Tag Archive for: Old and Rare

Whisky Reviews #38 – Fettercairn 875 (1970s) – For Italian Market

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Fettercairn distillery is situated under the Grampian foothills in the Howe of Mearns. It shares the same name as the town that it is located. The distillery was founded in 1824 by Alexander Ramsay, the owner of the Fasque estate. He was forced to sell the distillery in 1829 to the Gladstone family after losing his fortune. In 1973, Whyte & Mackay acquired the distillery and it remains with the company till today.

Fettercairn 875 is a 1970s bottle produced for the Italian market. It was matured in a bourbon cask. The 875 on the label simply means it is 8 years old and of 75 proof. It is almost impossible to get this bottle anywhere now; maybe except in auctions where a price war should be expected.

Tasting Notes:

Colour: Pale Straw
ABV: 43%

Nose: Sweet sherry with milk chocolate and vanilla cream. A slight vintage feel in the nose, likely due to the age of the whisky. (17/20)

Palate: Power-on vanilla cream with sweet sherry rush into the palate. The sweetness of the sherry makes it feel as if you are having a vanilla ice cream or a full cream vanilla cake. (19/20)

Body: Wonderfully balanced whisky. All rounded in both nose, taste and finish. (36/40)

Finish: Long finish with vanilla cream lingering long after your last swallow. (18/20)

Total Grade: 90/100

 

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    Whisky Review #36 – Dufftown-Glenlivet 12 Years Old

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    Dufftown Distillery is founded in 1895 as “Dufftown-Glenlivet Distillery”. It is currently owned by Diageo. This Speyside whisky is part of the component in Arthur Bell & Sons Ltd’s blended whisky. Dufftown distillery markets its single malt as Singleton of Dufftown.

    This particular expression of Dufftown-Glenlivet is matured in an Oloroso sherry butt. It is likely distilled in the 1970s and bottled in the 1980s. It is one of those bottles which saw the expansion of the distillery from four stills to eight stills.

    Tasting Notes:

    Colour: Amber
    ABV: 43%

    Nose: Fresh blackcurrant (something like Ribena), dried fruits and definite sherry influence with hints of vanilla and toffee. (17/20)

    Palate: Perfect balance of sweet and spicy. Sweet tropical fruits with vanilla essence coupled with juicy wood spice and beeswax. (18/20)

    Body: Love it! Good balance of sweet berries with wood spice makes this a really pleasant drink. (34/40)

    Finish: Medium to long finish. Tangy orange zest with fresh gentle wood spices lingers. (17/20)

    Total Grade: 86/100

     

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      Whisky Review #35 – Allt-A-Bhainne 1991 Gordon & MacPhail

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      Allt-A-Bhainne is founded as a workhorse to supply whisky for blending houses. In 1975, Chivas Brothers commissioned the distillery to supply malt whisky as a component of the Chivas Regal brand. Allt-A-Bhainne makes light estery malt for blending houses regularly but produces a heavily-peated variant occasionally. Single malt variants are rare and few in between.

      This particular expression of Allt-A-Bhainne was released as a single cask bottling by Gordon and MacPhail (G&M) during a brief closure of the distillery. Labelled as part of G&M Connoisseurs Choice, this expression is a rare single malt whisky from the Allt-A-Bhainne distillery.

      Tasting Notes:

      Colour: Pale Straw
      ABV: 43%

      Nose: Nature nose of grass, slightly flinty. Vanilla comes on strong in a short while with some citrus zest. Hints of smoke and nutmeg follow, making the nose spirity. (16/20)

      Palate: Creamy vanilla ice-cream with citrus fruits combine with grass. Some nutmeg comes in to add some complexity to the palate. (17/20)

      Body: Simple yet flawless as an easy drink. Not complex but refreshing and clean on the palate. Ideal as an aperitif or as a long drink. (33/40)

      Finish: Medium to long finish with caramel and some sea salt. (17/20)

      Total Grade: 83/100 

       

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        Whisky Review #34 – Royal Brackla 12 Years Old

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        Royal Brackla Distillery has a long history that dealt with Kings and Queens. It started with the Highland whisky winning the heart of King William IV of the United Kingdom. Captain William Frasers of Brackla House founded Brackla Distillery on the estate of the Cawdor Castle in 1812. After King William IV chose the Brackla whisky as his whisky for the Royal Court, the distillery was granted a Royal Warrant. This precious warrant allowed the distillery to wear the word “Royal” in its name, making it one of the three distilleries ever honoured with such a title.

        This particular Royal Brackla expression is bottled specially for John Bisset & Co. and made available only in the Italian market.

        Tasting Notes:

        Colour: White Wine
        ABV: 43%

        Nose: Freshly cut grass with aromas of wild flowers and spicy toffee opens the nose. A little peat comes through as you nose it longer. (18/20)

        Palate: Sweet toffee comes through with the first sip, with bbq meat sauce becoming more evident as you savoured it. Slight smoke but yet grassy and mellow on the palate. (17/20)

        Body: Well balanced with a good mix of smoke and grass. A pleasant old style malt. (35/40)

        Finish: Short finish. Pleasant toffee sweetness lingers just a while. (17/20)

        Total Grade: 87 /100 

         

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