A very famous blended whisky, a rather good blend too. Jim Murray awarded Teacher's Highland Cream 90 points in his Whisky Bible.
Fruity, malty aromas. Just a hint of peat smoke with a good dollop of gooey toffee.
Soft smoke, barley malt and manuka honey. Hints of Malt-driven palate with soft spices.
Malt and smoke on the finish. Classic.
Completely undrinkable. Me and my friend came to the concussion that this is what a gas chamber would taste like. Don't wast your time and money.
It starts with an excellent nose, continues with a nice balanced palate but finishes with an aftertaste, shorter and flatter than expected. What a shame...
I love smoke and peat. And while this isn't a characteristic whisky that's heavy on those notes, it has just enough of a presence to make it my new every day dram. It handily bests the more commercial JW Black that I'd kept in my cabinet, with a LOT more character. The Nose: A fair amount of citrus and honey mix in with the solid oak notes, with peat and smoke providing distant highlights. This is the smell of a promise. The Palate: Here is where the character of this blended whisky lives. Very solid and earthy. There is a slight fruitiness to the base of this palate, but it's quickly sublimed by the heaviness of the oak and peat and smoke in the background. The Finish: A moderate finish. There is that alcohol presence as it's a 96 proof blend with plenty of leather to its belt. But it's not a punishment, more of a reminder that this is a dram meant to be substantive and enjoyed on a regular basis. This is NOT a dram for the effete whisky snobs that have so recently glutted the market who love to rave about "the hint of vanilla from the thighs of fresh island girls who helped rake the malt" nonsense. This is a working man's dram. One that provides quality at a more than reasonable price, and will leave you warm and feeling incredibly fulfilled after no more than your second glass. Final Notes: Don't let the price fool you. While this is an eminently affordable everyday dram, there's nothing about it that sacrifices quality. This is a blended whisky of both character and taste. I love it.
I've about 2/3 of the way through my first bottle. When compared to other whiskies in the same price range, it's not bad, though I won't buy it again. For the money, I'll stick to The Famous Grouse or Dewar's .
Teachers is my preferred 'go to' Scotch for every day drinking. It very often is on a special price, here in NZ, and is the best value for money drink, of any description , when it's on special. I have tried most of the blended scotches, but this consistently beats them, for it's smokiness and smoothness. They make a great product.
