Looking around my whisky room, I was in the mood for an uncomplicated side-by-side comparison. Since both whiskies are available in Mauritius, I tried this comparison: Dewar’s White Label vs Famous Grouse blended whisky.
These are two affordable and widely available blends from different suppliers. It’s a small Bacardi vs Edrington showdown.
Dewar’s White Label Whisky
I’m a fan of Dewar’s blended whisky and have previously tasted and written about the Dewar’s 12 year old and 15 year old expressions. I was happy to add the Dewar’s White Label blended Scotch whisky to my collection.
Dewar’s is a respected Scottish whisky brand and part of the Bacardi stable. It’s also one of the top Scottish whiskies sold in the USA. Bacardi owns five whisky distilleries, including Aberfeldy, Aultmore, and Craigellachie.
The brand was created in 1899 by A.J. Cameron, the first Master Blender for John Dewar & Sons. Dewar’s White Label is a blend of around 40 distinct malt and grain whiskies, with Aberfeldy at its core. After blending, the whisky returns to oak casks for further maturation.
The Famous Grouse Whisky
The Famous Grouse is a blended Scotch whisky brand first produced by Matthew Gloag & Son. The Edrington Group currently owns it. About 65% of the spirit content is grain whisky, with the rest being malt whisky from various distilleries, including The Macallan, The Glenrothes, and Highland Park distilleries.
Other releases in the Famous Grouse stable include The Famous Grouse Smoky Black, The Famous Grouse Bourbon Cask, and The Famous Grouse Ruby Cask. The brand’s emblem is the Red Grouse, Scotland’s national game bird.
Also Read: Ardbeg Uigeadail vs Lagavulin 16 year old whisky
Dewar’s White Label vs Famous Grouse Blended Whisky
| Dewar's White Label | The Famous Grouse | |
|---|---|---|
| ABV | 40% | 43% |
| Type | Blended Whisky | Blended Whisky |
| Colour | Light gold | Vibrant Gold |
| Nose | Honey with orchard fruit and cereal. Bits of sun-ripened lemon and peach with hints of wood. | Hints of caramel with faint notes of dark chocolate, cherries, and candied fruit. Oak and apple pie. |
| Palate | Honey and mild chili. Cereal with oak, vanilla, and floral notes. In the background, there are fresh orchard fruits with grass and floral notes. Medium body and not the most complex. Sooth and uncomplicated. | Honey, oak and some gentle spice. Bits of sweet butter shortbread and rich malt mixed with citrus, spices and floral notes. It is a medium-bodied whisky. It is very smooth and easy-drinking. |
| Finish | Short with honey sweetness, vanilla and lemon drops. | Medium length with notes of oak, lemon pepper and sweetness. |
| My Rating | Very Good | Very Good |
| Comments | Complex and well balanced | Lacks some complexity and has a few sharp edges. |
| Price | $ 26 / £ 20 | $ 19 / £ 15 |
Both Dewar’s and The Famous Grouse stand out for their smoothness and approachability, making them perfect for those new to Scotch.
On the nose, Dewar’s White Label is sweet with orchard fruit and oaky notes. The nose of the Famous Grouse has a more caramel sweetness with hints of chocolate and oak.
The sweetness continue on the palate for both these drams. The Dewar’s brings cereal, honey and floral notes with a mild chilli heat. The Famous Grouse brings oak, honey and shortbread with some mixed spice. It has more of a citrus note and a pepper bite than the Dewar’s whisky.
Both these drams have a floral note in the background, but the Dewar’s note is greener and more grass-like than the Famous Grouse.
The finish on the Famous Grouse whisky is medium-length with lemon notes, whereas the finish on the Dewar’s is short and sweet.
John preferred the Famous Grouse whisky, enjoying the citrus and pepper bite more and appreciating the slightly longer finish. I prefer the Dewar’s for its sweeter profile. Neither of them has great complexity, which makes them easy to drink and perfect for cocktails.
Which one is your favourite?
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