Convalmore 30yo 1962/1993

Convalmore 30yo 1962/1993

Authentic Collection, WM Cadenheads
Single malt - Speyside
Amber
46.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Pencil lead, blackcurrant cordial, cherries, honey, malted grains, hay, vanilla, nutmeg. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, tingly, astringent. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Malted grains, vanilla, pencil lead, wet stones, honey, leather, brown sugar, hints of cherries, hints of dark chocolate. 
Finish: Long. Malted grains, honey, leather, brown sugar, cherries. 

Comments: 

Sweet and luscious, rich malty sugary notes. There’s Black Forest cake (cherries and dark chocolate) in this, if I’m any judge. Alongside there’s also some minerality and leather. A very good dram indeed.

Verdict:

I like this.

Convalmore 45yo 1975/2020

Convalmore 45yo 1975/2020

Private Collection, Gordon & Macphail
Single malt - Speyside 
Dark gold 
47.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Malted grains, lemon zest, winter melon, nectarines, mint, apricot jam, hints of camphor, hints of cream. 

Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, warm, mouth coating.
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Apricot jam, honey, fresh baked bread, pears, celery salt, white pepper, malted grains, hints of cream. 
Finish: Long. Malted grains, apricot jam, nectarines, celery salt, honey. 

Comments: 

Citrusy, malty and with plenty of stone fruit, it’s a real treat to taste this practically ancient whisky. It’s not overoaked though, lots of bright spice and some old bottle effect come through, even if it’s rather young in the bottle to have developed it.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Convalmore 24yo 1978/2003 Rare Malts

Convalmore 24yo 1978/2003 Rare Malts

Official bottling 
Single malt - Speyside
Green gold
59.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon zest, camphor, fresh baked bread, honey, nectarines, cotton sheets, ink. With water, ink, honey, pears, nectarines. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, tingly, hot, syrupy. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Cocoa nibs, lohan fruit, fresh baked bread, camphor, nectarines, blackberry jam, malted grains. With water, lohan fruit, pears, nectarines, malted grains. 
Finish: Long. Honey, nectarines, camphor, clay dust, ink. 

Comments: 

I’ve been chasing this one for a long time. One of the very best Convalmores I’ve ever had. It’s minerally and fruity, with layers of flavour that open up wonderfully with a little water. But it doesn’t take that much water, just a drop or two. .

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Convalmore 13yo 1969

Convalmore 13yo 1969

Connoisseur’s Choice, Gordon & Macphail

Single malt - Speyside
Chinese tea
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cocoa nibs, honey, papayas, butterscotch, pineapples, raisins, hints of cloves. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, cool, tingly. 

Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Papayas, gooseberries, leather, butterscotch, white pepper, raisins, honey. 
Finish: Short. Butterscotch, cocoa nibs, coffee, raisins, papayas. 

Comments: 

Old and dusty, almost chalky. But it doesn’t taste of chalk, instead there’s plenty of tropical fruit, and a fragrant finish. A very good, very old, very rare dram.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Convalmore 39yo 1975/2015

Convalmore 39yo 1975/2015

Rare Old, Gordon & Macphail
Single malt - Speyside
Golden
48.6% ABV
Dram

Nose: Leather, papayas, honey, candied oranges, winter melons, green tea, cocoa nibs. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, tingly, loosens, expands. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Leather, papayas, candied oranges, coffee, mint, malted grains, green tea, hints of smoke. 
Finish: Long. Malted grains, honey, papayas, leather, hints of smoke. 

Comments: 

Cask RO/15/06. Speyside with a difference - lots of tropical fruit, followed by fragrant, bitter coffee and cool mint on the tongue. Long intense malty finish too. Utterly amazing dram.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Convalmore 30yo 1977/2007

Convalmore 30yo 1977/2007

Closed Distilleries, WM Cadenhead
Single malt - Speyside
Chinese tea
61.6% ABV
Dram

Nose: Nectarines, green papayas, fresh cut grass, white pepper, green tea, gooseberries, hints of peaches. With water, gooseberries, honey, vanilla, peaches. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens, warm, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Honey, nectarines, green tea, gooseberries, green papayas, lemon zest, damson jam, white pepper, hints of pear drops. With water, damson jam, nectarines, lemon zest, pear drops. 
Finish: Short. Gooseberries, lemon zest, nectarines, pear drops, hints of damson jam. 

Comments: 

Amazing, dry, yet fruity old Convalmore. It’s honeyed, but there’s a mouth puckeriness to it that reminds me of green papayas. With water it opens up, yielding this delicious jammy note. Magnificent.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Convalmore 16yo 1981/1998

Convalmore 16yo 1981/1998

Cooper’s Choice, Vintage Malt Whisky Co
Single malt - Speyside
Bright gold
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Papayas, mangoes, wet stones, peaches, white pepper, hints of camphor. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, oily, syrupy, warm. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Mangoes, peaches, camphor, sandalwood, cedar, green tea, ginseng, white pepper. 
Finish: Medium. Mangoes, peaches, wet stones, ginseng, hints of pencil lead. 

Comments: 

Oily, heavy woody Convalmore, different from the usual ones I’ve had. It’s still fruity though, and there’s that herbaceous edge. It’s different, but still very good.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Convalmore 36yo 1977/2013 (2013 Special Releases)

Convalmore 36yo 1977/2013 (2013 Special Releases)

Official bottling
Single malt - Speyside
Light amber 
58% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, malted grains, camphor, aluminium foil, mangoes, papayas, hints of passionfruit. With water, raisins, passionfruit, oatcakes. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, hot, volatile, airy. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Raisins, camphor, papayas, honey, mangoes, peaches, ginseng, hints of black tea. With water, malted grains, peaches, honey, black tea. 
Finish: Long. Black pepper, pencil lead, oatcakes, raisins, photocopy paper. 

Comments: 

Lots of tropical fruit, but also a tart floral note that I identify as passionfruit. Again that herbaceous bitter note underneath, but this time the finish is flinty and feinty rather that fruity and fragrant.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Convalmore 32yo 1984/2017 (2017 Special Releases)

Convalmore 32yo 1984/2017 (2017 Special Releases)

Official bottling 
Single malt - Speyside
Golden
48.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Mangoes, peaches, malted grains, honey, vanilla ice cream, white pepper, hints of camphor. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, turns syrupy, warm. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Vanilla ice cream, mangoes, peaches, camphor, ginseng, malted grains, cream, hints of condensed milk. 
Finish: Long. Honeydew melons, cream, peaches, malted grains, hints of camphor. 

Comments: 

More old Convalmore, lots of tropical fruit and a deep, intense, bitter and herbaceous note. A long fruity finish of melons and peaches, but overlaid on a big malty spine. Very good indeed .

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Convalmore 30yo 1975/2006

Convalmore 30yo 1975/2006

Dun Bheagan, Ian Macleod Distillers
Single malt - Speyside
Golden
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: White grapes, gooseberries, peaches, cream, photocopy paper, papayas, hints of celery salt. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, tingly, slightly astringent. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Leather, celery salt, papayas, black tea, malted grains, white grapes, peaches, hints of honey. 
Finish: Long. Papayas, peaches, white grapes, malted grains. 

Comments: 

Cask 3758. Again, lots of tropical fruit, but not the little smoky note that the sister cask (previous dram) had. It’s also a little more funky, more papaya than mango. Equally enjoyable as its sibling. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Convalmore 28yo 1975/2004

Convalmore 28yo 1975/2004

Dun Bheagan, Ian Macleod Distillers
Single malt - Speyside
Yellow gold
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Honey, mangoes, vanilla ice cream, leather, white grapes, peaches, molasses, hints of rhubarb and custard sweets. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, astringent, tingly, warm. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Mangoes, white grapes, leather, celery salt, malted grains, hints of rhubarb and custard sweets, hints of smoke. 
Finish: Long. Cream, malted grains, leather, white grapes. 

Comments: 

Cask 3757. Lots of sweet tropical fruit, allied to a little old bottle effect. There’s a tiny hint of smoke on the tongue, and maybe even on the finish. Excellent old Convalmore, although there aren’t many young ones knocking about anymore.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Convalmore 16yo 1981/1997

Convalmore 16yo 1981/1997

First Cask, The Malt Whisky Circle
Single malt - Speyside
Pale gold
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Papayas, starfruit, winter melon, mint, lemon zest, dried blueberries, strawberry laces, hints of leather. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, warm, expands, slippery. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Camphor, dried blueberries, starfruit, winter melon, fresh cut grass, vanilla, hints of leather. 
Finish: Medium. Camphor, winter melon, candle wax, fresh cut grass. 

Comments: 

Cask 89/604/122. It’s not quite the Convalmore I know, it’s got a lot of gentle subtle notes that blend softly into each other. There’s a herbal, slightly bitter backbone though, and that’s what keeps things interesting.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Convalmore 21yo 1977/1998

Convalmore 21yo 1977/1998

Authentic Collection, WM Cadenhead 
Single malt - Speyside 
Bright gold
64.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Clay dust, brown paper, orange peel, sandalwood, lemon sweets, white grapes, hints of cod liver oil. With water, honey, nectarines, sandalwood, lemon sweets. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, hot, astringent, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Nectarines, orange peel, white grapes, sandalwood, white pepper, menthol, hints of vanilla. With water, sandalwood, leather, peat, lemon sweets, nectarines. 
Finish: Long. Nectarines, orange peel, vanilla, white pepper, wintergreen. 

Comments: 

Convalmore has this lovely peach or nectarine note, but it’s always hedged about with feinty, peaty notes that make it so interesting. This one was intense, lots of fragrant sandalwood and even something meaty on the nose.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Convalmore 38yo 1982/2020

Convalmore 38yo 1982/2020

Prívate Collection, Gordon & Macphail
Single malt - Speyside 
Pale amber, hints of copper 
54.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: White grapes, black tea, raisins, camphor, dark chocolate, greengages, orange peel. With water, cream, magic marker, pear drops, greengages. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, hot, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Black tea, camphor, leather, raisins, honey, dark chocolate, orange peel, magic marker. With water, dark chocolate, leather, greengages, honey. 
Finish: Long. Magic marker, dark chocolate, white grapes, greengages. 

Comments: 

Old whisky but not the old bottle effect! Sweet and creamy, but with a slightly bitter undertone of camphor and black tea. A lovely pleasure to drink.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Convalmore 28yo 1977/2005 (2005 Special Releases)

Convalmore 28yo 1977/2005 (2005 Special Releases)

Official bottling 
Single malt - Speyside 
Pale amber
57.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Mint, leather, black tea, fresh cut grass, white grapes, black pepper, ginger, hints of vanilla. With water, leather, white grapes, mint. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, hot, tingly, astringent. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Black tea, jasmine, ginger, camphor, black pepper, raisins, orange peel, hints of white grapes. With water, greengages, white grapes, fresh cut grass, leather. 
Finish: Medium. Black tea, black pepper, ginger, white grapes, hints of leather. 

Comments: 

Sweet and herbal, very complex and fruity. It opens up a lot with water, but the layers are quite hard to discern dril each other. It takes time to enjoy this whisky.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Convalmore 26yo 1984/2010

Convalmore 26yo 1984/2010

Connoisseur’s Choice, Gordon & Macphail 
Single malt - Speyside 
Straw
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Fresh cut grass, lemon zest, honey, green tea, wildflowers. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, syrupy, expands, cool.  
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Lemon zest, honey, vanilla, pears, green tea, fresh cut grass, hints of lemon curd, hints of leather.
Finish: Long. Lemon zest, lemon curd, wildflowers, honey, hints of leather. 

Comments: 

Floral and gentle, with no discernible old bottle effect, this whisky is highly drinkable. Lots of flowers and lemon, perhaps a smidgen of vanilla. I would have said this was Imperial rather than Convalmore, there’s little to no peat on the tongue (maybe just a whisper on the finish). 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Convalmore 16yo 1981/1997

Convalmore 16yo 1981/1997

First Cask, The Malt Whisky Circle 
Single malt - Speyside 
Straw
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Autumn leaves, lemons, starfruit, leather, mint, vanilla, hints of kiwifruit. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, airy, slightly astringent. 
Tasting:  Sour bitter. Kiwifruit, lemon zest, vanilla, marshmallows, malted grains, leather, white grapes, hints of aluminium foil. 
Finish: Long. Lemons, marshmallows, white grapes, starfruit, malted grains. 

Comments: 

Cask 89/604/114. This has been an exercise in expectations management. I always have high expectations and excitement about Convalmore, as I do with almost every closed distillery that I try. I often have to remind myself that not all such juice is fantastic, and sometimes distilleries closed for a reason. This one is decent, tart and fragrant fruit fading to a bitter finish. But it was a smidgen of a let down. 

Verdict:

I like this.

Convalmore 36yo 1977/2013

Convalmore 36yo 1977/2013

Small Batch, WM Cadenhead
Single malt - Speyside
Amber
58.2% ABV
Half dram

Nose: Chocolate, honey, cloves, strawberry jam, pomegranate molasses,black tea, vanilla custard. With water, more strawberry jam, dried blueberries, prunes. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, tingly, astringent, warm. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Cloves, mangoes, honey, chocolate, black tea, pomegranate molasses, hints of chocolate. With water, vanilla, strawberry jam, black tea, lavender. 
Finish: Medium. Pomegranate molasses, chocolate, cloves, black tea, hints of lavender. 

Comments: 

Another old find, this one a luscious, sticky, Convalmore. Very high strength, needs more than a little water. Before water, it's floral and fruity, with heaps of spice. After water, it opens up, turning even more floral and slightly tannic. There's something jammy and floral about Convalmore, the tasting notes are remarkably consistent.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Convalmore 17yo 1981/1998

Convalmore 17yo 1981/1998

Connoisseur's Choice, Gordon & Macphail
Single malt - Speyside
Amber gold
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Tobacco leaf, leather, raisins, butterscotch, liquorice, pomegranate molasses. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, silky, oily, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Tobacco leaf, honey, raisins, pomegranate molasses, white grapes, hints of pineapples, hints of rhubarb and custard sweets. 
Finish: Medium. Ginseng, honey, tobacco leaf, pineapples. 

Comments: 

This delicious Convalmore has spent longer in the bottle than it did in the cask. It's was a real find, and I had the pleasure of the first dram from the bottle. It's slathered in old bottle effect, with the leather and tobacco overwhelming the fruity notes. Those are no longer bright and lively, but instead muted and 'cooked', jammy and unctuous. Lovely, lovely whisky.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Convalmore 40 yo 1975/2015

Convalmore 40 yo 1975/2015

Rare Old, Gordon & Macphail
Single malt - Speyside
Dark gold
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Rhubarb and custard sweets, white grapes, honey, lemon zest, pomegranate molasses. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, syrupy, tingly, sticky. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Honey, whipped cream, white grapes, yoghurt, lemon juice, hints of pomegranate molasses. 
Finish: Short. White grapes, toast, fresh baked bread, yoghurt, honey. 

Comments: 

Lot RO/15/06. What a wonderful find! It's rare that I get to taste a whisky older than I am, and I take the chance every time I can. This is only the second Convalmore I've ever had, and this is reminiscent of a good Rosebank. Lots of fruit, some milk and yoghurt notes, and sweet alluring pomegranate molasses. Excellent whisky.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.