Review by: The Muskox

Here’s dram number two from my recently-received pack of extremely old whiskies.

1955?? This is by far the oldest-vintage single malt I’ve ever tried. And it’s well-aged. Which distillery is it? Who knows. One guy on Whiskybase says the dude pouring this at the Whiskybase Festival told him it was probably Glenfarclas. I’m out of my element here, so… sure.

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Distillery: Unknown.

Bottler: Douglas Agency (whoever the hell they are).

Region: Unknown.

ABV: 40%.

Age: 25 years. Distilled in 1955.

Cask type: Presumably first-fill sherry.

Price: I paid £9.50 for this sample.

Color: 1.9, Brown Sherry. Natural Color(?), chill-filtered.

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Nose: Big sherry! Also savoury, medicinal, shifting. Wine gums, cherry bombs, grape jelly, plum sauce, loads of toffee, and melted Toblerone. Pencil erasers and fresh leather. Celery, fresh horseradish, Benedictine, black licorice. Slight soot and pond scum. With some time, here comes the stonefruit. Plums (red on the inside), cherry galette, raisins, suddenly loads of cinnamon and some nutmeg. Chili powder. Then loads of floral honey – baklava! A little sage. Wait, now some lapsang souchong tea.

Palate: Medium-thin texture. Arrives sweet and slightly thin, with bramble jams, dried apricots, sauteed fennel, and old wood. A hint of parrafin, too. On the development comes musty oaken dressers, prunes, wine gums, black licorice, hot cocoa, and chalk. Slight rooty bitterness, black coffee. I’m tasting the OBE (old-bottle effect) on this one for sure.  

Finish: Medium-long, light-textured, slightly tannic. The volume turns all the way down, then somehow builds back up. At first there’s just cherry, then comes big honey and the spice returning. Candied orange and spruce twigs. Just a little of that soot note lingers, as well as a hint of honeyed malt.

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Possible SMWS bottling name: “Chimney sweep vitality cordial”

Conclusion: What a gem – huge complex old sherry, with no sulfur whatsoever!! That alone is something out of a dream, or perhaps a pulpy steampunk novella. Not the best texture or finish, but man, that nose makes up the difference and then some. Amazing complexity and depth. The slight bitterness on the palate keeps this from hitting a 90, but man, what a find.

Final Score: 89.

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Scoring Legend:

• 95-100: As good as it gets. Jaw-dropping, eye-widening, unforgettable whisky.
• 90-94: Sublime, a personal favorite in its category.
• 85-89: Excellent, a standout dram.
• 80-84: Quite good. Quality stuff.
• 75-79: Decent whisky worth tasting.
• 70-74: Meh. It’s definitely drinkable, but it can do better.
• 60-69: Not so good. I might not turn down a glass if I needed a drink.
• 50-59: Save it for mixing.
• 0-49: Blech.