| The Dimple Pinch 15yrs Blended Scotch Whisky |
Apparently "The Dimple Pinch" ranks fourth in world sales in the 'blended scotch' sales. I am unsure if this is accurate, as it seems every blended scotch producer makes similar claims that their spirit is in the top 5 somewhere. Anyway, the owners of this brand sell a helluva lot of it, particularly in the United States.
The Dimple does have a following in the US that is pretty large. A lot of ordinary working men enjoy this dram at the end of a day. Whether they be grandads, dads, sons and grandsons, they like their Dimple Pinch, and like it a lot. Why? It's friendly, unpretenious, smooth, sweet, not peaty and quite honeyed. Add ice and it transforms from a loving labrador retriever into a pussy cat. What's not to like? Me, being a total scotch nut, must investigate this passion of so many, and see if I too, can join their ranks.Nose (undiluted)
Dandelion, malt notes, apple juice and wisps of peat. I mean wisps or was that my imagination? That's how faint it was.Palate (undiluted)
Sweet Graham crackers, some maltiness, chased by a spiciness that quicky degenerates into graininess. Also an apple cider aspect to this flavor profile.Finish (undiluted)
The spiciness of the palate that I said turned grainy does not leave on the finish. Down this sweet spirit and you are left with a grainy taste mixed with apple cider. There is some vanilla and oak, but it's stale and reminiscent of the smell you'd suffer when sitting in a taxi, that is supposedly non-smoking. Remnants of stale cigarette smoke, windows up on a hot summer day with car sickness only minutes away.Price Point I paid around $33 in New Hampshire for this bottle. Not worth the money. I expected a lot more for the price and for allegedly being a 15 year old blended scotch. No value for money here.
Here's a thought. If you like the sweet, malty flavor profile, and don't mind a little grain flavor, try Cutty Sark. A much more reasonably priced alternative. Nothing special, but it is comfort scotch for when you need it.
General Impressions This blended scotch is aged 15 years, but tastes much younger. Not a good thing. It exhibits no complexity of flavor. Light body with a sweet cereal or wheat style that leaves the drinker bored and unimpressed. I’d rather stare at a TV test pattern than take another slug of this cheap perfume. Or worse, start reading books recommended by Oprah. Calgon take me away! Far away, to a place where single malts and good blended scotch reign supreme! There is a Zapruder-esque graininess to it and perfume quality that is very disappointing. I expected a lot more from a 15 year old blend that is supposedly made up of single malts like Lagavulin, Linkwood and Glenkinchie. I could not detect any Lagavulin in this blend at all. I can understand the Glenkinchie, which no doubt contributes the sweet honey entry. As for Linkwood, not detecting it either. I think a lot of grain whisky makes up this blend.
This scotch was clearly styled for the occasional, non-serious scotch fan, who wants a smooth taste, no alcohol bite, and lots of Juicy Fruit gum sweetness. To achieve such a medical flat-liner, middle of the road, mainstream, snorefest, Piers Morgan type of scotch, you have to sacrifice peat, smoke and complexity that would make this spirit interesting. Very easy-drinking, pronounced sweetness, and little else. This is perfectly suited for the vast majority of blended scotch consumers who infrequently drink and want just a friendly, inoffensive nip. If that's you, then I can recommend the Dimple. If you require more from your scotch, like me, then I cannot recommend this whisky. Cheers! Jason Debly
Photo credits: Dimple Pinch photos - Jason Debly; Taxi Interior photo by Galan Pang (click here), and used with his permission. All rights of taxi photo vest with Mr. Pang.
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I chose this scotch because I tend to buy myself a nice scotch at the close of a project. I choose this because it’s distinctive shape and look appealed to me. My purveyor of spirits however told me that this used to sell like hotcakes because of it’s usage on Breaking Bad.
Sure enough this is actually Walt’s last drink of the show in that New Hampshire bar. (It shows up a few times in the season.) Where Walt orders it neat, and not to spoil, but I agree. For value though this is actually a damn good blended scotch for under 40 bucks – and that’s always welcome news to the lounge.
What they Say: “The rich and smooth aroma of Dimple Pinch celebrating more than 350 years of unbroken Scotch whisky tradition.”
Taste: 7.5 – Really has that smooth mellow caramel flavor that even bleeds into the aftertaste.
Aftertaste: 6.5 – Here you get a touch of peat but it lingers for a good long while.
Burn/Smooth: 8.0 – It may be blended, but 15 years minimum and this goes down smooth with a nice warmth for the winters up here.
Aroma: 7.0 – Smells like delicious scotch.
Honesty: 9.0 – On it’s own it’s a great looking scotch, it’s blended but everything is at least 15 years, and overall it would do well here. However you add in grisly Walter White in New Hampshire to this, and it’s very hard to not just give it that 10.
Mixability: 3.0
W/ Rocks: 3.0 – It brings out a bit more of the smoke, but you feel like it’s lost that great flavor.
Value: 6.0 – If I wasn’t so intent on buying new scotches – this would certainly be a contender for a common scotch for me. At the current time Grand Macnish holds that spot for being better value, but this is damn good on it’s own right,
Google Shop Average: $38
Website: //www.haigwhisky.com/
Reviewer Scores:
BuffaloJern: 7.0
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Metric Score: 47/70 |+| Metric Average: 6.71 |+| Reviewer Average: 7.0
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Final Thoughts: I know I often am more likely to randomly pick things up rather than try to use popular culture, other people’s opinions, or spirit companies trying to peddle their wares – as it feels more honest, but perhaps good shows and good spirits go together.
3.16
3.16 out of 5 stars
( Total review count: 216 )
Originally known as Haig & Haig, and alternately now as Dimple or Pinch, depending on your country, this blend is named for the unique shape of the bottle.
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It was also the preferred whisky of Felix Leiter, James Bond's best friend in the Ian Fleming books.
Originally known as Haig & Haig, and alternately now as Dimple or Pinch, depending on your country, this blend is named for the unique shape of the bottle. It was also the preferred whisky of Felix Leiter, James Bond's best friend in the Ian Fleming books.
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Comprised of both single malt(s) and single grain(s) often from many different distilleries; if Scotch or Irish must be aged for at least three years in oak barrels; Irish may include single pot still whiskey in the blend.
"About as typical a blend as can be had. Honey and vanilla on the nose, and the same on the tongue. Additional hints of apple, butter, and a faint dash of peat. This is no complex whisky to inspire hours of analysis. It's there to be consumed and enjoyed, without much in the way of subtlety. A solid, baseline blend that offers plenty to satisfy."
Score 83
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