A new name and packaging for the excellent 'Black Grouse' blend sees it become Famous Grouse Smoky Black. Although not mentioned by name anymore, the bottle still features a Tetrao tetrix, otherwise known as a blackcock.
Medium, quite smoky. Solid peat note, rummy sweetness, touch of dry wood.
Medium, balanced. Peat smoke, caramel, spice.
Long, slightly peaty.
Expected somepeat smoke or charred notes in the blend -instead found a lightweight cheap tasting "not wanting to offend anyone" synethetic dram. Can't recommend it, won't be drinking the rest of the bottle extreme let down.... Sorry folks that how it was!
I tried this for 20GBP but it tests very cheap, no any smoke flavor, rather you feel like something plastic is burning near to you. Bitter in test no any smoothness. I tried Laphroaig, one of the best Isle malt whiskey. Never buy Famous Grouse Smoky Black even if available at 10GBP/70cl. If you want to harm your test then you can go for it.
For a cheap blend, Black Grouse was pretty good. Unfortunately this bears no resemblance to the former recipe. I always worry when an affordable blend starts referring to 'rare' ingredients like Glenturret, as it sounds like they are trying to cover something up. I admit that I was tasting a variety of whiskeys alongside this, including some very ballsy bourbons, but despite this I would still describe this as characterless. The current price is £20 - you can get something like Buffalo Trace or Bulleit for the same, and it has far more character.
I have always been a fan of Famous Grouse. The 18 is a bargain and a very good whiskey. I am a peat fan so the Black Grouse was my "go to" whiskey - I loved it - until recently. The latest release of Black Grouse has a column still base and the complexity is gone. This latest "swill" called "Smokey Black" is horrible. The nose is like opening a bottle of Liquid Smoke and the taste is similar to dumping an ounce of Liquid Smoke in a bottle of cheap vodka! I'm afraid of what may have been done to the 18. Strike Famous Grouse off my list. I am sad to see it go but it's had a good run.
Fair to say it's not an Ardbeg nor nowhere near it, but it has a twang that's fairly enjoyable
