Just like there is no Trader Joe’s distillery in Kentucky there is no Trader Joe’s distillery or blending facility in Scotland. They are a NDP and they source this blend from another blender / bottler in Scotland and then put their own label on the bottle and sell it as theirs. Which I have nothing against since they’re clearly not trying to claim they distilled, blended and bottled it themselves.
Since it’s all done through 3rd parties and doesn’t seem to be a relabel of something like Famous Grouse there’s not a whole lot of info online about it, but I can tell you this. It’s $10 for a liter, mixes well in cocktails and when given to folks who like whiskey, but aren’t nerds about it, they like it. It’s cheap, it’s a decent cocktail mixer and is something you can give to folks to mix with their coke or to fill in the gaps between ice cubes in a crammed cup. Basically no matter what anyone does with it your inner whisky nerd won’t cringe and for that alone it’s worth the $10. Afraid of looking cheap because of the Trader Joe’s label? Decant it into another vessel, call it our house mixer and no one will know the difference.
Trader Joe’s Blended Scotch Review
ABV: 40%
Age: NAS
Price: $10 (liter)
EYE
Apple juice
NOSE
Kicking things off with some light honey, spice and red apples isn’t a bad way to go. Add in some malty notes, fruit leather (orchard) and butterscotch; you have yourself a pretty nice tasting whisky. The bite from the heavy backdrop of grain alcohol does pull things down a bit, but it’s not completley overwhelming. If tasting neat let it sit for a bit for some of the harsher notes to blow off a bit.
PALATE
Here we’re starting with some muddled orchard fruit, honey, a bright ambiguous sweetness and some strong young malty notes. A bit of cinnamon heavy spice and a hint of vanilla help offset the grain that kicks up at end. It’s a bit harsh and angular, but I’m actually surprised at how un-horrific this is. I was expecting far worse.
FINISH
Medium in length it’s a not-completely-terrible ride of honey, malt, wood, ambiguous sweetness and grain alcohol on it’s way out.
BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
The individual points are a bit off balanced and grain heavy when concentrating on them one at a time, but something happens when you sit back and experience it as a whole. It goes from being “a bit off” to largely disjointed and awkward and I can’t exactly say what is causing this to happen. It could be the thin body and almost lifeless texture mixing with the grain heavy olfactory assault, but I can’t really pinpoint it and say “THAT” so it leaves me feeling a bit perplexed.
OVERALL
It’s not magnificent, but it’s not gut wrenchingly horrific either. Starts off on a good note with a sweet and simple nose that doesn’t, initially, have a whole lot of grain alcohol. On the palate the grain alcohol picks up more, but it’s still not as overwhelming as it is in some blends (Johnny Walker Red). It does keep building as it’s being drunk, but never takes over to the point of obscenity. The biggest problem is that it doesn’t congeal and become a cohesive dram to me and I got very little joy out of drinking it.
SCORE: 75/100
I bought this for the first time in probably 5 years the other night.
Kind of harsh drinking neat; but it shines with club soda over ice!
Pretty solid budget-Blended Scotch.
I wouldn’t mind comparing this with Costco’s Kirkland brand Blended Scotch (not the 12yr).
I’d say at least 85% of this bottle was consumed as a whisky soda with a slice of lemon or lime. It makes a decent highball for sure!
While I’m more of a single malt type, once in a while I’ll want a blended. I like this better than Blendeds 3 times their price. When I go to Trader Joes, I look for it. It’s very smooth. Sometimes I like a friendlier, smoother, less bite than a Speyside or an Islay. One time, I bought 4 and didn’t spend as much as I would have for a single malt. My friends that can’t take the bite and smoke of a Peaty Scotch ask if I have it when we hang.
It’s perfect for exactly that, cheers CCesena!
Looking for other uses for it
“…but it’s not gut wrenchingly horrific either.” That’s the best I can say for it. Don’t know whether to throw the rest out (after the first drink) or try to find some use for it. Will it clean away stains in linoleum?
Ha, might not clean linoleum, but it will clean hairspray from your bathroom mirrors or a dry erase board :)
Worth it
I bought it and went back to hotel to try. It was good so went back for more. Hey for that price why not. When I got home did a blind taste test with my single malt snob husband. He picked this over an 18 and 12 year single malt we paid over $85 a bottle for! (I don’t remember the names but one was glenfidich) So I have a bunch of bottles. It is now $12 a bottle but still so worth it.
Glad you’re liking it. Cheers!
I like it!
T. J.’s Blended Scotch tastes very good and it’s bargain priced.
What’s not to like?
“NOT COMPLETELY TERRIBLE” describes TJ’s blended Scotch Whiskey well but I’d like to add you may feel nauseous afterwards, lasting well into the next day.
Not one to drink…much of anything. Fruity girly drinks and the occasional beer. I was introduced to this about a month ago…and am rather enjoying it. Have tried Johnny Red and Black. I prefer the black…but if I had my druthers…I’d like to have TJ’s scotch. For a first time scotch drinker…and well…drinker of anything…I liked. Will buy more…when..if it’s ever in stock again. :)
Single Malt Snob and I don’t normally like (nor drink) blended malt scotch, but I, too, find this to be worthy of serving when the brother comes to town as it keeps him away from the $60 bottles onboard the sailboat. It has a taste that’s evocative of my youthful days, when I experimented with various varieties before settleing down to what I like. Obviously, I am still experimenting, but this was a recommendation from a trusted friend and fellow cigar and whisky enthusiast.
Glad I’m not the only one. Cheers JB!
Scotch Newb Here..be nice :-)
I was introduced to this product as a blind taste test by my friend.
I chose TJ’s product over a Glenlivet product.
I am not sure if that means anything really. lol
Any idea where and who produces the TJ’s brand?
Thanks
No idea, but I would imagine it’s one of the big guys like Dewar’s, White and Mackay or someone like that.
I bought this the other night when shopping at Trader Joe’s and this is actually not bad at all. For a $10 liter bottle, it is really good for the price.
$10 for a liter is hard to beat. I use it as a cocktail mixer all the time and it works great.
I have a # of Scotch’s in my arsenal. For a sweet Scotch and very enjoyable experience, on a daily pm..10/05 STARS