Friday, April 13, 2012

Wait, what’s it called again?


Sheep Dip Blended Scotch Whiskey
40% ABV, Blended 8 Year Old

So, first things first, the name.  Scottish farmers began referring to whiskey as sheep dip in an effort to hide it from the excise man to avoid paying taxes.  The farmers would hide their whiskey in barrels marked “Sheep Dip”.  At the time, that was also a generic term used for an insecticide used on sheep to kill various ticks and lice.  I wouldn’t look in a barrel labeled Sheep Dip . . .

Now, to the whiskey.  This one's pretty good.  It's a really enjoyable blend.  And if you're a bourbon drinker looking for a way in to scotch, this is a good choice.  There's a hint of sweetness that will be familiar to you.

Overall, there's a really nice, rich golden color to the blend.  The nose is very flowery and sweet.  The blend supposedly draws on whiskies from the four main regions of Scotland (Islay, Lowland, Highland, and Speyside).  But I think the Islay whiskey was added with an eye-dropper - it's there, but it's faint.  There's a distinct maltiness to the flavor, as well as the bourbon inspired sweetness, which may be a testament to the barrels (probably not labeled Sheep Dip to throw the tax man off the scent) used to mature the whiskies.  The finish, long and drawn, finally yields a little more of that Islay peatiness I never mind tasting.

You'll remember the name of this whiskey if you see it on the shelves.  It would be a good addition to your collection.