Country: Scotland
Brand: Sheep Dip
Bottled by Spencerfield Spirit Company, Inverkeithing
Type: Blended Malt Whisky
Age: 8-12 Years
Alcohol: 40%
Date: 14-04-2012
Colour: Gold/Copper
Nose: Combination of light Peat with Fresh Fruit (Melon, Orange, Pear maybe) and Dried Fruits (Apple, Sultanas). I also find Grains, Malt, Hay, some Oak and lightly salted Almonds.
Taste: Sweet delivery with lots of Brown Sugar, Honey, Toffee, Oak and Light Spices.
Finish: Sweet with Honey, Vanilla, light Spices, Cocoa and a touch of Orange liquor lingering for a minute or two.
When adding a couple of drops of water you get a little bit additional fresh fruit on the nose. Taste wise you just water it down and it gets slightly bitter so my advice is to drink this Vatted Blend straight.
Rating: 84,5
Nose 21– Taste 21– Finish 21– Overall 21,5
General Remarks: Alex Nicol, who used to work for Whyte and Mackay, Laphroaig and Glenmorangie, founded The Spencerfield Spirit Company. The Sheep Dip Blend was prepared by Richard Paterson of Whyte and Mackay fame. British farmers have long referred to whisky as Sheep Dip. There was a time when farmers distilled their own “home-made” whisky and in order to avoid paying taxes they hid the whisky in barrels marked “Sheep Dip”. It contains 16 Single Malts from the main four Scottish production regions (Mostly Highlands and Speyside) that have aged in First Fill Oak Barrels. The sheep on the label looks more like an angry dog by the way!
Drinking Experience Neat: Good
Conclusion: This is a very nice Malt Blend with a Highland nose and Speyside characteristics on the Palate. It’s very well balanced although I would have preferred to get at least a hint of smoke. There’s some Peat on the Nose and a little bit of Salt that suggest that an Islay - and/or Island – and/or coastal Distillery was married into this Blend. This Blend is not for Islay addicts but if you dig Speysiders and Highlanders, this is a safe choice at a reasonable price!
Jan van den Ende April 2012
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