1982 Adelphi Aultmore 35 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Drawn from an active American oak ex Sherry butt, Adelphi head taster, Charles Maclean summed this up as “The best Aultmore I have ever tasted”. No small statement given the number of whiskies this man samples in the course of a year. Aultmore has been producing since 1895. After a patchy history, the distillery was sold to Bacardi subsidiary, Dewars, who offered the first ever official bottling in 2004 - so Aultmore of this ilk is not common. The house style is typically light and fruity with most of the wood employed being American oak, though true to Adelphi's selection criteria, this one is an exception.

Notes from the bottlers... Deep amber/polished mahogany. Excellent beading. Note the extensive angels’ share! Smooth on the nose. Juicy fruit top note, backed by furniture polish and cedar wood cigar wrapper, with a trace of crystalline sugar and a hint of dark chocolate. Marzipan, walnuts and an elusive scent of Friar’s Balsam in the development. A drop of water adds bruised banana and sandalwood. A mild, rich and complex taste, with light sweetness (treacle sponge?), drying in the long finish. A drop of water adds texture and rounds off the taste. A slightly medicinal (Friar’s Balsam) aftertaste with just the slightest hint of lavender. 63.9% Alc./Vol.