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The Macallan 1926, 60 Years Old.
A privilege to taste such an old whisky but I just cannot handle such woody astringency |
The Macallan 1937, 37 Years Old, Vintage.
With a colour close to that of today’s product and a bright clarity, this visually recalled some of the yet-older Macallans that have inspired replica editions. |
Gordon & MacPhail Mortlach 1938, 60 Years Old.
A great age, but it has matured beautifully. |
The Macallan 1940, 35 Years Old.
Not quite the complexity of the 1946 and 1948. Oaky woodiness begins to intrude. |
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Private Collection Glenlivet 1943.
The Glenlivet is another whisky that I have encountered at great ages, often past their best. This shows its age only in its raffish, extrovert, confidence. |
The Macallan 1945, 56 Years Old, Vintage.
Very lively, but ill-tempered. I kept expecting it to propose the return of military service, or demand that I had my hair cut. |
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The Macallan 1946, 52 Years Old.
A whisky of seductive charm. |
The Macallan 1948 Select Reserve.
Paler in colour and lighter in body, but what a palate...great Speyside whiskies once tasted like this. |
The Macallan 1949, 50 Years Old, Millennium.
A beautifully composed, luxurious whisky. |
The Macallan 1951 Vintage.
I am a great devotee of the older Macallans, but this one is too woody for me. |
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Glenfarclas 1955.
The russet colour promised something more luxurious, but this whisky is not as rich as it was. |
Highland Park 1958.
Some drinkers might perfer this great whisky slightly younger and fresher. Those who like a touch of oak will find this very elegant. |
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The Glenlivet 1959 Cellar Collection.
Vivid descriptors, but the flavours are very restrained. A most elegant whisky. |
Convalmore 1960, Rare Old.
Try it with a book at bedtime. |
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The Macallan 1961 Vintage.
This one I loved. The flavours have melded beautifully, in what must have been an excellent cask. |
Glen Moray 1962, Ed Dodson's Last Manager's Choice.
As appealing and intriguing as a cupboard full of granny’s jams for a young pilferer (I was one !). You just can’t resist ! |
Scott's Selection North of Scotland, 1963.
Very rich for a grain whisky. Not much dimension. No flavour peaks. |
Lombard Glen Grant 1964.
I usually find delicate old Glen Grants to be overwhelmed by oak. This example makes for a mature dram with considerable complexity. |
Kingsbury Glenturret 1965.
Very much the house style. Has not gained, or lost, much by such a long maturation. |
Auchentoshan 1966, 31 Years Old.
A fine whisky, but does something as fresh and soft benefit from quite so much ageing? |
Glenfiddich 1967, Vintage Reserve.
On the light side among older Glenfiddichs, but delicate and appetising. |
Glen Garioch 1968, 29 Years Old.
With its chestnut colour and highly distinctive flavours, this is a wonderfully wintery whisky. |
Adelphi Glen Grant 1969.
Holds up very well in the middle but the woodiness at the end is overpowering. |
The Glenlivet 1970 Vintage.
Enjoyable, but I expected a little more. |
Glen Moray 1971 Vintage.
Glen Moray has never been seen as a glamorous malt, but it gains mystery with maturity. |
The Glenlivet 1972 Vintage.
A little woody. Choice of cask? |
Rare Malts Cardhu 1973, 25 Years Old.
For teatime – more fun than Darjeeling. |
Ardbeg Provenance, 1974, bottled 1998, 24 Years Old.
Rich and creamy, with huge flavour development. |
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Adelphi Port Ellen 1975, 24 Years Old.
Seems to have faded slightly with age. |
Signatory Edradour 1976.
Still a hint of the typical creaminess. Although its flavours are on the light side, Edradour is quite rich in body. It stands up well to age, but this is not the best '76 I have tasted. |
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Rare Malts Brora 1977, 21 Years Old.
A lovely coastal malt. It’s a shame that its surviving brother Clynelish is more muted. |
Gordon & MacPhail Aberfeldy 1978.
Delicate but not bland. Real subtlety. Very mature, but not a hint of wood. A Highlander, but blindfold I would have placed it as a Speysider. |
Rare Malts Glen Mhor 1979, 22 Years Old.
A rare delight. |
Signatory Glenlossie 1980.
Delicate, appetising and refreshing, but falls away in the middle. |
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Gordon & MacPhail Caol Ila 1981.
A beautifully balanced, rounded, example of this distinctive malt. |
Celtique Connexion Caol Ila 1982.
A confusion of flavours that don’t seem to have rounded in the cask |
Signatory Millburn 1983.
Confusing aroma, but otherwise the most enjoyable Millburn I have tasted. |
Cragganmore 1984 Distillers Edition, Ruby Port Finish, 12 Years Old.
Connoisseurs might miss the austerity of the original-or enjoy the added layer of fruity, winey, sweetness. |
Gordon & MacPhail Ardmore 1985.
I have always thought of Ardmore as having a rather bluff character, but on this occasion I found it both welcoming and comforting. |
Talisker 1986, The Distiller's Edition.
Not for Talisker purists, but a highly distinctive interplay of whisky and sherry. |
Glen Deveron 1987, 10 Years Old.
Slightly less richness and wood-extract than in the 12, with which I am more familiar. |
Gordon & MacPhail Scapa 1988.
I am not sure about that sulphur. Is it from the cask, or is it seaweedy? I usually like seaweed, but am not convinced by this bottling. |
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Gordon & MacPhail Bunnahabhain 1989.
A breakfast whisky for the truly decadent. |
Evan Williams 1990, Single Barrel.
Very different in style. Liqueur-ish. |
Yamazaki 1991 Bourbon Cask.
An interesting interplay of flavours. Comes to rather an abrupt halt. |
Springbank 1992, 7 Years Old, Da Mhile Organic.
Lively and refreshing, but the flavours have not combined and fleshed out as probably they will in another six or seven years. |
Knappogue Castle 1993.
The vinho verde colour suggests a very light whiskey, and this certainly is, in both body and flavour. This bottling seems markedly thinner than the last vintage I tasted. |
Evan Williams Single Barrel Bourbon, 1994.
Another great vintage from Heaven Hill. |
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Isle of Arran First 1995, Limited Edition.
The early releases were promising, and this one has matured well. |
Blackadder Arran 1996 Raw Cask.
Slightly gin-like. I have preferred bottlings that had more contribution from the wood. A touch of vanilla would round out the flavours. |
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Balblair 1997 Vintage.
A stunner. |
Celtique Connexion Islay single Malt Spirit Safe and Cask , 8 Years Old.
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The Whisky Exchange Isle of Jura 1999, 5 Years Old.
Why wasn't this done years ago? More please. Captivating. |
Glengoyne 2000 AD.
Delicious example of maltiness in a whisky. I always enjoy Glengoynes very much, but they invariably leave me wanting a little more. |
Craigellachie Hotel of Speyside Glenfarclas 2001 Single Cask Bottling.
In each corner, a fighter rather than a boxer. Not much refinement, but plenty of punch. |
Craigellachie Hotel Glenlivet 2002 Single Cask Bottling.
Very sherryish, but just enough of the Glenlivet's fruity-flowery character sings through. Beautifully judged. |
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The Macallan Easter Elchies Seasonal Cask Selection Summer 2007.
This is all about power, show and bravado and misses out on elegance depth and nuance. Some will love it. |
