We’re continuing our whiskey coverage, and once again like Macallan, we come to a scotch, but a scotch that’s just not good. This was bought because it’s called Monkey Shoulder, and if you are looking for the takeaway it might be to not think a spirit named for a creature that has not and never will exist in that country is a mark of quality. tl;dr (Monkeys =/= Scottish)
We’ve often maligned Macallan in-person as the ‘what those who know nothing of scotch buy and say is the pinnacle.’ which is likely why this is our first review of them. No need for a spoiler alert though – because it’s been maligned for a damn good reason – it’s awful.
Grand Macnish has still been one of the favourites of the Buffalo Lounge, the reason being like all of our well spirits – it’s cheap, but not shite. We’ve formally reviewed the 12 year and informally have had the 150-anniversary version, and suffice to say – this is the worst of the lot.
Speaking of our “Battle of the Glen’s” idea from last week, we go here to Glenfarclas with a 105 proof whiskey that is best described by Buster Poindexter (hot, hot, hot)
We begin our month of scotch with something a little more on the lower end. Glen Garioch is by no means a bad scotch, but when you compare it to other highland scotchs even the basics of Highland Park are better. If you don’t read anything further just please go find a better highland scotch, maybe an Ardmore or Deanston’s.
We have a theory. To preface there is an exception in the Johnnie Walker name, but otherwise it hold’s true. If a scotch is named after a person and not a place, it’s a worse scotch. We see this with things like Grant’s, Justerini & Brook’s, and now Bell’s. We attribute this to what we call ‘the just because an old man got people to buy something doesn’t make it good.’ The world is full of con men, and sometimes they make spirits.
Continuing our foray on the British Isles we have a low-tier blended scotch. Because London is expensive dammit, and if we risk purchasing a good scotch we’ll make sure it’s good first. (by checking our handy-dandy website). While this might not win any height competitions with it’s shelf position, it’s actually quite nice.
There is a certain kind of irony of saying “rare” on your bottle, despite being one of the most well-known and prolifically sold whiskies in existence. It’s kind of the beanie baby situation, except it might be preferable to take a beanie babies innards and distill that into a spirit. If that’s not a large enough spoiler before the the fold – here goes.
First off we typically have 750mL to the point where writing it is habit, and occasionally we get a 1L thrown in. This week (and truly the next few months) will come from Britain so expect some off the wall numbering and selections as we explore spirits that aren’t casual fare in the states. (Gotta support those worldwide readers of this global site)
So this distiller was bought and left dormant for near 100 years. However once 2008 happened there was a turn, and now that it’s been a while enough time has passed to to make an actual scotch. This comes as a ‘revival’ of the distillery, but in short it can;t be ignored for being just another single malt scotch whisky.
