August 2011 Live Tasting - Pre 1980 Distillates

[Ganga]

Bring out those old dusty bottles or those that are very old whiskies bottled recently. August is dedicated to the distillates of yesteryear. So what have you squirreled away that you are dying to open? What about that one that you've been saving the last drop? We want to see some interesting things come out of the woodwork.

[Ganga]

I just haven't had time this month and I think Sean has been rather busy.....let's just hold this over for September. Right Willie?

[pkt77242]

I just haven't had time this month and I think Sean has been rather busy.....let's just hold this over for September. Right Willie?

I will be on the first weekend of September to post a few.

[Ganga]

Sounds good Sean. I'm certain of a few older bottlings of bourbon. Will dig around for older scotch whisky.

[Willie JJ]

I'll try to make it this weekend

[Ganga]

I'll try to make it this weekend

Woohoo. I will be home on Saturday so would like to dram some with you.

[Willie JJ]

Sounds like a plan.

[Willie JJ]

Ok lets make a start:

Gordon & MacPhail Glen Calder 1949 40yo Blend
Nose: Fabulous, floral, almost rye like. Gentle sweetness and smoke. Soft vanilla, coconut and strawberry jam.
Palate: A bit watery, although sweet and gentle. Underwhelming.
Finish: An explosion of spices. Not fiery, but drying, gentle and delicious.
Comment: One of those typical elderly whiskies that you could nose for hours, but disappointing on the palate. Worth paying a bit for if you enjoy nosing your whisky, but not otherwise.

[pkt77242]

Ok lets make a start:

Gordon & MacPhail Glen Calder 1949 40yo Blend
Nose: Fabulous, floral, almost rye like. Gentle sweetness and smoke. Soft vanilla, coconut and strawberry jam.
Palate: A bit watery, although sweet and gentle. Underwhelming.
Finish: An explosion of spices. Not fiery, but drying, gentle and delicious.
Comment: One of those typical elderly whiskies that you could nose for hours, but disappointing on the palate. Worth paying a bit for if you enjoy nosing your whisky, but not otherwise.

The finish sounds rather nice to Willie.

When I finish my beer I will join you

[Willie JJ]

Hi Sean

Yes the finish was pretty good but not spectacular.

[Willie JJ]

Ok after one from the 1940s, here's one from the 1950s

Gordon & MacPhail Glen Gordon 1958-96 Single Malt 40%

Nose: Old fashioned boiled sweets and paraffin. Old wooden drawers and a hint of bung cloth before the custard creams come through.
Palate: Oily and a little flat. Plenty of beeswax and vanilla. A slight off note.
Finish: Heaps of spices, but they are soggy and not very fresh. A hint of caramelly bitterness.
Comment: I always want these elderly drams to be spectacular, even if only on the nose. No luck here though.

[pkt77242]

Willie seems a little lonely since Ganga hasn't shown up so I am going to pour something.

[pkt77242]

Scott's Selection Glen Grant 1977/2003 sherry wood 55.4%

N: Big fruitcake, raisins, a little oak, and a slight floral note (carnations?).
P: Spicy sherry, cinnamon, nutmeg, slight spicy red pepper note, raisins, and a touch of cherry.
F: Medium long on raisins and cinnamon but the spicy red pepper note lingers along with some dry oak.

This bottle has gotten much better since I first opened it. Back then it was mostly sweet with little else.

[Willie JJ]

Willie seems a little lonely since Ganga hasn't shown up so I am going to pour something.

Your such a humanitarian

[Willie JJ]

Scott's Selection Glen Grant 1977/2003 sherry wood 55.4%

N: Big fruitcake, raisins, a little oak, and a slight floral note (carnations?).
P: Spicy sherry, cinnamon, nutmeg, slight spicy red pepper note, raisins, and a touch of cherry.
F: Medium long on raisins and cinnamon but the spicy red pepper note lingers along with some dry oak.

This bottle has gotten much better since I first opened it. Back then it was mostly sweet with little else.

It sounds very nice. I've got a lot of respect for Scott's bottlings.

[Willie JJ]

Into the 60s now:

Glen Albyn 1963 G&M Connoisseurs Choice 40% Old Brown Label

Nose: Buttered toast and marmalade at an outside table in the highlands on an autumn day. Just lovely.
Palate: Very spicy and tannic. There is orange, but it's submerged beneath the weight of the oak.
Finish: The spices keep increasing until it bursts into flames on your tongue.
Comment: Too woody. The nose is a treat, but it's all downhill from there.

[Willie JJ]

Another from the 60s:

Convalmore 1969 G&M Connoisseurs Choice 40% Old Brown Label

Nose: Lemon meringue pie with grated parmesan on top. Bung cloth soaked in orange juice.
Palate: Orange barley sugar. Rather uncomplicated.
Finish: Orange sherbet. Long and gently spicy with lots of cloves. Clove rock.
Comment: Not a great nose with that cheesy note, but otherwise pleasant if uncomplicated drinking. Rather below par for Convalmore in my opinion.

[pkt77242]

Scott's Selection Old Pulteney 1977/2006 56.9%

N: First whiff is wood varnish and oak, then it is all salted tropical fruits (mango and guava), tangerines and peaches.
P: Tangerines, peaches, mango, salt and vanilla. A very fruity dram.
F: Long finish on salted fruit (mango, peaches and tangerines) with vanilla and a little sawdust. Gets rather drying on the finish.

Super fruity for being an older whisky.

[pkt77242]

Willie seems a little lonely since Ganga hasn't shown up so I am going to pour something.

Your such a humanitarian

Someone has to be

[Willie JJ]

Thank you friend

I almost bought that bottle of Pulteney on a number of occasions Sean. It wasn't even expensive at about £55. When I see your tasting note I wish I had

[Ganga]

Good afternoon/evening "gentlemen". Got called to help out by the wife but am home now. Let's see what we can dig up besides Sean's 78 Beg

[pkt77242]

Thank you friend

I almost bought that bottle of Pulteney on a number of occasions Sean. It wasn't even expensive at about £55. When I see your tasting note I wish I had

Sorry Willie. I got mine for $100.

[Willie JJ]

Good afternoon/evening "gentlemen". Got called to help out by the wife but am home now. Let's see what we can dig up besides Sean's 78 Beg

Two's company. Three's a party

[pkt77242]

Caol Ila 25yo OB 2005 release distilled 1979 58.4%

N: Campfire embers, salt, seaweed, and some green olives. A touch of asparagus and oak.
P: Starts on salted green olives, light peat, smoke (what I would think campfire embers taste like) citrus (mostly limes) and a little oak.
F: Medium on salted asparagus (rather green), smoke, lime and a touch of vanilla and oak.

I rather enjoy this but if you don't like the "green" flavor you probably wouldn't enjoy it.

[Ganga]

Where to start? I went and dug out the tax stamp stuff plus a couple of older single malts.

[Willie JJ]

1970s now:

North Port 1970 G&M Connoisseurs Choice 40% Old Brown Label

Nose: Ozone, melon, cherries, sweaty socks and cheese. Fortunately the last two are not strong.
Palate: Orange barley sugar and fish oil with cardamom and cigarette ash. Not very nice.
Finish: Spicy space dust. Drying and ashy.
Comment: Not a great whisky.

[Ganga]

Where are you digging up all of those Willie? Sounds like you've had them for awhile. Did they use to be better? Worse?

[Willie JJ]

A bunch of minis that I picked up a while ago.

[Ganga]

Ok, blends it is. Starting with

Catto's Gold Label

Color: orangey gold in the bottle but straw gold in the glass
Nose: I feel like I just got swabbed for a shot. Under all the antiseptic is a whiff straw
Palate: Valencia oranges, hydrogen peroxide, straw, cracked barley, hints of wax
Finish: the doctor's office has finally left with some smokey wax remaining.

[Ganga]

A bunch of minis that I picked up a while ago.

Sounds like it was better than getting full bottles then.

[pkt77242]

taking a quick break to eat a 22oz ribeye and drink a beer.

[Willie JJ]

A bunch of minis that I picked up a while ago.

Sounds like it was better than getting full bottles then.

I'm certainly glad I didn't have full bottles of the North Port

[Willie JJ]

taking a quick break to eat a 22oz ribeye and drink a beer.

Your life is hard

[Ganga]

taking a quick break to eat a 22oz ribeye and drink a beer.

Your life is hard

2013 will certainly be hard on him. He may have no memory of the first half of it.

[Willie JJ]

A contrast with the last one:

North Port 1970 G&M Connoisseurs Choice 40% Old Style Map Label

Nose: Vegetal and feinty. Cabbage and old cooking oil. Hints of sulphur. No fruit or sweetness at all.
Palate: Sweetened vegetable soup and then a mouthful of tobacco.
Finish: The tobacco is relentless, changing only when some late saltiness kicks in.
Comment: One for those that enjoy chewing a big mouthful of fresh tobacco. Not me I'm afraid.

A couple of really poor North Ports there. It's a shame, because I've had some really nice CC bottles.