I've seen the Grangestone prominently displayed on the end caps of Total Wine on many a visit. Seems they can't sell enough of it. (As I've heard from one of the sales associates.) At $25.99, seems like an easy buy for the casual, non-discriminating buyer. The non-age statement is a little off-putting, but I've been wrong before! It's a nice-enough looking bottle. That caramel color says it all though. Chill-filtered with some E150 in the mix. Not to sound like a snob or anything.

I tried to find some reviews online, and every review I came across mentioned the fact that a sales associate at Total Wine pushed it on them. Is this Total Wine's "store brand"? Seems like they're the only guys selling it, and the way they're pushing it, it appears as if they have a lot riding on it. I was just in there the other day picking up something for my Dad for Father's Day. The guy in the aisle saw me grab a Highland Park 15 and said, "Ooh, if you like the Highland Park, perhaps you'd like to try the Grangestone 18". I just looked at him like, "Are you freaking kidding me?".











So how is it?

On the nose, this one has some floral fresh fruits, with a hint of oak. It smells and tastes like a Speyside whisky. It's a little spicy on the tongue, with a mouth-watering sweetness on the finish. It's really not all that bad for a $25 dollar bottle of whisky, but it's a young whisky nonetheless. This is probably evident by the non-age statement label. Would you buy it if the label read "7 year"? Probably not. It lacks complexity. Nothing really stands out, and it leaves the mouth quickly with no lasting aftertaste.

This is a good whisky just to serve at an occasion when you don't want to worry about people wasting your good stuff. Or you're not a big fan of pouring $50 whisky into your ginger ale. (Who is?) Or perhaps just a whisky to get the night started. I usually start off with a Johnnie Walker and move on to the single malts. This one's not bad to get things started. Maybe it'll make for a good mixer. For as cheap as it is, I'd go with another bottle of Glen Ness.