Welcome to the 18th instalment of our regular Whisky Under Fifty reviews, where we review a different whisky (or whiskey) that you can buy for less than £50! If you’d like to know more about why we're doing this series, read our introduction post here.

In this edition of Whisky Under Fifty, we're looking at an indie blend. Here at the Dram Team we're big fans of independent bottlers and the terrific work they do. Dràm Mòr is one such independent bottler.

Run by husband and wife team Kenny and Viktorija Macdonald, Dràm Mòr originally started as an export agency for Scottish whiskies. But, as demand for independent, high-quality spirits increased, they decided the explore the world of independent bottlings. And good job too, as they not only have a knack for finding the right spirit, but also pride themselves on their cask selection.

Along with their single cask bottlings, Kenny and Viktorija have released a very well priced artisan blended malt, Dumbarton Rock.

Dumbarton Rock

Dumbarton Rock is a blended malt whisky bottled at a respectable 46% ABV, natural colour and without chill filtration. Well-constructed blends can be a thing of delight, balancing flavours and creating a rounded quaffable dram. This is just such an example.

Tasting notes

Nose: Fresh baked cookies, honey softening after a few moments into pear drops, vanilla and chocolate. Fudge wrapped in mellow oak and sweet spices.

Palate: Quite fresh, very soft, sweet and fruity coating the mouth. A blend of honey-drizzled apples and pears crash into raisins and sultanas all enveloped by that vanilla fudge and butterscotch.

Finish: Subtle vanilla, a wonderful cereal note with delicate spice of gentle white pepper, cinnamon and ginger tickling the palette in the perfect ending to a delicious dram.

Try this whisky if you like...

Independent blends with a sweet, fruity character. You can pick up a bottle of Dumbarton Rock here for just £30.

About the Dram Team

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Want to read more reviews in the Whisky Under £50 series? Check out the previous review, Murray McDavid's Cask Craft whiskies.