You had to, in a sense, learn to like it, but the more you studied, the greater the wisdom and eventual delight, and before you knew it, you loved that tough old blend, kinda like studying a Shakespearean play. At one time, Scotch whisky did not appeal to everyone's tastes, and made no apologies. There was no room in its syllabus for ambivalence. Even on the nose, a whiff would set me back thinking this is a tough old drink, am I up to the task? However, over time, I grew to love the diesel aspect of this blend. But, on the other, those flavors were resting on the shoulders of diesel fuel, asphalt, ash, and eye-watering wood smoke that initially put me off. On the one hand, there was a great peat, bacon, malt backbone with iodine, that came up against sherry and sulphur. On the palate, Teacher's was uncompromisingly difficult at first to wholeheartedly like. Was it heavy machinery or a very in your face, unadulterated Maritime style? I was unsure. It somehow smelled of diesel oil, tarred ship ropes, dulse, big smoke and something industrial that repelled me, but at the same time drew me in to its embrace. Many years ago, when I was a Scotch first grader, I encountered Teacher's Highland Cream, and didn't know what to make of it. There is some peat and maybe iodine, but it is all very fleeting.Īshy like a Matinee cigarette, and then it turns unmistakably bitter, glycerin-like, accompanied by the very slight heat of alcohol. The sherry notes are intertwined with malt and echoes of the tangy licorice and bacon, but they are only echoes. Thin, light, sweet sherry that quickly turns grainy.
I mention the color because it is noticeably lighter than it used to be.Ī gentle breeze of salt laden sea air, sweet peat, and black licorice/pickled beets. So, John's email was disconcerting, to say the least. Such a man, regardless of his faults, has got my grudging respect. Moreover, anybody who has been a loyal fan of Teacher's is someone I think has good taste. Anybody who drinks the same Scotch whisky for that long is going to be intimately acquainted with its flavor profile. However, he did say he had been drinking Teacher's for 30 years. While John did amuse me, I was also tempted to be dismissive, thinking this guy doesn't know what he is talking about. Mind you, she was not a politician with soft, sweet and easily swallowed public policies akin to her drink of choice. Ah, Famous Grouse, the go-to drink of the Iron Lady. When I first read John's email, I had a good laugh with his use of the term " Grouse." Teacher's has become groused, meaning of course, it has become Dinah Shore sweet, grainy, easy drinking to the point that it blurs the line between blended Scotch and cream soda. I would value your opinion on this 'new' blend to see how it has changed from your comprehensive review of old. I have tried over 2 dozen differenet bottles from different sources and I now feel the time has come to part. Teacher's has become groused, it is now much sweeter and has lost a lot of its signature flavours. However I have been steadfast until about 18 months ago. I have always been ridiculed by my Grouse loving friends. I have been drinking it as my in house blend for 30 years.
I have just read your review of Teachers Whisky circa August 17, 2009.