Glenrothes 1969 Vintage 40 Year Old (D&T Lonach)

The Lonach range is a “vatting” of two casks from a Scottish distillery, and ‘occasionally’, Duncan & Taylor state, ‘over and under strength casks are vatted together.’ You may know that whisky must be at least 40% in alcohol volume to be legally called “whisky”. When spirit is first distilled its alcohol volume is usually much higher than 40%, but over many years maturing in an oak cask this alcohol volume reduces and over the course of 40 long years it may reduce to below 40%. What may be meant by a vatting of “over and under strength casks” is that, sometimes, it may be necessary to combine a cask with spirit that has reached below 40% ABV with one containing whisky above 40% ABV so that, when combined, the whisky is over 40% ABV and can be sold as “whisky”.

Tasting notes for this whisky are short. The wood, spices of mild ginger, nutmeg and subtle peppercorns dominate over some waves of smoothing vanilla custard that sit beside honey glazed waffles dusted with nutmeg, cocoa and dollops of preserved apricot with shavings of citrus rind – the flavours are tainted with wet bark as the wood spices develop towards the finish. The finish vanishes quickly, with the wood lingering. This is an enjoyable whisky, and recommended for anyone who is itching to try a 40 year old single malt at a great price – it won’t blow your socks off but it will scratch your itch at least!