.the snow grouse

40% abv, €25, blended grain

Nose: nothing much at first, later vanilla, and that's about it.
Palate: smooth, nothing much, a little vanilla and a slight bitter
Finish: short, bitter
Mark: +/++++

Conclusion: Boring, less disgusting as remembered from an earlier tasting on a festival, but not something I would get into the house to enjoy. I would rather buy wodka.

More info from the website: Like the hardy Ptarmigan or The Snow Grouse (Lagopus Mutus) as it’s known in the Scottish Highlands, this Blended Grain Scotch Whisky is perfectly at home in severely cold conditions. The unique and extra gentle Smoothchill™ Filtration process that the spirit goes through, produces a remarkably light Scotch whisky that retains all of its sweet, smooth flavours and results in a completely new taste sensation, a sweet gloopy mouth-feel and a cool taste explosion when served ‘seriously chilled’. So try it neat after it has been exposed to a short spell in the Arctic conditions of your freezer.

.the black grouse

40% abv, €25, blend

Nose: tannins, gentle smoke, iron, sweet, honey, floral, heather
Palate: sweet, smoke, spicy, white pepper, fruity, berries, blueberries, honey, floral, heather
Finish: long, sweet, honey, smoky, dry
Mark: +++++

Conclusion: unexpected; /me likey. I think I find something of Laphroaig in this blend, not that that would matter in any way, but I just happen to like the scent and taste of it. I recon it would be a good alternative for your Black Bottle, Smokey Joe or Islay Mist blends. Good to have on stock, or to suggest to first time Islay drinkers. I am honestly impressed.

More info from the website: The Black Grouse (Tetrao tetrix) is a rare relative of Scotland’s national game bird, the Red Grouse. Similarly, The Black Grouse Blended Scotch Whisky, born out of a marriage of The Famous Grouse with Islay malt whiskies, is a breed apart. The smoky influence of the peated malts is balanced by the trademark smoothness of The Famous Grouse to create underlying hints of cocoa and spice. With a long, smoky, aromatic finish, it’s hardly surprising that The Black Grouse has been listed as The Best New Scotch Blended Whisky in Jim Murray’s 2008 Whisky Bible.

also:
We work closely with the RSPB and money from every bottle sold of The Black Grouse is donated to them.

.the famous grouse

40% abv, €20, blend

Nose: sweet, lots of honey, floral, violets, vanilla, wood
Palate: sweet, syrupy, vanilla, fruit, bananas, citrus, orange peel, bitter, marmalade
Finish: medium long, gentle, citrus, bitter, orange peel, marmalade
Mark: +++++

Conclusion: very mild, reasonably drinkable. I can see this having in the house for... whenever. Good value for money.

More info from the website: Our signature whisky is named after the Red Grouse (Lagopus lagopus scoticus), Scotland´s national game bird. The Famous Grouse is testimony to the unsurpassed blending skills of Matthew Gloag and Son, a family business founded in 1800. The secret is in the way we marry the finest malt whiskies, such as The Macallan and Highland Park, with exceptional grain whiskies for an unusually long period in fully seasoned oak casks. The result is a blend of the smoothest possible character. Raised in the Highlands, The Famous Grouse is proud to be Scotland´s favourite whisky.

.the naked grouse

40% abv, €35, blend

Nose: easy, sweet, vanilla, fruit, pears, apples, prunes, raisins
Palate: sweet, spicy white pepper, vanilla
Finish: quite long for a blend, spicy white pepper, sweet, dry
Mark: +++/++

Conclusion: a good daily dram. Easy going, she might get a better result when a little higher on the abv - say: 46%..?

More info from the website: The Naked Grouse is a blended scotch whisky matured in the very best first fill sherry casks - The concept for Naked Grouse came from the trial in which it was launched in a market where The Famous Grouse Whisky was not widely known, the label was removed from the bottle with the Grouse left subtly embossed into the bottle to allow the Naked stock to speak for itself.

also: As the makers of The Famous Grouse we bring over 100 years of whisky making to the creation of The Naked Grouse. We have enriched the best loved flavours of Scotland’s Favourite Whisky by maturing our blend in hard to find (and pricey!) sun dried sherry oak casks. Distinctively sweet, rich and, some would say, famously smooth – The Naked Grouse is simply pure indulgence in a bottle.