Spirits & Liqueurs Scotch

The Famous Grouse Blended Scotch Whisky Review

It’s a solid, inexpensive whisky that’s ideal for cocktails.

By
Tony Sachs
Tony Sachs
Tony Sachs
Tony Sachs is a writer based in New York City who has covered cocktails and spirits since 2007.
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Published 03/11/22
The Famous Grouse Blended Scotch Whisky bottle
Image:

Liquor.com / Laura Sant
liquor.com rating:
3

The Famous Grouse has been around since 1896, produced out of what is today one of Scotland’s oldest distilleries still in operation. Its reasonable price makes it perfect for everyday drinking and mixing. 

Fast Facts

Classification blended scotch whisky

Company Edrington

Distillery Glenturret, Scotland

Cask ex-sherry and ex-bourbon

Still Type Copper

Released 1896

Proof 80 (40% ABV)

Aged Not stated

MSRP $25

Awards Bronze, 2019 International Wine & Spirits Competition

Pros

  • While The Famous Grouse is popular worldwide, it’s a little under the radar in the States, which makes it a nice gift for aspiring scotch drinkers who’ve already tried the more ubiquitous blends.

  • At $25 a bottle, it’s quite affordable for both sipping and mixing; it’s an ideal bottle to bring to parties.

Cons

  • When sipped neat, this whisky has a somewhat unpleasant aftertaste that places it in the for-mixing-only camp.

Tasting Notes

Color: Pale yellow gold, almost like a pilsner

Nose: Lots of oak, some barley, and pungent, slightly fruity notes reminiscent of an oaky chardonnay

Palate: Quite sweet up front, with notes of vanilla custard and créme brûlée. As it hits midpalate, it gets drier and a little woodier, with undertones of caramel, toffee, and malt. The mouthfeel is quite full and buttery throughout.

Finish: Medium length; a little medicinal, a little oaky, a little sour, leaving a slightly unpleasant aftertaste 

Our Review

This bottle’s reasonable price renders it perfect for everyday drinking and mixing. And it’s a nice change of pace from its more-common competing blends, such as Johnnie Walker and Dewar’s. 

Ultimately, what it’s not is a bigger selling point than what it is. This is a perfectly fine blend, apart from a slightly unpleasant aftertaste, which disappears when it’s mixed into cocktails. And speaking of cocktails, it makes a fine Whisky Sour or Penicillin. But it doesn’t really stand out from the crowd in any meaningful way. There’s no compelling reason to not buy it if you’re in the market for a dependable, inexpensive blended scotch. But there’s no real reason to search it out, either.

Interesting Fact

According to the brand’s website, the Famous Grouse is the best-selling scotch whisky in its home country of Scotland. It’s also available in 93 other countries around the world.

The Bottom Line

The Famous Grouse is a solid if unspectacular blended scotch that’s better for mixing than sipping. There’s no need to turn down a bottle, but apart from its affordability, there’s no compelling reason to own one, either.