Highland Black 8 Year

Inexpensive blends reviews: Addendum. Nose: Fairly generic malt notes, sherry and grain whisky. Not overly impressive but thankfully free of the rubbery taint often encountered in inexpensive blends, and with a certain full and generous presence. Palate: Again, quite full and fruity with raisins and some sherry notes. Nutty flavours and a Christmas pudding character, but a little dilute. Hard to dislike. Finish: Fairly short with the fruity sweetness lingering but finally decaying into a slightly sour note, which is the only real mis-step. For an inexpensive blend this is not bad. There is a most pleasant smoothness, almost a creamy sensation, to the mouthfeel but I wouldn’t call it rich. Good body and taste, although the nose is somewhat distant. Water does not improve it, and it is quite pleasant neat. As a mixer it gets a bit lost but adds an agreeable fruity sweetness to soda or cola. You need to A-B taste this neat against other cheap blends to appreciate how good it is. Recently this was awarded a slew of accolades and is currently (mid 2018) being touted in popular magazines and sites as a giant-killer and the best thing in whisky ever. Nonsense. It’s a good mid-shelf blend that represents exceptional value - that's all. The price is close to the bottom of the range, but it is competitive against big name blends costing $10-15 more. “Average” : 76/100 (2.5 stars)

Ok, pleasantly surprised by this. As an ALDI private label - and the super cheap price point - I was quite skeptical. But I got it as a gag gift so I figured I’d give it a go anyway. I read online that one of the sources is William Grant and Sons in Scotland, maker of Balvenie and Glenfiddich. Nose is a bit harsh and astringent at first, but some elements of cinnamon and creme brûlée can be found. Opens up and softens with some air. On the palette, a little bit of toffee, baking spices, and butter. Thin on mouthfeel. Finish is very short and disappears. I can definitely taste the Spey side flavours, which are the ones I like anyway. Give the dram a little time in the glass and the air brings out predominantly honeyed sweetness. It’s rather one note, but it’s not a terrible note. Very easy drinker, could be a cheap daily dram. Even better that It’s easy to find at ALDI here in Australia. Guess I’ll keep the bottle after all!

This is an own brand scotch from the discount supermarket Aldi. Once opened and sitting a while it has a muted nose, lightly floral and chocolaty with whiteboard marker undertones. It’s very thin but it has a pleasant taste of biscuit, honey, toast, matchstick, and toffee. The finish is dry with a bit of sour sharpness. Altogether it’s an agreeable sweetness without being at all complex. This is as good as any other blend. It costs €19. That makes it cheaper than JW Red, JW Black, Famous Grouse, Grant’s Family Reserve, Teachers Highland Cream, and Black & White. In my opinion it is slightly better than all those listed, but I'm not going to replace the bottle.

This is very good value for money and punches well above its price. Nose of some light vanilla, creme brulee and almonds with some acetone burn on the core. Taste of the same vanilla and creme brulee notes, but it quickly evolves into notes of coffee/cocoa/stout and similar "dark" flavours, with very strong oak. Surprisingly full bodied and with a good finish, very smooth and no acrid bite. Call me crazy but I'd take a bottle of this over Johnnie Walker Black or Chivas 12 any day. And needless to say I vastly prefer this to the dirt cheap blends like The Famous Grouse and Johnnie Walker Red.

Aldi's cheap scotch. Nose is sweet but mild. Toffee, banana, pineapple, some citrus. A sweet taste. Hints of smoke, spice, and oak. Some orange and vanilla. It's all rather mild, but a decent drink for price.

Not bad at all for ten pounds, I was recommended this one and picked it up on the cheap. Bit of a sharp aftertaste that I wasnt a fan of bit had a good flavour.