Review #952 - Thompson Bros TB/BSW
The Thompson Bros independent bottling brand occasionally uses cryptic codes or names for their whiskies; this one is called TB/BSW, which stands for Thompson Bros/Blended Scotch Whisky. This is a blend comprised of both malt and grain whisky components, all of which have been aged for at least 6 years before bottling.
Thompson Bros don't tell us specifically which casks are used in this blend, but they do state on the label that they selected components which "celebrate sherry maturation, and its character is inspired by the sherry-forward blends of the past."
After the components of this blend marry, the Thompson Bros use their usual 'slow dilution' process to bring the spirit down to bottling strength; we're specifically looking at batch 017.
Thompson Bros TB/BSW
Scotland - Blend
Price: USD 65 (2026)
Age Statement: 6 Years
Strength: 46% ABV
Details: Not chill filtered, no color added; batch 017
Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 3 times over 2 months; bottles at 90%, 80%, and 80% fill levels at times of review. Tasted in a nosing glass each time, rested 15+ minutes
Nose: Relatively strong sherry notes - prunes, lots of orange, a bit of old cask funk, some grapes. It's nicely rich and musty, and we also get lighter scents of pear, sugary apple, and a hint of vegetal malt. Honey, savory notes, and a bit of sulphur are accents.
Palate: The mouthfeel has a medium thickness. Tons of prune, blood orange, cranberry sauce, and dates bring a strong sherried profile, just loads of rich fruit. Cinnamon and acidic fig as a drying side, and we also get baking notes of brown sugar, caramel, and cardamom. Hints of root beer and spirity notes are accents.
Finish: Stewed fruits like plum and prune continue, and we also get sweeter orange soda and a hint of chocolate. Cardamom, browned ground beer, caramel, and fig... it's still sherry-forward, but tastes a little younger and more simple. This is a medium length finish.
Final Note: This is a solid sherried blend - relatively simple, but good balance and a nice punchy flavors. While there was plenty of sherry cask flavor, we didn't actually find much of an oak influence; instead this leaned a bit more fruity, spirity, fresh, and young.
It's a pleasant sip, though, and the price is reasonable at $60 to $65, even though this is hard to find here in the States. Because the flavor is good for the cost, value here is above average.
Our Rating: 6.5 / 10
In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price.
Value Rating: 6.52
About Us: We're a husband and wife review team living in the Midwest United States. Generally, our reviews and tasting notes will be a compilation of both of our experiences with a whisky over several tasting sessions.
Check out our other Thompson Bros reviews:
