Price: $325
Purchased From: Copper & Oak
ABV: 48.3%
This is batch 10 of That Boutique-y Whisky Company’s Blended Scotch Whisky #1. A 40-year-old blend of malt and grain whiskies with a total of 277 bottles produced. It’s only by chance that I came across this bottling – I was visiting my favourite Perth store for whisky, Copper & Oak, to find a bottle for my best friend’s 40th. I wasn’t planning on coming away with a 40-year-old as a birthday present, but when I saw this on the shelf my decision was easy. It was made better by the fact there were 2 bottles left, so of course one for myself was a given.
Nose
Rancio right away, you can tell this has some age. Mushrooms, damp earth, old leather, pencil shavings. With some time in the glass the sweet notes start to come through – caramel, burnt butter, vanilla.
Taste
Really quite viscous, it has a wonderful mouthfeel. Sultanas, vanilla, lemon peel, liquorice – there’s a bit of rawness to it that you wouldn’t expect from a whisky this old, but it doesn’t take away from the experience. The finish is slightly drying and brings out the spiciness – nutmeg, cinnamon, rye bread. I found it didn’t need water.
Conclusion
I feel this is predominantly grain whisky, but you can also tell the malt is there. I’d also say there’s a fair bit of ex-Sherry cask influence happening but not overpowering, so likely a refill. A really good blend by TBWC and the oldest whisky I think I’ve ever had. For something that is over 4 decades old, I don’t think the value is too bad either.