Review 162: Sheep Dip

I was going to review a tequila following my mezcal series, but I think it's time to get back to whisky! Let's do a scotch today and let's make it Sheep Dip, which is a blend of 16 single malts. You probably know the story, but Sheep Dip takes its name from the old time Scottish farmers' practice of hiding whisky from the tax man in containers labeled "sheep dip." I believe that real sheep dip was used to eliminate parasites on sheep, who were probably literally dipped into the noxious brew. Hopefully Sheep Dip tastes better than that, but that remains to be seen! Oh, and stay tuned, because my next review is going to be of the very highly regarded Sheep Dip Old Hebridean 1990 special release!

Sheep Dip

Color: Amber +0

ABV: 40%

Aroma Neat:
Orange/Clover Honey, Sweet Apples/Pears (fresh and stewed), Candied Lemon (sour w/crystallized sugar), Wax (slightly), Minerality (slightly), Canned Peaches, Fresh Hay, Sweet Malted Barley, Herbaceous/Mentholated (Ricola lozenges).

Mmm, what a lovely nose! In my opinion the profile is classically Speyside with a honey-sweet and fruity delivery. Well balanced though, with nice malty notes.

Aroma Water:
Orange/Heather Honey, Stewed Apples/Pears, Oiled Leather, Strawberries (I swear!), White Peaches/Stone Fruit, Ripe Banana, Tamarind, Brown Sugar (slightly), Resinous Oak, Mineral Water/Chalk (slightly), Dark/Dutch Chocolate (not too dark, slightly).

Some surprising notes of leather and oil emerge. I think blind it would be easy to fool someone into thinking this was at least a 15 year old whisky. Still lots of honeyed fruit, but more diverse!

Taste Neat:
Juicy Peaches/Nectarines, Orange Honey, Wax, Highland Peat (earthy, not very phenolic), Mineral Water, Tangerines, Resinous Oak, Sappy Syrup.

On the palate we're getting close to the Highlands, with more noticeable peat and some waxiness which reminds me of Clynelish. I'm reminded of Glenmorangie 10 as well, but peatier.

Taste Water:
Waxy Honey, Dry Herbaceous Peat, Mineral Water, Bananas, Tinned White Peaches, Stewed Apples, Orange Skin (oily, a but pithy).

Gets thin quickly at 40%, so don't add too much water. Fruit definitely retreats and the whisky becomes more austere and mineralic (which I like). There's a lot of depth in this vatted malt! Just imagine it at 46%!

Finish:
Rich/Resinous Oak, Barrel Char (sweetish, not ashy), Grilled Apples, Peat (slightly), Dried Cranberries (very slightly), Wax.

Nicely drying after the relatively sweeter palate. Medium duration.

Conclusions:
Lovely fruity nose with good balance and depth. Rather Speyside.

Slightly peaty, dryly-honeyed and fruity palate. A bit more like the Highlands.

Drying finish with the tasty note of apples with grill marks on them.

Rating: 86/100

I may have just found a new favorite go-to affordable whisky!

Josh