Great Drams Founders’ Choice Blended Cask Series
It’s been a minute (that’s what the kids say, right?) since I reviewed an award-winning dram here on the blog, so today I thought I’d change that.
The dram I’m going to be reviewing today recently won gold at the 2025 Global Scotch Whisky Masters in the Super-Premium category, has received rave reviews from critics and customers alike, and retails for less than fifty quid! Pretty awesome, right? Did I forget to mention anything? Oh yes, it just so happens to be a flagship release here at GreatDrams.
August has been a hectic, yet hugely fruitful month for Kirsty and I. We’ve attended festivals and events, visited distilleries, won gold medals, and released an exceptional blended Scotch which will be our flagship for a while, so keep your eyes peeled as you really don’t want to miss this drop.
Crafted to Celebrate a Decade of Excellence
As hard to believe as it may be, GreatDrams has now been providing exceptional whisky for a little over one decade. In that time, we’ve seen some ups, and we’ve seen some downs. From global pandemics, interest rate hikes, and record inflation to countless awards, collaborations and an incredibly loyal customer base for whom we’re eternally grateful, it’s been a heck of a decade, and we’re just getting started.
When we launched GreatDrams, our primary objective was to release exceptional whiskies that people love to drink. After a decade, and more awards than I could ever imagine, I feel we’ve achieved that.
To celebrate a decade of passion, hard work, dedication, countless awards, and uncompromising flavour, Kirsty and I decided to release something very special. Something to commemorate all that our humble independent whisky company has achieved in ten years. Something…excellent.
We dug into our extensive cask inventory and began searching for the perfect dram. This was not easy as we were literally spoiled for choice. Nevertheless, after much sampling, and plenty of trial and error, we persevered. Hoorah!
So, what did we select for you fine folks? Well, we opted for our Founders’ Choice Blended Scotch Whisky. This is a ridiculously drinkable whisky that you simply can’t put down. When crafting this exquisite drop, we wanted to create a whisky that appealed to all. One that could be enjoyed neat on a cold winter’s evening, yet at the same time would be equally as delicious in a summer cocktail at a garden party. I think it’s safe to say we absolutely nailed the brief on this one.
Oh, and it can be yours for just £45! You don’t get many gold-medal winning drams for that price.
Great Drams Founders’ Choice Blended Scotch Whisky – click here to buy
Okay, I think I’ve bigged this dram up enough, so now we should probably take a look at how it tastes and what it’s all about.
This whisky can be sipped neat, it can be enjoyed over ice, you can have it with a mixer, or you can even enjoy it in a cocktail. It provides the perfect balance between sweet, fruity, and slightly smoky. Imagine all the very best elements from a super-premium Scotch whisky, and that’s what you get here.
Our Founder’s Choice has a gorgeous chestnut brown colour to it, with a light auburn hue. It looks every bit as good as it tastes.
On the nose, you immediately get tropical fruit notes, with caramelised pineapple and ripe mangos making their presence felt. The tropical fruit is balanced to perfection with a subtle smokiness. There’s also a soft cinnamon sugar aroma hiding in the background, which works wonderfully with those exotic fruity scents.
On the palate, caramelised pineapple and banana flavours are immediately present, along with vibrant dried sherry fruits, creamy vanilla custard, and butterscotch sauce. There’s also a savoury, almost meatiness to this dram thanks to the subtle smoky notes, capped off with zingy citrus fruits. A lot to like here.
The finish is lengthy and mellow, with a silky smoothness and amazing mouthfeel. Think bonfire toffee apples, lightly charred oak, and lemon meringue pie, all kissed by a whisper of campfire smoke.
We’ll be releasing our Founders’ Choice Blended Scotch Whisky in batches throughout the next few months, so be sure to keep your eyes peeled on our shop. Trust me, I may be biased, but you don’t want to miss this one.
If you’d like to learn more about your favourite whiskies, or simply treat yourself to a dram or two in the process, be sure to head on over to GreatDrams.com and take a look at what we have to offer.
With an impressive selection of limited-edition, rare, and award-winning whisky, as well as heaps of whisky info on our blog, it’s the perfect spot for any whisky lovers out there.
Photo by Erik Mclean on Unsplash
Greg
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