New Whiskies

Batch 184

by
Macallan 72 Lalique, GlenDronach Grandeur Batch 10, Macallan 29 from Master of Malt, three Gordon & MacPhail bottlings: Glen Grant 1948, Glenlivet 1954 and Caol Ila 1968

There’s 316 years of whisky on show this week (and approximately £86,500 worth of it, so you’d best get saving) and a rare – maybe a one-off – chance to try a selection of venerable drams. Though ranging from a relatively young 27-year-old to a mighty 72, each from very different distilleries and cask types, there is a shared quality: slowness.

‘These aren’t whiskies to be rushed,’ says Dave Broom. ‘Not because you’re conscious of the meter running with every sip taken, but because they evolve slowly in terms of aroma and palate. At their best, they put you in a different place: thinking of when they were made, who made them and how air, wood, and spirit have warped them in fascinating ways over time. They are twisty and oblique, not straightforward. Breaking with convention, I’ve given prices as it’s instructive in cases like these.’

First up is a 50-year-old Caol Ila from Gordon & MacPhail (G&M) said to be the oldest bottled to date. Even after half a century, smoke is present alongside distinctive Caol Ila juniper. A must-try.

The 10th expression in GlenDronach’s limited edition Grandeur range, the youngest in today’s line-up is also the most cask-forward, as the 27-year-old upstart is dominated by sweet, dark fruits.

Back to G&M for a 70-year-old Glen Grant, another ‘oldest’ bottling. At this advanced age, it still packs a punch with an expansive, mouth-filling texture and glorious burst of waxy fruits on the finish.

Another G&M, this time a Glenlivet distilled in 1954, is an oily dram in the era’s classic style, with bakery notes (‘woodsmoke, hot pastry, apple turnover’) and a sense of fragility. A whisper of water adds more, but tread carefully.

A 29-year-old Macallan from Master of Malt, distilled in 1989, offers a considerably more expressive palate when compared to its rather demure nose, so don’t be fooled. It’s soft and pillowy, adding a meatiness with another splash of water.

Last but not least is the 72-year-old Macallan, resplendent in its Lalique decanter. With a ‘well mannered restraint’ on the nose and an interplay between acidity and woody notes on the palate, the price and age is discussed in more detail this week in the From The Editors section – however, it doesn’t quite manage to knock the Caol Ila from today’s top spot.

This week’s soundtrack is suitably slow and ambient, from languid electronica to delicate piano pieces.

Scoring Explained

Overview

  • Caol Ila 50 Years Old, 1968, Private Collection (Gordon & MacPhail)

    Score

    93

    Caol Ila 50 Years Old, 1968, Private Collection (Gordon & MacPhail)
    Price band
    £ £ £ £ £
    ABV
    52.5%
    Production type
    Single malt whisky
    Region
    Islay
    Flavour camp
    Smoky & Peaty
    Nose

    What’s amazing is that even after half a century, smoke is still present. It starts with hints of drying creels, fish oil and wax crayons, quickly followed by lightly meaty notes which bring to mind chorizo. It stealthily becomes more aromatic – sorrel and wild garlic, cut flowers, gorse, lemon(grass). It may sound heavy, but all of these are balanced and subtly layered. It murmurs rather than shouts. In time, there are more marine elements: kelp, dashi. It grows and becomes ever more complex in the glass.

    Palate

    The initial sensation is of oil and saltiness, with added violet, brine, green cardamom, and the juniper note you sometimes get in Caol Ila. The mid-palate is all ginger and smoke, then some red fruit and hot-smoked salmon before it relaxes into a satisfying fattiness (goose fat).

    Finish

    Smoked fish, fruit, great length.

    Conclusion

    Sublimely elegant and subtle. A rare treat that’s a must try. It’s £7,500 for a decanter (of which there are 199).

    Right place, right time

    Falling under the spell of the Dark Eyed Sister who may be a selkie.

    Available to buy from The Whisky Exchange. It may also be stocked by these other retailers.

    Glendronach Grandeur 27 Years Old, Batch 10

    Score

    90

    Glendronach Grandeur 27 Years Old, Batch 10
    Price band
    £ £ £ £ £
    ABV
    50.1%
    Production type
    Single malt whisky
    Region
    Highland
    Flavour camp
    Rich & Round
    Nose

    Rich, sweet and layered, starting off with a mix of dubbin and dunnage warehouse along with fig jam and pomegranate molasses. In time, a balsamic/Sherry vinegar note comes in alongside a citric tang, then cider press, before sweet black fruits (cooked damson, black cherry) emerge, balancing nicely with that tangy bitterness. In time (and with water), more chocolate (biscuits) raspberry, vanilla, and fruitcake.

    Palate

    The sweet, dark fruits (think bramble jelly and raisin) are in charge here. Then things take an earthier turn with some chestnut, liquorice and just sufficient chewy tannins to balance. Water further ripens the fruit – and stirs in some brighter red fruit elements before finally shifting to aromatic bitters.

    Finish

    Sweet and concentrated. Sultana and treacle.

    Conclusion

    Though the youngest (!) on show, this is the only cask-forward whisky, but ‘Dronach has the weight and grunt to cope with a mix of oloroso and PX. Mature and complex. There’s 2,293 bottles and it will set you back £485.

    Right place, right time

    Padding in bare feet on the Earth Floor.

    Glen Grant 70 Years Old, 1948, Private Collection (Gordon & MacPhail)

    Score

    92

    Glen Grant 70 Years Old, 1948, Private Collection (Gordon & MacPhail)
    Price band
    £ £ £ £ £
    ABV
    48.6%
    Production type
    Single malt whisky
    Region
    Speyside
    Flavour camp
    Smoky & Peaty
    Nose

    There’s a surprising (or not when you consider that coal was on ration) smoky start: coal sacks and woodsmoke which, while never disappearing totally, recedes sufficiently far to allow medlar, baked quince and Russet apple to take things into a lighter frame. In time, a heady floral element begins to develop – like a bluebell wood after rain. The rancio comes though relatively late on, adding a thick blurred quality before smoke rises once again and things start to dry. A droplet of water brings out perfumed waxiness, citrus peels, pot pourri, sunlight in an old country house hotel and soft fruits.

    Palate

    Once again, it’s coal smoke which greets you. Expansive and mouth-filling, beautifully layered and with surprising power for its age. The fruits settle down, softening and reducing into their essential oils, and while it does eventually start to dry it’s not before a late burst of green vegetal freshness: wet bracken on a footpath. Water brings out more wood ash.

    Finish

    Gentle and soft with a glorious burst of waxy fruits ending with mint. In some ways it’s only revealed fully in the throat.

    Conclusion

    As with all of these, the flavours develop slowly. It’s like an old person gently telling you their life story. Remarkable. There’s 210 decanters at £17,500 each.

    Right place, right time

    Contemplating The Beauty of Decay.

    Available to buy from The Whisky Exchange. It may also be stocked by these other retailers.

    Glenlivet 64 Years Old, 1954, Private Collection (Gordon & MacPhail)

    Score

    84

    Glenlivet 64 Years Old, 1954, Private Collection (Gordon & MacPhail)
    Price band
    £ £ £ £ £
    ABV
    41%
    Production type
    Single malt whisky
    Region
    Speyside
    Flavour camp
    Fruity & Spicy
    Nose

    Here we have a much oilier style of Glenlivet which is typical of the era and long-term maturation. There’s a powerful hit of tinned pineapple to start with, alongside a little touch of wood smoke, hot pastry, apple turnover and lipstick. Slowly, some cut flowers develop alongside the hazy smoke and steadily some fruity rancio comes through. With a scant drop of water you can pick out brioche, (tinned) mandarin, lime and rhubarb. It is delicate though – a sensation caught on the breeze.

    Palate

    The lacy texture amplifies this sense of fragility. The fruits are very subtle, more like syrups, clinging lightly to the tongue, while the alcohol, even at 41%, seems a touch hot. The wood comes in late on. The effect is of things starting to fragment…

    Finish

    …but then it coheres for one last time, adding a touch of darker fruits, Demerara sugar, along with a whisper of smoke.

    Conclusion

    Ca’ canny (as we say up North) and treat with respect. There’s 22 decanters costing £9.950.

    Right place, right time

    Memories Echo, Dissolve.

    Available to buy from The Whisky Exchange. It may also be stocked by these other retailers.

    Macallan 29 Years Old, 1989 (Master of Malt)

    Score

    86

    Macallan 29 Years Old, 1989 (Master of Malt)
    Price band
    £ £ £ £ £
    ABV
    55.6%
    Production type
    Single malt whisky
    Region
    Speyside
    Flavour camp
    Fruity & Spicy
    Nose

    Quite discreet, with the light oiliness you’d expect from a) Macallan and b) a whisky at this age. There’s some light oak, some cassia spice and, in time, sunbaked earth and hay. Dried lemon peel then begins to lift off along with a whiff of lavender. Water is a good idea. Things then go slightly yeasty (sourdough starter) alongside some roasted cereal, soft fruit, then a hint of wax candles.

    Palate

    Considerably more expressive with sweet fruits, custard creams (the queen of the biscuit world) then baked apple, light oak and, in the centre, a dry, cereal-accented bite before typical Macallan savouriness begins to develop. It’s soft and pillowy. A decent splash of water brings out crisp orchard fruits, citrus, poached pear, then miso and a slight meaty element.

    Finish

    Spicy and peppery without water, gently sweet and fruity with.

    Conclusion

    If the nose plays hard to get, the palate quickly makes up for it. Selling fast at a gnat’s whisker under £1,000.

    Right place, right time

    You keep returning for More.

    Available to buy from Master of Malt. It may also be stocked by these other retailers.

    Macallan 72 Years Old

    Score

    90

    Macallan 72 Years Old
    Price band
    £ £ £ £ £
    ABV
    42%
    Production type
    Single malt whisky
    Region
    Speyside
    Flavour camp
    Fruity & Spicy
    Nose

    Initially, there’s pleasing, slightly funky Sherry cask notes along with some background wood smoke, bitter orange peel, lemon verbena and a mix of sandalwood, anise and a tiny savoury edge. There’s glimpses of tropical fruit flitting around, giving it a hedonistic touch – though it never quite loses its well-mannered restraint. The scented qualities increase in time alongside a more overt waxiness but there’s also a sense of a slight fragility – which is only to be expected. In time, the smoke comes through alongside dusty charred oak.

    Palate

    There are similarities here with a fine-boned, rancio-influenced Cognac before the scented wood smoke (incense) begins to gently develop. There’s a sense of layers being pulled away. Texturally the oiliness/waxiness is in control. That said, there’s still a remarkable acidity at work here giving a brightness and a sense of penetration. Just as you concentrate on one element, it switches direction. Things begin to deepen slightly as the wood creeps forward, adding a further dimension of aroma and perfume. It then starts to fade, a final puff from the logs on the fire before the lights are turned off and you head to bed…

    Finish

    …only to be woken by a late flaring of spices inside a sandalwood box.

    Conclusion

    There’s about 1,000 words of thoughts on this over in the From The Editors pages if you care to dip in. The key here is long, slow maturation. A glimpse into a forgotten world. There’s 600 decanters drawn from the three casks used. Each is US$60,000.

    Right place, right time

    Sip, encourage the Mind-Drift.

This article contains affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if a reader clicks through and makes a purchase. All our journalism is independent and is in no way influenced by any advertiser or commercial initiative.
Scroll To Top