Jim Murray describes Sheep Dip in his 2006 Whisky Bible as "Young and sprightly like a new-born lamb, this enjoys a fresh, mouthwatering grassy style with a touch of spice. Maligned by some but to me a clever accomplished vatting of alluring complexity” Much mythology has grown up around whisky but in reality a great whisky does not have to be the product of one distillery nor should its age be a measure of quality. Richard Paterson, Scotland’s renowned and only third generation master blender created the Sheep Dip "vatting” by marrying together several single malt whiskies. The whiskies are aged between eight and twelve years in quality "first fill wood," each adding unique characteristics to produce an exceptional product. Sheep Dip despite its iconoclastic name is a genuinely great whisky. The name came about because British farmers have long referred to whisky as Sheep Dip. There was a time when farmers distilled their own "home-made” whisky and in order to avoid paying taxes to the revenue man hid the whisky in barrels marked "Sheep Dip”. Farmers' merchants continued this tradition by entering cases of whisky as "Sheep dip” on farmers' bills and so "pulling the wool” over the farmers wives eyes.

Tasting notes

Colour: Rich, golden copper highlights. Nose: Delicate and refined. Soft sensual floral notes arise in perfect harmony supported by an attractive array of complex fruit flavours. Melon, pear and orange with a hint of almonds conclude this profusion of charming nuances. Taste: Finesse and elegance gives way to a majestic assertion of pure malty flavours drawn from the four distilling regions of Scotland. Each area forges and makes its own inimitable contribution to this outstanding pure malt - the main accent being expressed from the Highlands and Speyside Valleys.

Rating

Ultimate Beverage Challenge 90 points (Mar 2012) Bright copper/bronze color. Aroma features malted milk balls, marshmallow, pine, black pepper and dried herbs. In the mouth, the flavor profile highlights the malted grain and semisweet oakiness, which borders on vanilla extract. Aftertaste is medium-lon

Technical notes

40% alcohol