When tasting it, it just felt as though I was tasting a smoked Famous Grouse with no new flavour profile added aside from the smokiness.

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Spend Time In Grouse Country Founded in 1800 with the simple vision to create the best quality blended whisky, we're now known across the globe for just that. The exact blend and brands The Famous Grouse uses is unknown, but they do heavily market their use of a rare peated malt. However, I must admit that my experience with scotch is much shorter of a list than bourbon or rye whiskey. I don't actually think this blended whisky is particularly smoky, but it does have a nice finish, with a sweetness to it and hints of dried fruit.

The Famous Grouse was also the official whiskey of the 2014 Commonwealth Games, and I will be reviewing a special edition of Grouse 1986 at the end of year. The Smoky Grouse is not a bad whisky and will work nicely in a cocktail, but I am not sure that I will repurchase this bottle. Smoky spirits and pineapple have a way of balancing together pretty well, and that rings true in this case. Heaven’s Door is a whiskey that I’ve seen pop up more and more over the last couple years, but I suppose I’ve always overlooked it because I’ve yet to have it.

Smoky Black | Smoky Scotch Whisky | The Famous Grouse

With the addition of a bit of ice, the peat smoke flavors start to take a backseat to the original show. Luke is a Level I Certified Whiskey Specialist with a passion for exploring and unearthing the best whiskeys around. The distiller produces other expressions such as; Famous Grouse, Alpha Edition, Mellow Gold, Snow, 16-Year-Old Vic Lee, and a few other expressions.At the same time, the existing line of whisky was renamed to The Famous Grouse and Matthew’s daughter Phillipa designed the first label. For those who might be considering trying a peated scotch whisky (or if you like your peated scotch on the milder side), this might be something to consider since the ice allows you to adjust how much peat you are getting to your specific taste. It was in fact Margaret who acquired a license to sell wine and spirits (and snuff) in 1831; Matthew didn’t join the business until 1835 when the name was changed to Matthew Gloag. By choosing The Black Grouse Blended Scotch Whisky you are helping maintain our black grouse conservation work across Scotland, Northern England and Wales.

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I am not sure if this was because it masked some of the flavour notes I didn’t care for in the original Famous Grouse whisky or if it was because the smoky flavour added a bit more depth to an otherwise rather ordinary whisky. By the 1960s, business had grown to such an extent that exports to America alone had risen to 12 million proof gallons. From there, the whisky has gained a much wider appeal, becoming the most popular whisky in Scotland in 1980 and being awarded a Royal Warrant in 1984.

I found none of that decadent chocolate sweetness with the Smoky Grouse, more of a caramel and cherry type sweetness. In this specific case, the blended whisky (which is probably just their normal blend) has some peated whisky added to the mix which adds the smoky flavors. I find myself at a bit of a loss with this review, being honest the whisky tastes like a smoked Famous Grouse which adds to the enjoyment of the drink.