Trader Joe's Blended Scotch Whisky

Nose: alcohol and a paint thinner-like punch off the cuff (you can tell it’s a cheap-o budget Scotch, hard to get past), light orchard fruits, light honey, shiny grainy notes, herbal grassiness, almost a neat funk that I just can’t place what it is, nothing spectacular in the nose, alcohol smell never really goes away. Taste: light and thin, watery, a light sweetness that gives way to the alcohol mixed with a touch of barrel char, some herbal notes, overall very little to it on flavor. For a budget blend, is actually quite serviceable and is ideal for scotch and soda, i.e. whatever mixer that just needs a blended scotch. For the price, this is more than appropriate to put on that bottom shelf.

2.8.22 Served: Neat, Flute Bottle Open: 2 years, almost empty. Likely highly oxidized. Aroma: Banana, walnuts, and caramel. Flavor: Light and smooth texture. Banana Bread is the biggest impression (mostly bready). Starts with papaya. Mids with caramel and banana bread. A little bit of harshness on the back end. Banana candy notes begin to stand out after palate fatigue. Overall pleasant for sipping. Also tried it in a toddy, (honey, angostura, orange blossom, lemon) and it was quite pleasant.

It’s hard to argue the bang for buck factor here. This has a unique ‘funk’ I’ve picked up in several of TJ’s scotches, but it’s not unpleasant. I usually pick up a couple of these when I’m up in WA. $11 for a full liter ($17 after the state sticks it in without lube) is hard to beat for a basic blend that’ll make a solid scotch n soda everytime. I like it on the rocks or even neat.

This private label blended Scotch has a clear, amber appearance. The aroma is of corn and a touch of white bread. The flavor is of nuts, vanilla, and generalized grain. The body is medium, and it finishes moderately long. RJT

Smells terrible and tastes like the precursor to a series of bad decisions. We all need a night like this now and then.