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Naked Grouse Blended Malt

Nozinan Mystery Sample Series - #6

6 084

@NozinanReview by @Nozinan

12th Apr 2020

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  • Nose
    ~
  • Taste
    ~
  • Finish
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  • Balance
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  • Overall
    84

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Distribution of ratings for this: user

  • Brand: Naked Grouse
  • ABV: 43%

It’s Passover, and my cabinet is closed for the duration. Even samples are off limits. But that doesn’t mean I can’t polish and post a review or two.

This is the second of three mystery samples distributed by @Cricklewood for a Zoom tasting that took place on April 5, 2019. We were asked to try them in advance of getting together, then we poured them and discussed them as a group on Zoom. This may very well have been the first Intercontinental Connosr tasting ever!

The astute of you will note that this review is the first of three I’ll be posting. That’s because I reviewed them in this order in advance and we tasted them in a different order on the day. I’m posting them in the order I tasted them.

This expression is reviewed in my usual manner, allowing it to settle after which I take my nosing and tasting notes, followed by the addition of a few drops of water, waiting, then nosing and tasting. My notes follow the way I recorded them before the event, revealing that I’m not a very good guesser when it comes to mystery samples.


March 31, 2020 - In a Highland Whisky glass

Nose: 22/25

Sweet, sherry. Slight vegetal note. Some baking spices. Hint of ripe sour cherries. Dust. Rich nose but very much sherry-forward.

Taste: 21/25

Spirity on arrival. Tannic. Bitter. Fruit in the background. Hint of milk chocolate. Sour in the development. Water makes the mouthfeel thinner and washes out the flavours, and enhances the vegetal note. (20/25)

Finish: 20/25

pepper. Slightly bitter, not long. Less bitter with water. (20.5/25)

Balance: 21/25

The bitterness is a little bit off-putting, otherwise this is very much a one trick pony. Water washes it out a bit. (20.5/25)

Score: Neat - 84 /100 With Water: 83/100

Guesses - Glendronach mid age (12-18 - leaning to younger), ABV ~46%, or Glenfarclas (similar age and ABV)


@Cricklewood listed the malts that were probably in this blend, but aside from Macallan and Glenrothes I think I missed the rest. The whole thing was apparently married and finished in first fill sherry casks, so at least I got that right.

Thanks again @Cricklewood for making this possible!

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