Dewar’s No Age Statement (40%, “White Label”, +/- 2009)

What to expect? Especially from the point of view of a malt head…the bottle is embossed with the phrase “Never Varies” and the bottom label is adorned 14 Gold Medals awarded between 1896 and 1930…. and the label is actually almost white… The nose reveals some nice grain notes that one always finds in blends however it is not harsh but is fragrant and sweet along with some light citrus (think grapefruit and oranges) and some spicy wood notes. It is not a hugely complicated nose but is pleasant which is a damn fine start after all. The taste is almost a mirror reflection of the nose along with a back ground of sweetness and also some bitter chocolate and honey, vanilla and some slight hints of raw tobacco, cereal, fresh hay and some ever so slight hint of peat reek (that’s a surprise). The finish is warming, sweet and reasonably long, malty and smashingly good. After a few minutes you’re left with some nice chewy malt.

There’s nothing wrong with this whisky and it’s actually quite good. The absence of off notes is both a surprise and welcome and it’s quite vibrant. Serve it blind to your friends and see what they think.

C$25 which is cheap as chips

Score 84 Points

At Whisky Intelligence we do not drag out the garlic juice, 1,000,000 candle power arc lights and wooden stakes at the first sign of a blended whisky and generally celebrate them while recognizing the economics of the situation that without blended whiskies there wouldn’t be any single malts. During the next few days we’ll be examining a few blended whiskies but next week it’ll be back to the malts!