3 x 12 year ,readily available blends H2H

[lincoln imp]

H2H of three readily available 12 year blends tasted in this order.

Dewar's 12 year 43%
The Famous Grouse 12 year 43%
Macleod's Isle Of Skye 40%

I tasted the Dewar's first as it was followed by blends that were peaty and peppery and it was way out in front in terms of taste and balance.
It was as if the bottlers of the Grouse and Skye bottles thought well we have put peat in our bottles so we don`t need to add anything else right, as peat is all drinkers want they days , well badly wrong I am afraid chaps.
Perhaps it was the the extra 3% abv that the Dewar's had that made all the difference oh and not forgetting the better balance and superior taste, it was the only one I would buy anyway.

Tasting notes

Dewar's 12
This would be a too one dimensional for most people perhaps but it does the simple things well.
This was an older bottle but I would certainly buy a new bottle of it taste like this.
I would also say that this would be a perfect present to buy someone new to whisky and a cut above what you would call blend fodder

Nose
80
Not that expressive to be honest, a little honey, lemon, toffee and biscuit.
Taste
85
Nicely sweet, no off notes, no alcoholic burn, there is some lemon juice, hints of orange, gentle spices, the faintest hint of white pepper.
As you go on the sweetness does subside a little which dampens my interest a little.
Finish
83
Pleasantly sweet remaining a little spicy but fades away little quickly.

Grouse 12

This was a let down considering it was from a full bottle?

Nose
82
An interesting nose for sure, some earthy peat in the background with the fruit up front.
Hints of lemon, plum and honey mixing with the peat and sherry.
Taste
60
The peat hits you first it is not strong or anything but you notice it because there is very little else on offer which I find strange as I was expecting a much more full bodied version of the staple NAS version?
As you go on you notice the spice and there is some apple and red plum in the mix but it does not work for me, it is trying to be full bodied but the peat cannot mask the thin palate or the lack of taste, without the peat there would be very little in the name of flavour on show here
Finish
72
Short and uninteresting was my few at first put the peat and some white pepper emerge on the tail which rescues this a little

Skye 12

I was expecting this to be much better to be honest.

Nose
82
Basically a little peat, a little pepper with a hint of plum at first and then a few fruit pastille flavours emerge.
Taste
70
The peat and pepper are there and there is some green apple and kiwi behind that but there is also a metallic off note which spoils the party.
As you go on the fruit note increases a little but the metallic note and bitterness increases to a level that I cannot enjoy, shame.
Finish
72
Spicy and peppery as you would expect from a Talisker driven blend but it lacks interest for me.
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Pour me a glass please.