Name: J&B Scotch

Color: Light Yellow

Nose: Malt, lemon, wood

Taste: Malt, citrus, honey, vanilla

Review:

J&B Blended Scotch Whisky is the 5th best selling scotch in the world and has a long history dating back to the 19th century. What it lacks in a complex flavor profile it makes up for in lightness, history, movie marketing placement, and old school charm.

The origin of this scotch dates back to the 1880’s in London when two wine merchants (Giamcomo Justerini & Alfred Brooks) started making whisky as it got more acceptable to drink in high society. They shipped their scotch over to the USA after prohibition ended and it developed a following  and peaked in the 1960’s in popularity. It also became a very big seller in Spain in the 1970’s and was popular in Southern European markets. I imagine this scotch would go well with mixers in warm weather. 

This bottle was a gift to my father and had been sitting in the bottom of a kitchen cabinet since the mid 1990’s. I remember when my father received it as a gift. I thought “He doesn’t drink scotch, what is he going to do with that?” Now, I know. He let it sit for twenty years until I got older and thirsty.

I am not sure if the receipt has changed, but I assume it has in the last 25 years. I should have done a side by side taste test with a new bottle. It has a Famous Grouse like quality to it. It is not complex, nor does it have deep notes or flavor, but it is very drinkable. If the bottle looks familiar you might have seen it in the following shows: The Thing, Scarface, Moonstruck, Goodfellas, and M.A.S.H, the Sopranos, Mad Men, and many more. I think in John Carpenter’s The Thing it saw the most screen time of any movie or tv show.

Priced around $30 and it will do in a pinch, hot weather, The Thing viewing party, or just an old school bottle on the bar.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!