In a previous blog about Auchentoshen I stated that perhaps there are no bad scotches just different flavors.  At the time I was mesmerized by the multiple dimensions of flavor, like when I first learned about string theory.  Well, that honeymoon is over.  I was kind to Auchentoshen when I reviewed it.  As I worked my way through the bottle I actually considered pouring it down the kitchen sink.

Yesterday I was at the liquor store and looking for a decent low cost single malt, as my bottle of Ardbeg 10 year is almost gone.  I saw Bowmore 12 but thought that it would be nice to write a blog about a new scotch.  The bottle of McClelland’s Islay called to me.  It had all the right attributes, Single Malt, Islay (my favorite region of Scotland at this point), and cheap at about 25$ per bottle.  It didn’t have an age though, and that concerned me.  I looked it up on line, 5 years.

This is not a great scotch.  It’s flavor reminds me a little of Dewar’s White Label which I have had many times in the past.  But White Label is about 5$ to 10$ cheaper for the same bottle.  That’s about all I can say bout the flavor.  I was expecting something comparable to Bowmore 12 but that was my mistake.  At the end of the day it was better, actually much better, than Auchentoshen.  Since I have stocked Jameson’s, Jonnie Walker Black and Dewar’s White in my collection for times when I just want a hit and don’t want to waste the good stuff I might consider getting this scotch again but I was disappointed in it.  It didn’t really taste like an Islay single malt and I can’t get over that.  Eh.