It’s been a while since I’ve reviewed an old Scotch blend, by which I mean, a blend released a long time ago. The last one I reviewed was a White Horse released in the 1950s. Today I have for you another White Horse, albeit one released in the 1970s. Unlike the 1950s release, this review is not of a pour from my own bottle but of a sample I’ve had sitting in my stash for a few years now. I have an unexpected feeling of nostalgia about this whisky, however. This because in the late 1970s, when my family lived in Iraq, White Horse was one of a few Scotch whiskies that my father had in his bar. A bottle of White Horse or Black and White from this era was probably my first encounter with the aroma of Scotch whisky—and, of course, we repurposed the empty bottles to store drinking water in the fridge! I certainly didn’t taste any of it then but it feels a bit like a time machine trip to be drinking it now. Let’s hope the actual whisky doesn’t now disappoint! On that note, let’s get right to it.

White Horse, 1970s Release (43%; from a bottle split)

Nose: Old bottle notes (metallic, glassy, papery) along with palpable smoke and mineral peat and some orange soda. Quite reminiscent of my 1950s bottle, actually. With time the citrus begins to trump the peat and the metallic/glassy notes. A drop of water brings out a bit of cream.

Palate: Comes in with the peat in the lead (carbon paper); not much sign of the citrus here. Decent bite and texture at 43%. After a few sips the orange emerges here as well even as it picks up more bitter char. With time the citrus gets a little sweeter and is in better balance with the peat. Water pushes the peat back a bit and brings out creamy sweetness here as well.

Finish: Medium-long. The peat gets more pronounced (and ashy) as it goes. Develops as on the palate with air and water.

Comments: This is very close to the 1950s release in every way. My father was drinking good whisky in the late ’70s. Though, of course, it’s impossible to know how much the profile has altered after more than four decades in glass. At any rate, I rather liked this and am very pleased to discover that at some point I acquired another 2 ounces of it from a different source!

Rating: 87 points.