Old single grain whisky week began on Monday with a 43 yo North of Scotland, distilled in 1973 and bottled by Gordon & Company. I quite liked that one. The series continued on Wednesday with another 43 yo distilled in 1973, this time an Invergordon bottled by the Whisky Agency. I didn’t like that one quite as much. Let’s end the week with a whisky distilled a year later in 1974 but three years younger than the others at 40 years of age. It’s also unlike the others in that it is an official release: not from the distillery per se but from Diageo who own the distillery and made this 40 yo part of their special release slate in 2015, calling it “The Cally”. It’s not, therefore, a single cask but a vatting of several bourbon hogsheads. I could be wrong but I think it might have been the first time a single grain whisky was part of the special release slate. If I am wrong about that, I trust someone will write in and let me know. If I remember to check later, I’ll look it up myself and amend if necessary. Anyway, let’s see what it’s like.
Caledonian 40, 1974 (53.3%; bourbon hogsheads; from a bottle split)
Nose: Polished oak, wood glue and brandied raisins (yes, I know it’s from bourbon casks). On the second sniff the raisins begin to move in the direction of apricot jam. The oak expands as it sits and there’s some sweet red fruit in there too now (cherry). Water brings out some cream but also sharpens the oak a bit.
Palate: In the general vicinity of the nose but with sweet citrus (orange) rather than the raisins or apricot. Good drinking strength and texture. Much sweeter with each sip, with more oak here as well (cherry, cinnamon), and really more and more bourbon-like. Okay, let’s see what water does for it. Alas, it amps up the oak here as well, pushing the fruit back.
Finish: Long. All about the oak here as well, getting a bit spicy as it goes. As on the palate with water.
Comments: Well, this certainly ended this week on a high note. I wouldn’t pay the price Diageo doubtless asked for this but it’s the best of the old single grains I’ve had to date for sure. I preferred it neat.
Rating: 87 points.