Maclean's Nose - So much Hype! Is this Blend worth it?

[@davecashel4007]

I was never a blended scotch fan but after watching your Dewars 21 double double review you convinced me to try it. After my first dram I was in a little disbelief how great it was, this has now changed my opinion on blends. A little more open minded towards future purchases in this category now that I know being a bit of a single malt snob was doing myself a disservice. Thanks Jon , keep up the great reviews. Cheers.

[@WhiskyNeighbour]

So glad you tried the 21! I have been surprised, year over year, how much I enjoy that blend, even in the middle of all my Single Malts. Yes, there are alot of cheaper and poorer blends out there, but that 21 is worth a try. This? Well if you keep in mind the price, it also holds up. I would say this is easily as tasty as several 10/12 year entrance malts. Take care!

[@geofre44]

Another thoughtful and educational review - thank you!

[@WhiskyNeighbour]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@hordeum-vulgare]

You’re so right about contrast, Jon. That great taster, Serge Valentin of Whiskyfun, says: "Comparison is reason." When I assess a whisky I try to shoot it against something that is similar. I compared Maclean's nose with Compass Box ‘Great King Street Glasgow Blend’. Both performed well. I haven’t tried the Prince Dougal’s Dram but I sure like its constituent malts.

[@WhiskyNeighbour]

I should have shot against a more available blend, like the Glasgow. Still, any contrast highlights what I'm actually tasting. Thanks for sharing!

[@onewomanswhisky]

So many whiskies, never enough space! Haven't had either, but enjoyed the review regardless. I had forgotten Macaloney's put out a Scotch blend a few years back and that you covered it at the time. High recommend, if I recall. Nice you were able to source another bottle. 9am here, so...☕☕ Have a great rest of the weekend Jon! Marian 🇨🇦

[@WhiskyNeighbour]

Nothing like an unhuried weekend coffee! For a blend, this Maclean's Nose is fantastic. Definately gain in there, but that can be a good thing if done well. Yes, this sourced blend, put together to keep the lights on, is also great. At $42 for all malts, it's amazing! Thanks for sharing a bit of your morning with me. Cheers!

[@whiskeycolin6078]

Hey Jon, great stuff. I haven’t tried either, but I’m going to try to hunt both down. And great cork pop on the Macaloney’s! Always the best part! Cheers!

[@WhiskyNeighbour]

I'm glad I came back to opneded it together! Both of these are great and certainly better than their cost implies. Cheers!

[@peatbull3426]

Great review Jon as always. I got Maclean's Nose on my shelf but still unopened. I bought it a bit on hype and on Ralfy's recommendations together with some positive reviews. At £28 fully craft integrity blend it was no brainer. As i always appreciate your honest opinion im glad i have it. This Prince Dougal's Dram sounds very interesting and i need just found it in uk. Cheers and Slàinte 😁🥂🥂🥂🙋‍♂️

[@WhiskyNeighbour]

$28 craft integrity is a no brainer. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. Cheers!

[@WhiskyWars]

I haven’t had either but The sour lemon definitely puts me off the prince dougals but two great prices! On a side note, Craigellachie is usually £55 here so that’s amazing pricing in Canada, I’m jealous. Just love the craigellachie!

[@WhiskyNeighbour]

I am thankful I can still bring Craigellachie home for that price. The sour lemon is not as pronounced as many, but it's there for sure. The Maclean's Nose is a better dram if you can find it. Cheers!

[@TheWhiskeyNerd]

Definitely think that "blend" can sometimes be seen as a bad word for whiskey snobs, but a bit of grain, or pot still can really round out a malt and add some extra depth, contrast and character!

[@WhiskyNeighbour]

I agree, and it's solid in this one. Add a dash of peat and it's really a great dram.

[@chargerguy74]

I have one that’s been sitting on my shelf for awhile, waiting for the right moment. Is that moment now? 🤔

[@WhiskyNeighbour]

LOL! I can't say, but I am certainly enjoying this one.

[@jimreichel1466]

Really nice review. Would the nott place e on Maclean's Nose that you just can place be a tang? I know I will not be able to easily get either one here in Central Texas, but I will try.

[@WhiskyNeighbour]

Maybe ... just tried a bit and there is a bit of a sour tang. I'll try again against some other whiskies to see what comes out. Keeping in mind it's youth, 6 to 8 and affordability, I think this drinks really well. Cheers!

[@livewithaffection6905]

I am a big smell guy but I smell from the bottle more so from the glass. This bottle has a lot of good wine smell and then it ends with a peaty burnt rubber smell. Also, the smell is sharp and tangy. Overall, I do like it and it was worth the cost.

[@WhiskyNeighbour]

@livewithaffection6905 Burnt , sharp and tangy? I will try the bottle later tonight. Cheers!

[@livewithaffection6905]

@ Also, as an aside, I tried the new Gretzky 100% oats groats at around 63% alcohol and wow, it was tasty. I think this is one of tastier whiskies I have ever had. And the smell is strong and good too. Gretzky is really upping his game.

[@WhiskyNeighbour]

@livewithaffection6905 I hope I get the chance. Thanks for sharing!

[@BA-hk3ct]

I'd be curious how it compares to Monkey Shoulder or Black Bottle or the blends from Compass Box?

[@WhiskyNeighbour]

That would be a better idea. Mostly because people actually have those blends! Sadly they were not on the shelf for this one. Maybe if it sticks around a bit.

[@BA-hk3ct]

@WhiskyNeighbour if I can find the Mcleans nose I'll try it out. Hopefully you will be able to do something like that as well

[@foodquig]

i first tried Macaloney's blended (scocth) whiskies some six years and a bit ago when they were available at the distillery... I haven't seen examples of anuy of thenm in the last three or four years.... I'm surprised that there are still a few dusty bottles left in Alberta. I guess people just don't know what it is, so it just lingers on the shelves.

[@WhiskyNeighbour]

Exactly! They have no idea. Great distilleries, natural and non-chill. Sitting there in the lower bargin shelf for $42! Crazy.

[@foodquig]

@@WhiskyNeighbour Enjoy it while you still can...

[@SeawayWhiskyWire]

Great Review. Wish we could get this in my market. I am working on a series for 2025 on affordable blends but it’s so hard to source them in Ontario. I may have to bite the bullet and order in from our west just to get something interesting. Love Adelphi and what they are doing. Cheers.

[@chargerguy74]

Craft currently has a black friday sale. Might offset the shipping a bit.

[@WhiskyNeighbour]

@@chargerguy74 Great recommendation!

[@SeawayWhiskyWire]

@@chargerguy74 I will take a look. Thanks for the recommendation! Cheers

[@chargerguy74]

@@SeawayWhiskyWire no problem. Looks like it’ll knock the bottle down to $45 but I know shipping can get expensive.

[@DileepB]

I have yet to find these. Could have poured the Macaloneys at the start of the video 🙂! $42 CAD is an outstanding price.

[@WhiskyNeighbour]

I hope you can!

[@umami0247]

Funk is a good term for me especially with single malt whiskey. Same with smooth it is funny to me how some get their panties in a bind over verbiage. Just got a bottle of a blend of American single malt and Scotch finished in port cask and it is fantastic and I got the bottle on a close out deal for 23. Best purchase ever for whiskey. Great review and I’ll keep an eye out for these. 🥃🥃🥃

[@WhiskyNeighbour]

@umami0247 wow! That is a fantastic deal! Yes, smooth means something immediately for casual drinkers and we should simply use words that convey what we mean. I hope you enjoy these if you find them, cheers!

[@WhiskyLock]

Hi Jon. Great review and thoughts on Maclean's Nose. Like you I wish it had a little more power on the finish. Personally I think the grain content is still a little too high to meaningfully brag that it's high malt. It's very well blended though as you say and it's excellent for the price. Miles better than the Adelphi Dancing Man Blend. Cheers 🥃

[@WhiskyNeighbour]

@WhiskyLock Thanks for your thoughts. I guess it could be 80/20, but many blends brag "high malt" with less than 70. It certainly drinks well at this price. Cheers!

[@WhiskyLock]

@WhiskyNeighbour quite right, they certainly do. To me the grain is very noticeable and it is still obviously blended Scotch. That's all. I suppose at least they told us the malt content though. Adelphi are up there with Compass Box when it comes to transparency.

[@richard9045]

Hi Jon, I've got a bottle and it's ok, about £30 in UK, so add another £10 and get a 10 yo Ledaig or Arran or Glencaddam , all single malts, ncf and 46 abv natural colour! I think the Ardnamurchan CS is the best they have released, not tried the 10yo. I prefer the Cutty Sark Prohibition to the Maclean's Nose, different profiles but just my opinion. I appreciate your opinions from Canada. Slainte

[@WhiskyNeighbour]

Great to hear your thoughts. I struggle to get on with Cutty Sark Prohibition, but it certainly packs a punch and is broadly loved over in the UK. This has more depth for me, is less sharp, and more brooding. Cheers!

[@adamlogan384]

I'm in Calgary, and I don't know when you last bought it, but Craigellachie is more like $70

[@WhiskyNeighbour]

Craigellachie was bought up here. The Maclean's Nose was $49 at BSW in Calgary.

[@adamlogan384]

@WhiskyNeighbour I love BSW. That's actually where I bought my Craigellachie.

[@adamlogan384]

Do you find the prices vary much from Calgary to Edmonton?

[@WhiskyNeighbour]

@@adamlogan384 It seems Calgary is a bit cheaper. Yes.

[@ironmantran]

Another good episode. ( It is high time for all the tubers to standardize scoring and mark out of 100; instead of 3 of4 ... 4.25 of 5 ... A minus , C++, ...)

[@WhiskyNeighbour]

@@ironmantran lol! Maybe. I have been thinking of dropping scoring from the channel entirely. I am more interested in the conversation right now. Still, if I am going to give a number, it would be useful to be on a standard.

[@adamlogan384]

@WhiskyNeighbour put your own twist on the ratings, and score by colour. That'll teach em.

[@WhiskyNeighbour]

@adamlogan384 lol! Perfect!

[@ironmantran]

@@WhiskyNeighbour LOL , even colours have a spectrum of frequencies with clear number(s) assigned to each ; example : orange is 480-510 Therz, . . . anyhow.

[@marcwhiskey]

Maclean's nose is good. It's priced appropriately. There's plenty to go around it seems.

[@WhiskyNeighbour]

@@marcwhiskey Agreed!

[@kirbycalgary2844]

Hi Jon enjoyed your review I like mclean’s nose on sale but not at retail There are to many whiskey s I like more For instance I got 3 North Star the magician 12 years for $44 on sale Delicious

[@WhiskyNeighbour]

@@kirbycalgary2844 Very cool! I have not seen those here. This Mclean's Nose has a lot to offer. Cheers!