Naked Grouse blended malt is a blended whisky, including Glenturret, Highland Park and Macallan. Matured in first-fill and refill American and European oak casks, and then finished in first-fill oloroso Sherry butts for a further six months.
Appearance: Oaky orange. Tizer. Lots of thick but also runny legs?
Nose: Sweet oak, brown sugar, caramel, toffee apple, milk chocolate, Xmas spices, dried fruits and cherry.
A woodland edge to the nose also presents itself alongside the sweeter notes. It’s a pleasant nose!
Palate: A tad watery, a little lacking, on the first sip, compared to the delights teased by the nose.
There’s a chocolate ripple running through the palate but it’s accompanied by astringency and bitter side that’s unpleasant.
It’s also suffering from the 40% club curse like many I’ve tasted. It’s diluted too far, there’s nothing to it to make me want more or stay interested.
Finish: Nope, not to speak of. Watery and slight sweetness.
Overall: The nose promised what the palate couldn’t ever deliver. Same old same old with (many) 40% whiskies in my experience
