Whisky Connosr
Menu
Shop Join

Snow Grouse

Brown vodka

0 457

@FrostReview by @Frost

25th May 2014

0

Snow Grouse
  • Nose
    14
  • Taste
    17
  • Finish
    10
  • Balance
    16
  • Overall
    57

Show rating data charts

Distribution of ratings for this: brand user

I first saw this bottle in an international terminal in Malaysia. I knew it was a blend but something about the art of with a picture of a ptarmigan was rather catching. Such a pretty illustration. I kept it in mind and was surprised to see it reach Australia a few months later.

Nose: Grain whisky of course, caramel, vanilla, lacking depth.

Taste: Caramel and butter. Uncomplicated and finishes fast.

Finish: Too short almost like vodka.

This drink is marketed to be drank chilled. I'm in no rush to get back to this so I let it sit in the freezer for 29 Hours.

Notes for a chilled dram:

Nose: Almost nothing, slight caramel.

Taste: Shallow a bit of caramel.

Finish: Quick flash of bitter artificial caramel.

In summary: Flat, short and lacking character.

Chilled and unchilled there is no alcohol burn nothing. That would be the marketability of this spirit. Normally when tasting a whisk(e)y I sit on it for a long time. I struggle here and it's frustrating. I sip a bit faster searching for something more. But there isn't. This is it.

This is my first blended grain whisky and it does not inspire me to seek out more.

A friend rescued me from this dismal bottle. He is fond of a broad range of spirits and when I asked him his opinions on taste, he immediately thought of vodka. I must agree with his statement. It's vodka - with E150a.

Related Famous Grouse reviews

4 comments

@Victor
Victor commented

@Frost, you have summed it up well. Nice name, pretty bottle, insipid whisky.

9 years ago 0

@Frost
Frost commented

@Victor this is one bottle that wont be getting a re-stock in my home collection

9 years ago 0

@Rantavahti
Rantavahti commented

Thanks for the review. For a while, I've been interested in trying single grain whiskies. Ian Buxton put this on his "Ten Grain Whiskies To Try" list in Whisky Advocate and somehow along the way, in my own mind, I got the impression that this is single grain too (not Buxton's but my own fault). So thanks for reminding that it's not, and like your review strongly suggests - stay away from it. Then again, probably the "stupid experience seeker" in me will buy this at some point...

Haig Club was also on Buxton's list, so it's a bit controversial.

9 years ago 0

@Frost
Frost commented

@Rantavahti I must admit...this one turned me away from trying a grain whisky. I'm over that now, and ready to try. Currently I am eyeing off: Compass Box Hedonism and Fuji Gotemba grain whisky.

9 years ago 0

You must be signed-in to comment here

Sign in