Spirit of North Scotland 48yo 1973

Spirit of North Scotland 48yo 1973

Bartels Whisky
Single grain - Lowlands
Amber brown
25% ABV
Dram

Nose: Vanilla, caramel, burnt sugar, oak chips, malted grains, ice cream soda, hints of white pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, mouth coating, static, cool. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Caramel, coconut cream, oak chips, burnt sugar, pear drops, magic marker, orange peel. 
Finish: Short. White pepper, vanilla, pear drops, ice cream soda, hints of oak chips. 

Comments: 

Quite woody, but in this case the low strength works in its favour. It’s not whisky of course, just spirit drink, but it’s taken on quite a lot of the wood flavours. Very interesting indeed.

Verdict:

I like this.

North of Scotland 46yo Batch 1

North of Scotland 46yo Batch 1

That Boutique-y Whisky Company, Master of Malt
Single grain - Lowlands
Amber gold
41% ABV
Dram

Nose: White pepper, oak chips, croissants, sawdust, ink, vanilla, pear drops, white pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, mouth coating, slightly astringent. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Vanilla, sawdust, ink, pear drops, lemon zest, croissants, hints of magic marker. 
Finish: Long. White pepper, magic marker, sandalwood, lemon zest, oak chips. 

Comments: 

A very old grain, probably over oaked. It’s definitely quite woody, but there’s also a layer of buttery vanilla. Also some paper ones to go along with the oak.

Verdict:

I like this.

North of Scotland 49yo 1962/2021

North of Scotland 49yo 1962/2021

15 Years, The Nectar
Single grain - Lowlands
Golden brown
40.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Toffee, malted grains, magic marker, vanilla, wheat beer, brown paper, hints of cinnamon. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens, cool, airy. 
Tasting:  Salty sweet. Malted grains, vanilla, white grapes, pear drops, wheat beer, sea salt, coconut cream. 
Finish: Medium. Coconut cream, wheat beer, vanilla, magic marker. 

Comments: 

Quite the flavour explosion in the mouth. There’s some barley in this, if I’m any judge, but the grain whisky flavours of wheat, vanilla and coconut are intense and quite forward. Last chance to taste whisky from this long gone distillery.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

North of Scotland 47yo 1972/2020

North of Scotland 47yo 1972/2020

Stillwater Whisky Co
Single grain - Lowlands
Dark brown
41.1% ABV
Bottle

Nose: Toffee, caramel, vanilla, wet stones, cloves, nutmeg, honeydew melons, black tea. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, turns airy, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Oats, popcorn, wet stones, black tea, toffee, nutmeg, caramel, oolong tea. 
Finish: Long. Oolong tea, nutmeg, popcorn, caramel, wet stones. 

Comments: 

Long, sweet and flinty. Its well aged and very old of course, but as grains often do, the whisky has developed a huge amount of complexity. Lots of cereal and spice compete with feinty, minerally notes. Lovely.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

North of Scotland 50yo

North of Scotland 50yo

Official bottling
Single grain - Lowlands
Golden brown
40.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Black tea, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, orange peel, hints of dark chocolate. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, oily, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Red grapes, black tea, raisins, caramel, prunes, vanilla, nutmeg. 
Finish: Long. Caramel, dark chocolate, red grapes, nutmeg, vanilla, black tea, cherry. 

Comments: 

A closed distillery that is new to my experience. It may well be my only chance to taste this - it's spicy and loaded with dark fruits, and a little bit of tannin. As with other aged grains, the spicy sharpness is gone, toned down into gentle nutmeg and prunes, like an aged armagnac. Really enjoyable, and rather drinkable at this low strength.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.