As an alternative to present-day malts this summer evening was dedicated to old and almost antique miniatures.
The whole story: a friend of mine bought a set of Gordon&McPhail Connoiseurs Choice Brown Label old miniatures on some of EU auctions. Why not try them if we can? Yes we can!
As you might see the levels are quite low, so the scores would be very approximate. I guess that in large and properly sealed bottles these malts would taste in a different way, better or worse I don't know :)
As you might see the levels are quite low, so the scores would be very approximate. I guess that in large and properly sealed bottles these malts would taste in a different way, better or worse I don't know :)
I didn't manage to find WB links for every miniature, so I put the links for the large bottles instead. We have 10 old samples from 10 distilleries with 4 of them being closed at the moment. I already feel a breath of history on my face :)
Glen Albyn 1963 GM CС 40% (the link is for large bottle, distillery closed in 1983) - fruits and minerals in the nose, failure in taste, finish is more or less ok. Light and quite dry malt, which didn't impress us. Score = 81/100! A choice of 18 yo, 19 yo and 23 yo Glen Albyn 1963 on WB.
North Port 1970 GM CC 40% (the link is for large bottle, distillery closed in 1983) - wood (not peat) smoke in the nose, the palate is mineral and dry with notes of burnt rubber, finish is quite long. Score = 86/100!
Dalwhinnie 1963 GM CC 40% (the link is for large bottle, distillery is active) - ethereal and herbal notes in the nose, the palate is waxy and sweet. Medium-long finish. Score = 84/100!
North Port 1970 GM CC 40% (the link is for large bottle, distillery closed in 1983) - wood (not peat) smoke in the nose, the palate is mineral and dry with notes of burnt rubber, finish is quite long. Score = 86/100!
Dalwhinnie 1963 GM CC 40% (the link is for large bottle, distillery is active) - ethereal and herbal notes in the nose, the palate is waxy and sweet. Medium-long finish. Score = 84/100!
Mosstowie 1970 GM CC 40% (the link is for large bottle) - was produced on Lomond stills of Miltonduff distillery since 1964, in 1981 the stills were replaced for usual ones. Green apple and caramel in the nose, dried fruits (namely apricots) in taste, finish is short. Score = 80/100!
Imperial 1970 GM CC 40% (the link is for large bottle, distillery closed in 1983) - mineral oil and machinery notes in the nose, the taste is peaty, dense and strong (just at 40% strength!). Score = 85/100!
Convalmore 1969 GM CC 40% (distillery closed in 1985) - lots of nuts and honey in the nose, the taste starts with attaque bringing tea and vanilla notes, the finish is medium-long on oak and vanilla. Score = 85/100!
Edradour 1972 GM CC 40% (distillery is active) - fresh nuts in the nose, the taste is on perfumes and caramel. Not too convincing, score = 82/100. This Edradour 1972 GM 12 yo large bottle is closer in the tasting notes to what I felt.
Aberfeldy 1969 GM CC 40% (the link is for large bottle, distillery is active) - nice honey and citrus in the nose, light moldy notes as well. The body is light, finish is medium-long. Score = 83/100. A choice of 15 yo, 16 yo and 17 yo Aberfeldy 1969 large bottles on WB.
Dailuaine 1971 GM CC 40% (distillery is active) - sugar, fruits and honey in the nose. Finish is tad oaky. Score = 82/100.
Benrinnes 1968 GM CC 40% (the link is for large bottle, distillery is active) - sweet sherry and some soapy notes in the nose. Thick and spicy on palate. Touch of oak in taste and finish. Quite to my liking. Score = 85/100! A choice of 11 yo, 12 yo, 13 yo, 14 yo and 17 yo large bottles on WB.
Conclusion: I can't say these whiskies were excellent. Strength of 40% and long storage in a miniature did their job. Nevertheless it was interesting and quite unique experience in terms of tasting older styles of these malts. 4 malts could be stressed out today: North Port 1970, Imperial 1970, Convalmore 1969 and Benrinnes 1968.
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