Welcome to the fifth installment 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. Today’s whisky isJames Eadie Trademark “X” blended scotch whisky. 

James Eadie Trademark “X” Blended Scotch Whisky

Everyone loves a good story, particularly when it involves whisky. Rupert Patrick, founder of the revived James Eadie whisky brand, is the great-great-grandson of the original James Eadie. So it makes total sense that he'd want to recreate his ancestor's whisky recipe and bring it to the modern palate. Apparently he was able to get hold of his great-great-grandfather's ledgers, which contained the secret recipe of whisky casks that made up James Eadie Trade Mark X. And so Rupert began the painstaking process of recreating that early-1900s whisky brand, even managing to track down whisky from long-closed distilleries that used to be in the original blend.

So, we review a little taste of liquid history (albeit revived) from the "Golden Age" of whisky blending.

Review

Colour: 

Pale white wine

Nose: 

A musty, grassy peat smoke wafts up quickly, followed by an oily funkiness, like a very well aged pot-still rum. A bit of sweet dried fruit on the end.

Palate:

Initial sweetness, like a light brown sugar syrup, followed swiftly by more of that herbal peat smoke. There’s a rich oily texture, probably indicating a well-aged grain whisky component in the blend. Some orange and lemon citrus, but the fruitiness is subtle.

Finish: 

Medium, with hints of the peat lingering and that sweet oiliness coating the mouth.

Overall Thoughts: 

Quite easy going for a peated blended whisky. An interesting snapshot into how blended whiskies might have tasted back in the day when James Eadie was first making this blend. One to try if you’re new to peated whiskies.

Flavour categories: Woody, herbal smoke

Get it here for £36.95.

Try James Eadie Trademark “X” if you like...

Blends with a bit of peat smoke in them, like Johnny Walker Black (or Double Black).

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Want to read more reviews in the Whisky Under £50 series? Check out the previous review,Tomatin 12 Year Old Scotch Whisky.