Some young malt and grain alcohol seep in and pull out some of the richness, but they don’t fully destroy what little harmony there is and that same haunting whiff of sherry sweetness from the nose drifts across the palate at random intervals.Ī long, slightly cloying, dry finish of dried fruit, watery caramel, grain alcohol, overripe citrus and potpourri that fades to Aspirin. There’s also an intriguing bit of sherry like sweetness that never fully materializes, but takes up residence as a haunting apparition.Ĭaramel, red fruit and spice, this time cinnamon heavy start things off again, but here on the palate it’s accompanied by a waxy bit of citrus peel. Not very complex and the aromas are quite light, but they work together in a way that even the thick layer of grain whisky sitting underneath these aromas doesn’t manage to completely kill it. Bank Note 5 Year Blended Scotch ReviewĬaramel, red fruit, scotch spice, vanilla, butterscotch and sugar cookies. But I’m not being flippant right now so instead I’m going to say that they’ve done an ok job of sourcing their whisky and an ok job of blending them together which has resulted in an ok whisky. If I were to be flippant I’d say that it sounds like they’ve taken a bunch of whiskies whose names start with Glen and mixed them with some vodka. ![]() Rattray it’s a mix of single malts from the Speyside and Highland regions which are then blended with “the purest” Lowland grain whisky. It’s a fairly common ratio (Johnny Walker red & black use the same ratio), but some bottom shelf blends use as little as 20% malt so it’s good to see it’s on the higher side. Another key feature is the 40% malt and 60% grain whisky in this blend. In this case it’s 5 years, which means that every whisky (including the grain whisky) in this blend has been aged for a minimum of 5 years. (Despite hyperbole, I’ve never actually poured anything down the drain.) Still, the $25 could have been much better spent on a bottle of regular non-peated Bank Note, or a bottle of bourbon or rye, or a Johnnie Walker black label.The Bank Note Blended Scotch is in that cadre of blended scotches that carry an age statement. I expect that the bottle will grow on me as I force myself to drink it so it doesn’t go to waste. The palate might be a little sweeter – brown sugar – but the finish is unchanged. Several drops of water increase the smoky notes without making them more palatable. That engine oil / degreaser note persists on the finish, along with black walnut oil and scorched sugar. Oops, I guess I just did), engine oil, sheep dip, molasses, Thai fish sauce. Mild tongue burn that resolves into muddy, marshy peat (I’m trying hard not to call it “swamp gas”. Nose: Clear but slightly antiseptic peat. The formulation, which is said to be a fairly standard 40% malt and 60% lowland grain whisky, is mostly the same here, but with a little peated Islay malt thrown in. It still has a 5-year age statement and is bottled at the same 43% ABV, which is a nice touch for a budget blend. The Bank Note Peated Reserve is a little pricier – I paid $25 for 750ml when I’m used to paying $ml (1 liter) for the regular Bank Note. It takes a masterful hand to make good peated blended scotch, and I thought the Morrisons must have that mastery since regular Bank Note is so good. They had the new Peated Reserve edition, though, so I figured “why not?” I’m not a huge fan of peated blends… I feel that the peat takes over but only the less-desirable cigarette ash and soil notes persist through being watered-down by grain whisky. Of course, with lockdowns causing mass drink-at-home mania, the liquor stores sell out of everything cheap, so the last time I braved a Total Wine run I was dismayed to see I couldn’t stock up on my beloved Bank Note. ![]() It’s relatively little-known so the price doesn’t go up and it it doesn’t go on allocation. It’s delicious and has almost no sign of youthful grain whisky. It’s age-stated at a reasonable-for-the-price 5 years. ![]() It’s easily – still! – simultaneously the best deal in scotch and the best blended scotch under $40. It makes every list of cabinet staples or “Must Haves” that I put together. The first words out of my mouth when someone asks about budget whisky are “Bank Note”. You could be forgiven for calling me a Bank Note fanboy.
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