William Grant's Family Reserve

William Grant's Family Reserve

Official bottling
Blended malt
Dark gold
43% ABV
Bottle

Nose: Lemons, quinces, kiwi fruit, leather, pears, hints of orange peel, hints of burnt sugar.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, static, slightly watery around the edges.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Burnt sugar, salt caramel, lemons, quince, leather, hints of orange peel.
Finish: Medium. Burnt sugar, lemons, leather, salt caramel.

Comments:

This is an older bottling (around 1999), and slightly higher strength at 43%. Today's bottlings of this expression are 40%. Apparently this contains 25% WG distilleries (Balvenie, Kininvie and Glenfiddich) and up to 22 other whiskies in total. It is mostly pleasant both on the nose and on the tongue, but there's a slightly acrid hint of burnt sugar wreathed all around the fruity, slightly peaty elements. It's drinkable, but not great. I hope the later bottlings of this are better.

Verdict:

Not bad.