Decided to go back to taste the cheaper blended whisky's tonight to see how my palate is developing, and am amazed how different I now find them. Going back a few weeks I remember sensing a little sweetness to the Ballantynes 12 , and a little honey/smoke from the teachers
The Ballantyne 12 definitely has a heavy sherry influence on the flavour, but I can now sense an almost bbq smokiness that I couldn't before. It's very different from the ashy smoke of the Teachers.
If I drink either of these alone, I don't mind them at all, however they both pale against the better single makes I have tried so far of I drink one of those on the same night.
My wallet isn't as deep as some of yours, so I doubt I will find myself with a collection of 50 single malts anytime soon to appease my taste buds, but I think for the time being I can allow myself the odd nice whisky every so often while exploring the blends a little more.
Next blends on my to buy list will be monkey shoulder, naked grouse (if i can find any) and maybe a dewars 12.
My parents are flying over from the UK later in the month, so am hopeful of something nice in the single malt front then.
I've requested an Ardeg Uigaedal as the reviews sound intriguing but we shall see what they get, as I know neither of them are big on smoke. To tell the truth I won't mind at all if they get a nice sherry whisky as I'm thoroughly enjoying those so far.
So to
@Drubbing and others who told me that the jump up to a $100+ whisky would be night and day, you are very right. However I have also really valued the learning experience with the cheaper blends which have taught me how to appreciate the more expensive single makes.