 North British Directors' Cut 50yo  
North British Distillery - Gorgie, Edinburgh. |
Tastes & Smells
Oh my, this is seriously rich and gloriously musty, you can almost smell every one of the years its been in the barrel. The cask has had a massive, yet subtle influence, if that's possible - both taste and smell ooze class and quality, much like an old gent retired to a castle. There's some freshness, but it fits the mustiness as much as possible, . Every visit reveals something new and I've a feeling it would go on like this ad infinitum. There's a slight freshness in the mouth too, somewhat surprisingly, with strimmed grass and a summer meadow, whilst a wet wizard summons up a syrupy exploision before the musty wood takes control again.
Any good?
This isn't cheap but, oh boy, it's a serious example of everything grain whisky can be. It's kept its sweetness but so much of the cask has come through, creating an intensely rich mood dram - something to sick back with and savour. Any whisky at this age is likely to exhibit similar richness, but there's brilliant balance to this and it oozes maturity and quality. The original sweetness of the grain helps keep the cask in check and helps the taste match up to a truly wonderful nose.
Reminiscent of...
This was tasted in a church and it seems a fitting location - think of rickety pews, old hymn books and a learned theologian. However, where this would really be at home is in a private library, buried deep in a stone house, lit by candles. If you have chance to sample this and those locations aren't available (who owns their own library..?), this is a whisky for in front of a roaring fire or wrapped up in a duvet during a power cut.
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Tasted on: 04/08/12
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  50yo grain whiskies don't come around often - and this one's a belter. |
In summary:
Serious whisky, beautifully aged and likely to be one of the best grain whiskies out there. If you have 350 spare and want a wonderfuly-aged grain, this could be for you. If not, it's hard to justify the price even if it compares well to a malt of the same age.. but you won't find this quality for much less.