So there I was, in a New Hampshire liquor store. I was stocking up on so many things (I love you Ezra Brooks), but sadly the store I was at was smaller, and had almost nothing for a scotch selection. Worse what was there were things I’d already had/reviewed. There was something that stood out, that I had not seen before.
I was understandably a bit worried about this because – well it says Sheep Dip. You’re either imagining a sheep being sipped into the scotch, or a haggis based dip. Neither of which sound particularly pleasant. What also drove me off was the walls of text that the box contained. So much so I actually just decided to do pictures.
What they Say: (Because oh yes there’s more on the bottle) “Our peculiar name comes from a time when farmers hid their home-made whisky from the nosey excise officers in barrels marked ‘Sheep Dip’
Today Sheep Dip is a ‘vatted’ or blended malt which is made up of sixteen single malts. The single malts in Sheep Dip are mainly Highland, but blended with delicate Speyside malts and smoky Islay malts. These single malts are married in fresh American oak barrels to produce this exceptional whisky. We hope you will enjoy it.”
They also have these images (click to enlarge)
Taste: 6.0 – It’s got a nice soft touch of a bunch of flavors, but it’s almost a little too much of fruit and floral taste.
Aftertaste: 5.5 – This comes in two parts, a rather crisp peatness, and then a bit of smoky aftertaste that lingers. It’s just overall not what I want, but I can’t discredit it. (Aka objectively nice, subjectively not so much)
Burn/Smooth: 7.5 – It’s got no real burn, and there’s a hint of the Islay for warmth but not enough.
Aroma: 6.5 – It smells like a Speyside single malt for the most part. Doesn’t have the peaty-ness that I would have liked it’s supposed Highland and Islay blends to it. Still a pleasant scotch smell though.
Honesty: 4.0 – Sorry, but despite it trying to claim that someone who ‘lived’ on the farm went to go be buddy-buddy with George Washington, then adds movie quotes, plus it’s ridiculous story (not untrue, just silly), and the mountain of text this has – it’s just not honest, and it feels like it’s wordy to describe a scotch that doesn’t fit.
Mixability: 6.25
W/ Rocks: 7.5 – Here it become a much more singular and enjoyable whisky. The flavors start to meld together, and you get the impression this was why they made the blend this way.
Rusty Nail: 5.0 – Despite switching the amount for more scotch, it sadly just falls into the Drambuie too much to be truly enjoyed.
Value: 5.0 – While I got it for much less than that because New Hampshire, I just don’t see myself ever buying this again, and that means value is roughly par. Sure it’s not as highly priced as some others in it’s category, but I’d by Macnish every time over this.
Google Shop Average: $41
Website: http://www.spencerfieldspirit.com/products/sheep-dip/
Reviewer Scores:
BuffaloJern: 5.5
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Metric Score: 40.75/70 |+| Metric Average: 5.82 |+| Reviewer Average: 5.5
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Final Thoughts: It’s certainly an interesting scotch, and I’m glad to have picked it up, if for no other reason to hear why it’s called sheep dip. However it feels more like a wannable complex Speyside single malt, and really only shines on rocks.
I must disagree on most comments. Sorry Buffalo. A true malt-Scotch drinker uses ice, or more commonly, a dash of water. I find this Sheep Dip to have the least burn and without the earthy, mossy component I personally dislike when I sip with a dash of water. Since it is still available for about $38 in Colorado, it is, and will continue to be my choice when buying a malt Scotch. Versus single malts, this blend might scare off some purists, but my advice is just give it a try.
I WII LOVE THE WHISKY OF HIGHLANDS ABOVE GLASGOW WHERE WE ARE FROM.. I WAS HOME 3 YEAR AGO AND WE WERE IN LOCH LOMOND GETTING OFF THE BOAT, ALWAYS SEEMS THE WAY. I WANTED TO BUY WHISKY NOT FOUND HERE.
THE FIRST ONE SPIED WAS, NO MYSTERY, SHEEP DIP. I WAS GOING TO BUY FOR THE NAME NOT MINDING IF IT RAN THE TRUCK.. I DON’T DO WHAT YOU DO OR HAVE A PALATE LIKE YOURS, BUT THERE’S WHAT YOU LIKE. NO A LIE TO MY TASTE BUDS I WILL SAY SORT A SMOOTH, NO BURN, NO ISLAY EITHER, MY DRUTHERS. PLEASE BE EASY THOUGH IT WAS 3 YEARS PAST. IF II’S NOT FORBIDDEN FOR A SCOTSMAN 100% TO SHARE SOME OF HIS UNREFINED TASTE A SCOTSMAN MIGHT INHERIT.. I DO LIKE WHAT I LIKE, BUT WHAT OF LOCH LOMOND SINGLE MALT,..LAGAVULIN 16YR…OBAN..14YR .ABERLOUR 12YR…BALVENIE 14YR CARIBE, GLENFIDICH 14YR LASTLY FOR NEAR 33USD ON LI, NY MONKEY SHOULDER MALT WHISKY, AND WHAT STARTED THIS WAR, SHEEP DIP WHICH I BOUGHT BACK HOME, SCOTLAND… I KNOW A WEE BIT ECLECTIC AND I THANK YOU..SLAINTE MHATH