Dewar's 15 Year The Monarch

Rating: 13/23 N: Sweet nectar (perhaps honey, but I don't get that bitterness I expect), a dash of malt, a whiff of grain, some tangerine and apricot. A little oil and a hint of alcohol. There's not a lot happening on the nose here, but what is present is sweet with a decently rounded richness. It's a very approachable nose. P: Light and sweet with some oil and spice. Lemon, faint tangerine, faint harshness. A bit of a floral side to the fruit. The alcohol flavor really shows more than I would expect from a 15 year old scotch, though there is a little bit of the bitter side of a honey flavor half-heartedly trying to explain it. This tastes more like a 12 year old to me. Some vanilla makes its way in. It does taste like there were some first fill bourbon barrels in here, though I don't get much more than vanilla that has some little bit of oak character to it. I can dig deeper for some other sweet, fruity characters coming off of the bit of malty richness that is here, but it's work for sure. The flavors really aren't very distinct here though and although they're soft the alcohol shows through a lot. F: Bitter alcohol with faint floral fruit and a dash of vanilla. The tangerine eventually comes out for a bit (in a very understated way) on the long finish. - Conclusion - I'm pretty disappointed by this one. It isn't bad, but I was hoping for something that could compete more seriously with Johnnie Walker Green. Of course, I knew that the grain whisky was a risk and I think that's what's done this one in with its youth and alcohol. Pure Scot (14) may not be as complex as this, but it has its rich profile nailed down, with its youth mainly showing from the fresh oak barrel. This, on the other hand, is more complex and traditionally flavored, but it has that youthful alcohol flavor. And it still is only kind of complex. I would take this Pure Scot over this. I won't go as low as an 11 here, but it's only getting a 12 or 13. I think this can have a 13.

Johnnie Walker 12 year black move over for the Monarch 15 year old from Dewar's. One thing that I always noticed and kept me from absolutely loving the JW black label was the heavy presents of the grain whiskey. The Dewar's also contains grain to be sure but it isn't leaping out of the glass at me probably because it's hidden behind a sherry cask layer. Nose is immediately fruit both the darker sherry raisin, plum, fig but also the lighter pear and apple. Floral hay/grass and heather is also very distinct on this one. Some underlying sweetness like light honey and vanilla. Palate is very inviting the light fruit and sweet honey notes come out first with some of the floral grass notes then the sherry cask comes in with the red fruit and notable sherry flavor (think GlenDronach) because the oak comes in next and makes for a semi dry oaky sherry flavor. Finally some barrel spice and a touch of alcohol tingle comes in toward the finish to make this dram mouthwatering. Finish is the longer end of short with the fruit, sherry, sweet and oak lingering around but with no bitterness. This is steps above J&B or Cutty Sark and has even edged out JW Black for me as a daily drinker and one I wouldn't be hurt to add some ice to in the summer. It's 15 years and roughly the same price tag as the JW black 12 year, however still doesn't rise above the taste of the JW Double black or the quality of the all single malt 15 year from JW.

Nose - apple, honey, pear, fig, apricot, light sulphur, grass, cereal grain, vanilla, lemon, caramel, nutmeg, floral notes, mild ethanol burn. Taste - pear, honey, baked apple, buttery cinnamon, peach, mint, ginger, white pepper, fig, cereal grain, grass, lemon zest, pineapple, mild to moderate alcohol bite, finishing medium length with orchard fruit, honey, and citrus flavors. I’ve never tried a Dewar’s over 12 years old, so this will be interesting. My past experiences have been rather mediocre, so I’m not expecting too much. The nose is classic blended malt. Orchard fruits, honey, citrus, caramel, and vanilla. Simple but inviting, with maybe a hint of sulphur. The palate is similarly light, but there’s a nice oiliness to the mouthfeel. The same notes appear here, but it’s obviously underproofed which makes the dram taste brighter and sourer than it should. Overall, this is about on par with entry level Dewar’s blends, if not a touch better due to the slightly improved mouthfeel and finish. At $45 a bottle near me, I’m passing. Honestly if I were looking for a cheap blend, I’d buy something under $30. This is in a weird category of not being particularly inexpensive or particularly good. It’s better than average for me, but it just barely makes the cut. Thank you to @ContemplativeFox for providing the generous sample!

N: Sweet fruit, then floral and medicinal notes. Fruit is peach first, then leaning orchard with pear and apple. Faintly bready and nutty as well. Very pleasant, but also a bit nondescript. Too hard of a swirl brings out way more ethanol than expected - casual drinking and nosing doesn't get there, but a hard swirl in search of more scents is rewarded with booze and numbness. M: Interestingly different from the nose. Dark cherries, milk chocolate powder, then apples with faint sourness. Very mild smoke with faraway leather and cigar like flavors. Heavy, coating mouthfeel, almost chewy - and quite nice in that way. Finish is light, but persistent, cinnamon and clove. Chocolate flavors also build over time and mingle pleasantly with the spice. Nothing really pops and wows in this bottle, but the overall experience is, as I said, quite nice. Feels about right for the price. Definite step up from the 12 year. I would buy this again, but wouldn't go out of my way for it either.

After just opening and tasting a pour from a bottle of 12, I figured there was enough time to also crack the 15 before it gets too late for a proper comparison. The nose on this 15 is indeed enticing. It is velvety and muted, forcing you to explore more. Only after a few mins does it give up its scents of honey, caramel and vanilla, and just a tiny bit of ethanol. The palate is not as sweet as I expected, and jumps right into the main event delivering malted barely and grain wrapped in baking spices.. not much transition or evolution to speak of.. just in, then out. Finish is thin but some decent warmth from the floor proof. Like the 12 there is some pepper here as well. Overall this and the 12 are somewhat evenly matched.. the 15 has a far more luxurious nose, and the 12 has a little more of an interesting palate, albeit slightly less refined. Good scotch, just not great scotch.

The nose is coconut and salty butterscotch. Decidedly tropical and creamy, like vanilla and toffee. There is some barrel wood oils, followed by jasmine and heather-y florals. It's a bit sulphuric too. I'm not in love with the aroma, but it isn't unpleasant. Coconut dominates. The taste is piña colada and more coconut. The creamy vanilla has a sharp, bitter second wave: barrel tannins with just a hint of bitter sherry. A droplet of water does wonders, letting the vanilla bloom and sweeten up. The texture is slick and oily, and it doesn't disappear easily. The finish is a sharp, bitter flavor that isn't quite doing it for me. Barrel char, tobacco ash. A plastic toy set. It's all just way too harsh for something aged a decade and a half.