The number-one selling scotch in the United States. Really, this is a surprise to me. I would have thought the honor would belong to Johnnie Walker Red Label or Chivas Regal. 311 million Americans can’t be wrong, right? Let’s find out.
Dewar’s blended scotch has a storied history going back to 1846, when John Dewar became one of the first men to bottle scotch (blended) in glass bottles for retail. In 1899, John Dewar’s son John A. Dewar unveiled the company’s new flagship product, Dewar’s White Label. The main component was the malt produced at the newly-constructed Aberfeldy distillery in the Highlands, near Perthshire. Dewar’s built the distillery to ensure a steady supply of malt for blending. Today’s White Label still retains Aberfeldy malt as its ‘heart’ or primary malt component, and also contains as many as 40 other malts and grain whiskies.
Nose: Lemony. White peach. Chloraseptic. Thin. After a rest in the glass, white peaches dominate. Lemon sorbet, and a distinct neutral spirit – something in between vodka and cleaning solution. Pale honey and a hint of hops. Luckily, the white fruit and citrus counterpoint the harshness of the alcohol in the nose, but it’s still clear this contains young grain spirit.
Palate: A bit of creaminess in the body – unexpected. The alcohol hits harshly upfront, then quickly dissipates, leaving watered-down honey, small beer, and lemon peel.
Finish: Very short and uninteresting. The lemon floats to the top, but the vodka notes win out in the end, leaving an impression of low-quality spirit.
With Water: If anything, the nose is sharper with less nuance. The palate seems unchanged, although there might be a bit of vanilla that wasn’t present before.
Overall: This is probably very nice over ice, although in cocktails I would think the light flavor would be completely overpowered by any mixer. I’m no mixologist, however. The lemon notes throughout are nice, as is the white peach on the nose. The slight creaminess of the body is an unexpected plus. Unfortunately, the ungainly presence of the low-grade grain spirit tramples over the delicate flavors, leaving you with an impression of minimum quality. You get, as the saying goes, what you pay for. This is somewhat drinkable straight (although I wouldn’t want a second glass after all that vodka-like aftertaste), but I wouldn’t consider it the best choice at this level. Try Famous Grouse, Teacher’s Highland Cream, or Chivas Regal 12 first. Of course, for a bit more money, Great King Street is better in every way, and has a very similar flavor profile.
I think America needs to expand its horizons somewhat, although I guess all a brand has to do to establish itself as the “Number One Scotch in the US” is to become the standard ‘well’ whisky at the majority of bars. I guess the slogan “Number One Scotch For Americans Who Don’t Care What’s In Their Cocktails” doesn’t have quite the same ring to it.
You nailed it again. I last had Dewar’s WL on a flight from LA to NY and that was all they had of scotch. I didn’t feel like Jim Beam white – the only other whiskey in the cart. The grain alcohol’s fishy texture and nasty flavor of Dewars WL swamps the hint of malt just as you describe. It was a disappointment. Note to self: when the choice is Dewars White Label or Jim Beam – take the cheap bourbon.
I’ve had all of the Dewar’s offerings — at least I think I have — and the only one worth drinking more than once is the 18. It has great flavors and balance.
Obviously with the cheaper blends, it’s a matter of expectation. Nobody ever intended Dewar’s White Label (or JW Red Label, etc) for drinking straight (unless it’s as a shot!). Most of the offensive notes are hidden by robust mixers like Coke or sour mix.
That said, I feel that tasting even the bottom-shelf stuff straight gives a good basis for comparison. If something under $20 is drinkable straight, it will definitely be better in a cocktail. This is especially true for cocktails that let the spirit shine, like Manhattans.
The problem here is the taste of the coffey still grain spirits. Bottom dollar Scotch, Irish, and Canadian all suffer from its impact. Cheap bourbon, however, has none of it. Bourbon is all the same distilled stuff. What separates the good stuff is aging and barrel selection. That means, for me, that even cheap bourbon is still sippable neat – just a bit “sweet and simple” compared to the better stuff. For a great example taste Evan Williams Black ($12/bottle) side by side with Elijah Craig 12 ($22/bottle). Same distillery, same mashbill – only difference is aging and barrel selection. Then, to really drive it home, compare either of those against any $24 or under Scotch.
I love Scotch – but I consider it a product category that only becomes remotely acceptable at above $30/bottle. At the mid and high end Scotch has few peers in the world of distilled spirits. Just not at the low end.
I should clarify my previous statement. Any cheap bourbon labelled “Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey” will have none of it (Coffey distilled neutral grain spirits). There do exist “bourbon blends” that do have it. I was in denial about those – so far off my radar that kind of whiskey drinking is to me.
I am not surprised in the least at this review. Often things are #1 simply because they are more widely available, not because they are quality products.
Blended whiskies can have their place, though I agree that Dewar’s isn’t at the top of the heap. Black Bottle or JW Black Doublewood both make a great Rusty Nail. But if I’m drinking something neat, Bowmore 12 and Highland Park 12 are cheap enough, or Old Pulteney 12 is even cheaper, and all are very drinkable, I think.
Interesting. I would go with Laphroaig 10 yr.
I’ve always wondered why the big blends get so much attention. After reading about all of the single malts that USED to go into them, it occurred to me that most of them are just riding out their legend. I have had some Chivas, Dewars, and JW from the mid-sixties. They tasted different than their modern counterparts. Most of the big blends stopped or reduced using the single malts that made them taste great. They instead built their own distilleries (ex. Allt-á-Bhainne & Breval)to gain more vertical control of cost and quality. Obviously, only the cost control part worked. The bottom line is that most of the standard blends of today are very much inferior to those of the pre-1970’s.
I am a Scotch drinker…I drink it neat…Dewars white label is a decent every day Scotch…I find it to be more enjoyable and therefore superior to j&B ,Cutty Stark,and JW red….that is what it ought to be compared with…the more expensive blends and the aged single malts are superior …u get what u pay for….
When I was in college (circa 1984) my first real girlfriend introduced me to Dewars and soda and Etta James–all in one night. Nice memories. I still keep a bottle on hand as the house “scotch”, but I tend to drink the single malts now.
Sounds like a great 1st girlfriend. I bet that’s not all she introduced you to.
Thirty years ago I drank Chivas and some Dewars (NOT J&B, JW Red, or other swill). I then was introduced to Glenmorngie and never looked back. I would sometimes drink Glemlivet or Glenfiddich, if that was all that was available. Love Ardbeg, Lagavulin and other single malts. The only blend now I really like is James Buchanan’s 18yo Special Reserve. Great stuff, but not cheap. Compared to this, Dewar’s is horse piss.
PS I get the Wild Turkey on SW Airlines,as I won’t waste money on Dewars, and it’s not bad. Two shots on the rocks and I’m ready to fly!
I have just been diagnosed with gluten-free diet!! Please tell me that Dewar’s doesn’t have gluten in it!!!!
Sorry to hear that, Victoria. Luckily, all distilled spirits of any type are gluten-free, including Dewar’s. Just make sure if you mix it with anything that the mixer is gluten-free. Enjoy!
Not all distilled spirits are gluten free. Theoretically if distilled properly, the spirits should be gluten; however, many distillers tend to add some of the grain mash (which does contain gluten) back into the spirit to try and add flavor and/or coloring to the spirit. If you are highly sensitive to gluten I still caution you to be safe about it. Hope this helps
Interesting Chris, I’ve never heard that. Sounds like a good reason to drink more expensive whisky – a high-end bourbon or a single-malt wouldn’t contain mash in the bottle. Worst case, it would contain spirit caramel, which is derived from sugar and oak.
Bottom line, for me at least, is drink this neat! It is apparently blended for the masses, but when neat it rises above it’s humbleness. Extremely drinkable neat if you don’t desire smoke.
drink it neat…say no more!
I recently saw some ads for this stuff. An aging Claire Forlani faking a Scottish accent, and trying to hawk Dewar’s White Label as a luxury item in an industrial looking building. It’s strangely appropriate.
I’ve had this once. The overpowering sweetness of it makes it taste like it’s embarrassed to be a whisky. It’s almost like it’s a scotch for those who don’t like scotch. I drank it after having a Chivas 12, which was much better.
You’re not comparing apples to apples….compare Chivas 12 to Dewar’s 12 and you’ll fine Dewar’s blows Chivas away pretty easily
Bottom line. Drink what you like. If you do not like Dewar’s do not drink it. I like it as my every day Sootch on the rocks. I like a nice single malt like Glennlivet when I go out or when I have guests over. I do not know why anyone would put Scotch in a cocktial and try to write a review. Mixres will ruin any good whisky.
Tom,
Thanks for the comment. I agree totally – I try my best (although I fail a lot) to emphasize the “drink what you like” philosophy on this blog, even though I usually give blends negative reviews. Even though I’m not a fan of Dewar’s White Label (or Chivas or JW Black), I envy anyone who does enjoy these inexpensive drams. I’m also glad comments like this pop up frequently on the blog – reminding us all that a good, reliable blend is nothing to look down on. The caveat here is that I want to encourage people who drink blends frequently to get out and try a variety of single-malts to spice up those “special occasion” sessions with friends, and to educate themselves about the wide world of malts available out there. Cheers!
hey gentlemen i have a 1912 white label bottle bottom marked 27 etc. the original label cork etc. all excellent condition full bottle too i have two friends who have offered me 3000 dollars and up but i think i need more value info any suggestions?
Hi Kate,
Unfortunately, it’s difficult to price “old” bottles, since their market price is largely determined by their value as antiques, not as desirable liquid – whisky does not age in the bottle like wine does. I don’t have any way of determining the value of such old bottles, so your best bet is either to check with a whisky forum (whiskymag.com’s forum, or whiskywhiskywhisky.com), or to contact an auction house that deals with whisky – Bonhams, for example. Good luck!
Wow…u guy’s have kicked me in the groin. I’m doubled over, and can barely breath. I can only wheeze out:
this forum should be called “The Scotch Snob…s”
Matt,
Thanks for your opinion. If discussing the relative quality of one product versus another qualifies as snobbery, then absolutely. We’re all snobs. I presume the same logic would apply when choosing a car to purchase, right? Any old one will do – don’t compare their relative virtues or levels of quality, because that would be snobbery. Heaven forbid.
The scotch snob is so appropriate. You all are snobs. I love Dewars, all of them. I have been drinking Dewars for over 40 years, neat, with water, or soda, or on the rocks, and it’s never let me down. I have tasted many blends and single malts, yes many of them are good, great even, but I still prefer my Dewars. We all have our opinions, but I’ll stick with Dewars as my go to scotch, any day!
He isn’t being a snob! I started drinking Glenlevit 12 and I love bourbons so I thought I would try some blended scotches and the first one I bought was Dewars WL. I couldn’t even drink it neat, and it is barely tolerable with soda. I will stick to single malts and bourbons if this is one of the best blends.
This is an extreme tangent, but I had a choice of getting a free bottle of Glenfiddich or another single malt, and as someone who had never had Scotch aside from tasting in Scotland, I went with the Glenfiddich solely on the packaging. It was in a hunter green carrying box/tube. It’s almost as if some Don Draper like ad man had figured something out. Still, I was not let down and after sampling a Dewars white and Johnny Walker red tonight, think I’ll be going back to the Glenfiddich. I will be in Scotland next week. Any recommendations?
Ed, Enjoy Scotland! My only recommendation is to find a pub with a bunch of single-malt bottles behind the counter and try a few things! Ask the bartender for recommendations, or try some of the standards: Balvenie DoubleWood 12 year, Macallan 12, or even Glenfiddich 15. Maybe check out //scotchnoob.com/2012/02/23/picking-your-first-single-malt-scotch/ for other things to try. Most whiskies you can get in the UK are also available in the US. One exception is called “Glenfiddich Toasted Oak” – I don’t know much about it, except that it’s apparently available at Tesco grocery stores in the U.K., and isn’t sold in the US.
I never liked Scotch from my few experiences with it.
I think raiding my elder’s liquor cabinets at a young age created this ‘eww’ response
which burned an impression in my tongue that has lasted all this time! xD
I’m training to be a bartender. I’ve been taught Ratios & Recipes but still have ZERO
idea what I just gave the person.
So, I’ve taken it upon myself to be my own guinea pig. Liquor by liquor, I buy a bottle
and experiment with my mixes at home.
This week was Scotch’s turn. I picked Dewars because I’ve read it’s the ‘best selling’
in America. (I get what that means, so please dont explain Scotch Snobs) 😛
Anyway. I decided to try Dewars White Label ‘neat’. (room temp.- no ice)
Outside of the obvious heavy grain element, I liked it. I’m not qualified to write
snooty descriptions. but I appreciated the Dewars alone at room temperature. I can see
why people drink Scotch like this, but I cant see myself doing this daily, weekly or
even monthly. But, if someone offers a dram of something expensive or unique, I’d likely
say yes.
Next I tried the Scotch & Soda… Maybe I put too much soda, but I cant see why anyone
would order that drink.
Next were variations of the Rob Roy (Scotch Manhattan)
I found a recipe on DrinkOfTheWeek_._com that called for being Shaken not Stirred.
Manhattans with Bourbon or Rye are better stirred (to me), but I followed directions and
the frothy drink turned out pretty good. It was not a better Manhattan than my beloved
Bourbon or Rye can make, but it was a pretty good drink overall.
Next, I tried the Rob Roy recipe on Dewars’ website. This time, Stirred not Shaken.
Slightly less Vermouth and no foamy froth from being shaken. Another good drink, but
between Shaken and Stirred, I preferred Shaken.
I’d never consider bruising my precious Bourbon or Rye by shaking, but it seemed to work with Dewars WL. :/
Perhaps the air bubbles altered the way it hit the tongue? Not sure.
I’m going with ‘Shaken’ Rob Roy’s from here on.
I have yet to try a Dry Rob Roy. (dry Vermouth)
I cant imagine adding one liquor i dont like to another I dont like and getting something good. But who knows?
I’ll deal with that later tonight. 😛
My opinion.
Scotch seems to be a “Smoker’s” drink. Old men with cigars sitting around drinking. That’s what I picture when Scotch comes to mind.
The ‘Buzz’ I got from the Dewars was unique. It created a good and different
‘atmosphere’ if you will.
Not only that, after a few drinks, I got a slight tingly numbness on my lips that
reminded me of Spiced Rum experiences.
So, in conclusion. I preferred Dewars White Label ‘neat’ over mixing it in a drink.
BUT.
For the foreseeable future, Scotch will not be a part of my daily life.
After my experience with this modest Scotch, I am now convinced that Scotch in-general, is a key component of Old-Man Stink.
Mike, thanks for sharing your experiences. I don’t think you should generalize to the entire world of scotch after experiencing only one type. Dewars White is on the bottom end of the blended scotch category, and (I think) a particularly lightly-flavored (i.e. doesn’t add much flavor to a mixed drink, unlike bourbon or rye) one at that. Repeat your experiments with a single malt like Macallan 12 year and you’ll have an entirely different experience. Try it with Laphroaig 10 year and you’ll have an entirely different one again. I personally drink very very few mixed drinks with scotch – I prefer it all, even the cheaper blended ones, at room temperature with a little water or maybe an ice cube. The better ones I prefer neat. I’m sure there are many excellent cocktails that employ scotch to great effect, but I am not familiar with them. As far as your conclusions go, I am 31 and I do not smoke. Most of the people I know personally who enjoy single malts enough to talk about them are under 40. Very few of them smoke.
WL label is quality, moderately priced blend, in the class of JWR, Grants, Famous Grouse, Black & White, Teachers Highlands Cream, and Black Bottle. All these are popular in the States for scotch & soda, or water, which hit the spot in warmer climates, where refreshment is a priority. I must say that I find reviews of such blends by neat-drinking single-malt aficionados to usually be off the mark and often worse. These scotches serve a big market for those who wish to taste the flavor of a quality scotch — rather than the sweetness of bourbon — while still being refreshed. I think it’s hard to beat 10-yr-old Glenmorangie with a drop of cool water — but it’s not my drink of choice after a round of golf, on a warm day. Give me half WL, half soda, and a few (not a lot of) ice cubes. And I don’t know anyone who drinks these quality blends with mixers other than soda or water. It would be a total waste because they don’t stand up to or complement Coke or lemonade (except maybe Black & White and lemonade). Bourbon, or rum, are much better for such sweet mixers. My point being, in the rush to embrace single malts, the simple pleasures of a scotch & soda (with a quality blend) have been lost to a younger generation of scotch snobs who don’t know what they’re missing!
Steve,
See my reply to your comment on Black Bottle regarding this supposed snobbery I have against blends. As far as “what we’re missing”, I have had plenty of scotch-and-sodas with several blended scotches. I don’t write about them here because they’re not my drink of choice and this is not a cocktail blog. (I prefer Manhattans, Old Fashioneds, and the like). I also don’t rate blends on their “mixability” because I find that the few differences in scotches largely disappear when mixed and/or served over ice. Nobody wants to read page after page of “yeah, it’s good with ice or soda”. I’ve written many times about how I review blends, and the fact that I rate them for their quality when sipped neat (or with a drop of water). There are a number of blends that I enjoy that way. The fact that Dewars or JW Red doesn’t taste good to me, neat, while Bank Note (which is the same price, more or less) does says it all. I rate the former low and the latter high. If you want to read about scotch-and-soda, I’m sure there are a number of cocktail blogs that would suit your needs.
Scotch Noob, First, I find it pretty amazing that you find that the differences between most scotches “largely disappear when mixed and served over ice.” Perhaps if the mixer is Coke, but as I said,that would be silly. Assuming one wants to taste the scotch, it should be mixed only with water or soda. Second, if one likes to drink good scotch neat, then why would they prefer a manhattan to a scotch & soda? The drinks aren’t even comparable. A manhattan with sweet vermouth is like drinking candy. There’s nothing wrong with that, and I’m not suggesting a neat-scotch drinker wouldn’t also enjoy a manhattan, but comparing it to a scotch & soda is likley comparing Hersey kisses to potato chips. Third, if you don’t appreciate a scotch & soda, why then do you taste test a blend designed specifically for that purpose? You might as well test swim suits in Alaska and then complain that you’re cold!
P.S. – I do, of course, find that differences between great and good scotches are muted by water or soda, and this explains: 1) why it’s a waste to add a mixer to a great scotch, and 2) why good scotches are just fine for a scotch & soda.
What I think gets lost in all this debate about scotch quality is that it’s the differences between cheap and good quality scotch that are relevant when mixing with soda or water (since a great scotch is wasted with soda or excessive water). In which case, tasting a DWL neat and calling it swill lumps it in with some actually bad stuff (from the bottom shelf) and misses the point that DWL is just fine for what it’s intended for, although some may prefer a different moderatly priced blend.
P.P.S. – One last thing (maybe), you don’t have to drink scotch neat to appreciate the taste of good scotch, although I would agree that you should to appreciate a really fine scotch. And suggesting that scotch & soda drinkers are closer to manhattan drinkers than neat-scotch drinkers, in terms of taste preferences, misses this point.
Again, this is not a blog where I evaluate mixed drinks (cocktails, X-and-soda, or otherwise). I heartily encourage you to start your own blog, where you can compare and contrast spirits for the purposes of drinking on the rocks or with soda water, or whatever floats your boat. You clearly have strong opinions on the topic – just the prerequisite for a blogger. What you’re doing on my blog is the equivalent of demanding that a cigar blogger should be evaluating the finer points of flavored cigarillos, rather than dismissing them. Maybe they deserve closer attention – but that’s not what his blog is about.
I’ll say it again – some blends are “good enough” to drink neat, and I do so regularly, and review them as such on this blog. If I try other blends and decided that I do not enjoy drinking them neat, then I write about that. Perhaps I should have a giant obnoxious disclaimer at the top of each blended whisky review saying “THIS REVIEW DOES NOT EVALUATE THIS WHISKY FOR THE PURPOSES OF MIXING”. I’d certainly get fewer combative comments if I did.
I don’t mean to be combative. You do a nice job with single malts on this blog and I appreciate it. But I do have a problem with the general tendency of neat-scotch drinkers (it’s not just you) to differentiate so cleanly between drinking it neat versus drinking it with water, soda, or ice, or suggest that doing the latter is no different from drinking scotch with Coke or lemonade. Those who mix scotch with water or soda must fundamentally like the taste of scotch, albeit somewhat diluted. But then many neat drinkers will also dilute with cool water. Is one still a refined aficionado neat-drinker if they only add a teaspoon of cool water … but something less if they add a couple of splashes of soda and (heaven forbid) an ice cube? Where do you draw the line? I don’t see how you can so cleanly? When it comes to the enjoyment of scotch, I see it existing on a continuum from neat, to a drop of water, to a splash, to a liitle ice, and so forth. And I must admit as a scotch drinker of 30+ years, who enjoys it neat, or with water or soda, I take some umbrage at the insinuation that those would enjoy a decent blend with water or soda are no more knowledgeable or appreciative of scotch than those (boobs) who would mix it with Coke or lemonade.
P.S. — sorry, I should have said, … are less knowledgeable, rather than, “no more” knowledgeable…
I say often on this blog (perhaps not while reviewing, but in my more prose-style blog posts) that everyone should drink their scotch however they enjoy it. I’ve never told anyone NOT to put ice, soda, or anything else in their whisky. I’ve never told anyone NOT to enjoy a particular whisky (even if I didn’t like it). I’ve said repeatedly to try things neat or with a splash of water if they haven’t done so before, and I think it’s wrong for whisky “snobs” to scoff at the use of ice or soda.
The point I tried to make above is that because *I* do not drink whisky with soda, *I* do not and cannot review whiskies from that perspective. I don’t even try. I review all products neat and with a little water, and compare them all that way.
I have a silver bowl w/handles inscribed Dewar’s “White Label” and on the back it is inscribed Made in G.B. Pewter. Is it pewter or can you tell me the worth of this item. It is beautiful. Thanks
Sorry, I can’t. I’m not an auctioneer or an antiques dealer. I suggest contacting one of those.
On the dot! I was drinking this whiskey neat, with minimal ice and the review was bang on. Great review and great whiskey. Cheers!
I’m NOT a Scotch connoisseur, by any means. I’m not a fan of overly peaty or smokey Scotches. I like Glenlivet, but it’s not something affordable to drink regularly. I’ve tried several others, but couldn’t find anything palatable on a regular basis. However, Dewar’s fits that bill. Not a complex, fine Scotch. But a drinkable one. And one that suits my palate well enough. And I’m open to suggestions for a more reasonably-priced stand-in for Glenlivet.
Glenfiddich 12 is another option, but it’s very very similar (I prefer Glenlivet 12). Unfortunately, Glenlivet 12 is probably the cheapest single-malt in existence worth drinking. Single-malts have become wildly popular over the last 5 (or so) years, and bottles that were previously a good deal at $30 are now upwards of $50. If you think Glenlivet 12 is too expensive, then you’re probably best off sticking with Dewar’s. It’s a decent blended scotch for the price. Jameson is another decently-priced option, if you’re into Irish whiskey.
Dear American friends
as Brit (not a Scot) who has worked here for the last ten years I find your attitudes to blended and malt whiskies a bit perplexing. In the UK I think the general preference is for (cheaper) blended Scotch as an everyday drink and (more expensive) malt on occasions. Malts are of course drunk neat but not blended Scotch which we do not drink ‘on the rocks’ but with soda–the perfect companion to a decent blended whiskey. The ratio of soda to scotch should be about 2 or three to one. Bertie Wooster always drinks Scotch and soda in moments of stress and/or for relaxation after a tiring day (tho on a cold winter evening after a day at the races he is fond of hot toddy: Scotch hot water and lemon). And he always tells Jeeves to go easy on the soda.If its good enough for Bertie Wooster its good enough for me. And Dewars is quite ok… with a splash of soda!
Hi Paddy,
Thanks for the comment, and you make an excellent point. I’ve thought before (many times — I really should remember to do this) about adding a disclaimer to all of my reviews of blended scotches. Really, it should be on reviews for all products that are created with the intention that they be drunk mixed or on the rocks. To wit, “This blog reviews products for the purpose of drinking neat. It includes reviews of inexpensive blended products because the reviewer enjoys some of these products neat.” Basically, if I can buy Bank Note for $20 a liter and enjoy it neat (which I do frequently), then other blended products at that price point should be able to compete. That’s the basis on which I review them. I can’t really effectively review products on the basis of their compatibility with ice or soda because that’s simply not the way I enjoy them. Cheers!
Ok so this all begs the question….
What is a better, affordable alternative to dewars white label, especially as an everyday scotch?
Hi Dave. My preferred blended scotch for mixing is Bank Note (5 year). I’m not sure how widely available it is, but I’ve been buying it regularly for the last two years or so in Northern California. Great King Street: Artist’s Blend is even better, but it’s not inexpensive, so doesn’t qualify as an everyday scotch. Cheers!
A bourbon drinker here; I like the smokiness but then it devolves into something like Mr Clean for my primitive tastebuds
I don’t understand why people like to hate on Dewar’s White Label. I just picked up my first bottle on a whim, largely because of the price, and while it lacks complexity and body, if you’re looking for something that isn’t terrible, yet doesn’t break the bank, it’s not bad. Granted, it’s not great, it’s a tad on the boring side and lacks any significant smokiness, but it’s decent enough for the price.
I’m typically a single malt guy, one of my favorites for ordinary daily imbibing being Talisker Storm, and while Dewar’s White Label certainly can’t compare to decent single malts, I’ll enjoy the hell out of this for $28 a liter.
Poor review. You got the lemon/honey, but it’s butterscotch along with the white peach. What you disgustingly refer to cleaning solution are the grain spirits and peat. The light creaminess is a plus. Hint of vanilla. Ageing is prolly around 3-4 yrs. Better for mixing. If straight, then with ice.