Black Label
Blended Scotch Whisky
Aged 12 years
40% ABV (80 proof)
~$35
Color: light/medium brown with orange tint
Smell: light, sweet, and perfumey sweetness. I get a lot of toasted grain and caramels, along with a little maltiness and some orchard fruit.
Taste: exactly like it smells. Smooth, sweet, and light on entry - heavy on the caramels. The midpalate gets slightly more interesting...there's no real barrel influence to speak of (i.e., overt woodiness), but there seems to be a quick kiss of smoke that lingers into the finish, along with just a hint of baking spices.
Overall: this isn't necessarily profound, but it's very enjoyable and a great value. I guess there's a legitimate reason why this has become synonymous with "Scotch" to many. B+ (lacking a huge depth of flavor, potentially underproofed), and definitely recommended. Something to think about: why not pull a Maker's Mark and release a cask-strength edition of this super-solid mainstay to much critical acclaim and fanfare?
