Tuesday 12 November 2013

Tasted #50: Master of Malt 50 year old (3rd edition) (#101drams)

Having just tried 80 years of whisky beforehand (40yo Master of Malt Speyside and 40yo 1969 The Glenrothes D/T Lonach), I figured why not continue with the age theme and try the 50yo I've had tempting me for the last month or so (plus making my 50th tasting post a 50year old whisky seemed fitting. Not sure it's a trend that can continue though...)

This also qualifies as the oldest whisky I've ever tried (to date).

Master of Malt 50yo (3rd Edition) (43% ABV, 50yo, Speyside Scotland, £34.77 for a dram)

Colour: Is this really 50yo!? Light golden, not "pale" like the 1969 The Glenrothes, but still very light for a whisky of this age.

Nose: When I think of long-aged whiskies, I think leather, oak, perhaps deep rich demarara sugar notes. On this? Pears - instantly. Stewed apples and some pineapple too. No oak, no leather. Reminded me of a Glen Moray Chardonnay 10yo!

Palate: Blind I'd pick this as a 12-15yo, based on both nose and palate. Light and vibrant, the pears shone through, with some slight oak notes showing at the back of the palate.

Finish: Medium to long, with those oak notes shining through a bit more. Smooth right to the end.

Rating (on my very non-scientific scale): 91/100. Certainly a good whisky, and to be honest - about as good as I expected, but I wasn't expecting this to be a knock-my-socks-off, standout whisky, because let's face it, if it was, <mystery distillery> probably would have kept it for themselves right?


Just 130 years of age in 110mL...

Cheers.
 - Martin.

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