can't taste it!).
Hope you enjoy the better drams. Cheers 🥃
Looks like a Heineken gift set.
Sounds like fantastic value!
Cheers 🥃
It does indeed 😂 fantastic bang for buck 🥃
mmm...It sounds like affordable cider. I'm really glad you do these reviews because there is value out there but is this it? I can get a very good bottle of wine for this price. I'm such a slob I'd kill this bottle in a sitting listening to some music but I get where you're coming from. Great review as always. WT
Affordable cider 😂 I think it all comes down to whether there's a space in your life and your drinks cabinet for a 40%er. As we've talked about before; I think the light and sweet nature of this somewhat excuses the light ABV. For me, it works and I'll be buying another bottle soon. It's a different kind of value to Black Bottle Alchemy or Cutty Prohibition though. Cheers 🥃
I'd like to see a review of NAS Lismore Single Malt someday if you can find it. It generally sells for about $25 in the USA and is rumored to be ex-bourbon matured Glenfarclas ✌️
Thanks for the recommendation! I'll have a look 👍🥃
🥃😊👍🏻
Sounds like another blended malt I got 2 months ago, for 9€ Glenrogers , not too bad either for the price.
Glenrogers... Great name! I do sometimes wonder if a lot of these budget blended malts are being made in the same place. A lot of them are similar... but very good for the money 👍
Sounds interesting, but how does it compare to a cheap single malt like Glen Moray Elgin Classic? Admittedly that one is a bit of a freak in being so low priced for a single malt, but when others such as Glenmorangie 10 are discounted below £30, is it still worth picking this up at £17 or paying more for a basic single malt in the £25 region?
Great question. Glen Moray Elgin Classic is a solid malt and a screaming bargain. I think this blended malt holds up well though. Even compared to Glenmo 10. These cheap Blended malts always seem to have a really intense sweet fruitiness than budget single malt doesn't. To me it's too close to call. Buy both 😁 Cheers 🥃
Have you tried "Royal Park"? It's a super cheap blend sold in the Norwegian duty free, maybe in other countries as well, around £12.50 for a whole liter bottle. I don't expect it to be great but the price makes me curious.
Hi! No I haven't. That's very, very cheap though! Makes you wonder how they actually make any money on it 🤔
sounds lot better than jonnie walker red and few others will pick a bottle up cheers whisky lock
Yes! Here in the UK you can get it for less than JW Red and it's all malt. A bargain in my book. Cheers 🥃
Cheers Whisky Lock, very interesting review
I don't understand -- if you are buying a cheap supermarket whisky, especially in a non-clear bottle, why would you care if a whisky is filtered or coloured? I mean, you don't expect grandeur either, you're buying tomatoes in December anyhow. Why do distillers go through the extra effort which adds additional costs?
Bizarre isn't it? You've got all these distilleries doing something that damages the flavour in order to make the whisky look like it tastes good 🤯 apparently they think their customers are stupid...
Blended Malts should not be mentioned in the same sentence as Blended Scotches. They are All-Malt whiskies just like Single Malts are, and are potentially the superior of the two given the range of malts a blender can draw upon to formulate a recipe ✌️
Yes I think after the SWA made everyone change the terminology from Pure Malt to Blended Malt it's thrown a spanner in the works for the promotion of Blended Malts as a category. The majority of people don't know enough to realise the difference. Shame. I find cheap Blended Malt to consistently outperform both blends and similarly priced single malt. Fantastic 🥃
@@WhiskyLock Agreed! The SWA royally screwed that one up. I much preferred Pure or Vatted Malt, but I think All-Malt Whisky is even simpler to understand.
@@MrChristopherMolloy I always liked Vatted Malt. All Malt is pretty clear too.
With a name like that, you'd think it was Welsh, not Scotch!
Great point 🤔 I wonder if there's a Welsh connection...
Too bad the socialist edition isn't available here. I would buy that. There's an 8-year old version on the market here for €26. But I think I'll settle for my Rock Island 😄. Sipping on my vintage early 1980s Dimple 12 certainly takes me to a (in some respects) simpler, better time.
I saw that 8yo when I was researching this but haven't tried it. I agree that Rock Oyster is probably the better buy at that price point.
I also have an unopened bottle of 1980s Dimple on my shelf. So I'm glad to hear that you're enjoying it! 🥃