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Kilchoman 100% Islay 2nd Edition review
July 14, 2015

White Horse Blended Scotch Whisky review

White Horse whisky logo

White Horse Blended Whisky review

White Horse Scotch is a blended whisky from Edinburgh, named after a famous Edinburgh hostelry. The production was started by James Logan Mackie in 1861. The brand is nowadays owned by Diageo and Lagavulin is the base malt for this malt and grain blend. It contains approximately 40% malt whisky. In 2007 Whisky Bible, White Horse was named the “Blended Whisky of the Year” by Jim Murray.

Rough and fruity SEABISCUIT

White Horse is indeed, a very malty one. Lagavulin has done good things to it. Still, there is that robust blended whisky note, which doesn’t suit so well for me. So not as good as I expected. Fruity notes in a rough and occasionally stingy palate is just not “my cup of tea”. We are talking about too straight forward and robust Seabiscuit here.

Still, it has character. I can imagine people liking it because of the Lagavulin involvement. I know, as a fan of Lagavulin, I should. Too much grains in a blend just ruins it for me. Even though I did manage to get some of those malt aromas while using a whisky nosing glass.

Colour: Sunlight
Nose: An okay start, very malty aromas. Oak with peat and fruits.
Taste: Malts with fruits. Robust in a blendy way, yet nicely sweet with even hints of honey.
Finish: Fairly long with spices, oak and little bit of vanilla. Not so grainy as blends tend to be, but bit one-sided.
Balance: Even though not for my taste buds, I can tell that this is a quality blend. Good balance and even some complexity for a blended whisky. Lagavulin malt in the mix makes it decent enough for me.

Scoring

65
Nose:Taste:Finish:Balance:
17
17
15
17
Distillery: Malt from Lagavulin Bottling: White Horse Owner: Diageo ABV: 40%

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Johannes Lindblom
Johannes Lindblom
Finnish whisky enthusiast and the author of WhiskyRant! A digital marketing professional by day – a whisky reviewer and informer by night.

6 Comments

  1. Dave Aldridge says:

    It should be noted that, per good Scotch custom, that White Horse is a thrifty dram (at least in the USA) .

  2. Harry Ginkens says:

    Have an unopened bottle of W Horse blended scotch whiskey It is over 40 years old. I am trying to determine the actual age. It has an AD number of 1006211. Label has history of the company on. On bottom there is “”SA627”. What can you tell me about this particular bottle of Scotch? Thank you for your time and knowledge. Harry

    • Johannes Lindblom says:

      Hi Harry,

      That’s a good question, unfortunately I’m not a expert. Sometimes those reference numbers on the label might be a good hint, for example 62 being the year and 11 month. But that’s just a guess. Bottles might also state the manufacturing year, usually molded at the bottom of the bottle in 2-digit format.

      I found this article by Whisky Auction https://magazine.whisky.auction/how-to/how-to-date-a-bottle-part-2/ which gives a hint that your bottle could be from the 1960’s. Because of digits SA on bottom. You can also try to contact White Horse Distillers if they have more information.

      best regards, Johannes

  3. Dan Sindel says:

    Hello,
    I am looking for a distributor in my area of
    St. Clair County, Illinois.
    I am looking for Whitehorse scotch blended. Thank you,
    Dan Sindel
    Mascoutah Community Lanes Inc

    • Johannes Lindblom says:

      Hi Dan,

      I searched from Google and could only find stores in Chicago selling White Horse blended whisky (Delaware Food & Liquor for example). Which seems like 5 hour drive to your location. I’m sure there’s stores closer to St. Clair County selling this whisky. But unfortunately Google couldn’t help. It’s best that you ask your local liquor shops. I believe this brand should be widely available. At least via ecommerce shops online, if not locally.

      best regards, Johannes

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