Dramming Perth in Perth!

We gathered again at Exel Wines in Perth (good pals of ours) on Thursday for another tasting sesh of good drams. Peter Mackay was our host, from MORRISON & MACKAY. Independent Scotch Whisky Merchants and Producers, based in the heart of Perthshire, family owned and managed. So what was on the menu? We started with the Bruadar whisky liqueur, to be honest, didnee like it, am no a big fan of liqueurs, so I moved on quickly to … Old Perth 4^th release. Chill filtered at 43%, have tried earlier batches and I can say hand on heart, this is the best so far, some of the make up of this blend have obviously aged since batches 1 – 3.  A good starter whisky for the beginner, based on the old Peter Thompson blend, its main core is Aultmore, Blair Atholl and Ailsa Bay, so cannee be bad!  This is their own blend and proving to be a good seller.

Moving on, next up was another Old Perth – my favourite from this family – the Sherry cask. Again 43%, 3 malts are hidden in this blend, nae grain. Glentauchers, Glenfarclas and Ailsa Bay, as the label shows, 3 different barrels, my own thoughts were; a younger brother to GlenDronach, like this a lot.

The final Old Perth was the Peaty version. The first (limited edition) release, couple of thousand bottles on this batch. Not an overpowering dram – for non peaty lovers; get them one of these. A really interesting story on the label – buy it to see – liked this also. We broke here for nibbles, I must admit, Peter and myself devoured the mini sausages (sorry Liz). A good time to chat, munch and look forward to the next three. First came a Tobermory 2008. If honest, far too young from this distillery for me, Tob (in my view) needs be min 15 years plus to be worthy, moving on … MORTLACH 1999 ah, nectar to my moothy. What can I say that hasnee been said already? A superb 16 year old, one of 520 bottles from M&M. Need say no more on this.

Caol Ila 2008, no too sweet, placed in a cask that had been enlarged with a few extra staves, a real nice light peaty dram, not the heavy peat of some Islay malts. I WOULD SAY BEST DRAMS OF THE NIGHT were Mortlach then Old Perth Sherry – but… Peter then brought out a surprise bottle to end on (always a good trick, have done it myself), a 28 year old Macallan! Oh boy did this hit my senses, a superb silky smooth dram, this bottle was 22/240, I wanted to buy one … sorry all gone, gone for good. From the Black Gold range, this was maybe £500 ish when available, if there are any left anywhere, I reckon maybe £1500 – £2000 by now. Here’s what you could have won!  I offered to by the remainder but was given a hard look by Peter, oh well.

Another good evening in Perth, thanks to Peter and Keron (exel).

PAUL MCLEAN  http://www.whiskytours.scot/   http://www.mcleanscotland.com/