Old Malt Cask Probably Speyside’s Finest 1966/2008 48,8%
A Momentary Lapse of Grapes
A long time after the first and the second whisky on Hors d’Age, it’s time to review a third malt thing. This single malt has been bottled by Douglas Laing under Old Malt Cask brand. “Probably Speyside’s Finest” means here that there is high probability that it could be a Glenfarclas. 42yo. Natural Color. Sherry butt. 48,8%.
Colour: Mahogany, red lights. Irregular heavy tears.
Nose: Wow. Unreal beginning with many shades at the same time. Full of herbal scents with tarragon and parsley, then immediately followed by dark tea-ish tones. Oxydated smells, kind of a mix of MMC3 and a vintage port. Cooked vegetables mix, green tomatoes, tabasco. Too many shades gathered in this glass. Precious wood notes melted with licorice and hints of leather cream. A little of roundness on tirasimu, toffee and salted-butter caramel. Delicate honey shades, hydromel. Pleasant bitterness on ristretto and red vermouth. Bourbon vanilla and very old Shyraz grapes wine scents (let’s say St Joseph).
Palate: Super-oily texture, dry aftertaste. Mamma mia. Where to begin? Coffee, toffee, chocolate. Sudden freshness on chopped basil and bay leaves. Delicious gaspacho aromas. Generous mouth length on tarragon and overripe mangos. Still a stunning tea-ish DNA. Absolute banger. Don’t know if I have to talk more about this 42yo Glenfarclas. Liquid licorice with hints of roasted sesame seeds and banana banhofee. Mentholated aftertaste.
Last Notes: Great spiced notes on black pepper, cinnamon and nutmeg powder. Still this oxydated DNA on the very old pineau notes and 40yo port. Strong ristretto scents. Again this funky fruitiness on overripe pineapple and mango. Hints of earthy old agricole rum scents in the background. In fact these notes are quite obvious, reminding me something like a 80’s Bally nose.
Back on the palate, you get another wave of dark tea notes, immediately followed by herbal aromas of cooked tarragon and roasted thyme (the one you find when you remove the chicken from the oven). Delicious dark chocolate aftertaste. Hints of smoked notes, like the one you feel in old peated whiskies with OBE. It ends on cherry eau-de-vie and chocolate/Laphroaig ice cream aromas (it does exist! )
A bit like L.A Woman album. Perfect beginning, perfect ending. Chaos, jazzy tones, multitple shades. One for eternity.
My very subjective note: 92/100
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