Outside the handful of releases from brand owner Diageo and the two big boys of independent bottlings (Gordon & MacPhail and Cadenhead’s), no one else has released a Convalmore in the last 10 years. It’s safe to say that whisky from this closed distillery is very rare.
One of the most eye-catching Convalmore releases from the past decade is a 36-year-old edition that was part of Diageo’s Special Releases in 2013. It matured in European refill casks and now made its way to my mouth.
Convalmore 1977 36 Years Old (58%, OB, 2013)
Nose: Waxy notes, but also resin, furniture polish and pine needles. A tad shy though. Some subtle fruity notes like peach, lime and candied oranges. A whiff of floral honey pops up after a little while, as does menthol. Finally a touch of damp moss, as well as a bit of cocoa powder. Complex and integrated, maybe a tad too elegant.
Taste: Creamy and mouth-coating. Notes of bitter citrus fruits as well as some honey and golden syrup, before going down a spicier rabbit hole, as well as a touch of forest floor, tobacco, oak shavings and menthol.
Finish: Lingering spices and some orchard fruits. Medium in length.
Score: 89
It’s really good and the palate has a little more power than the nose suggests. But it doesn’t have that wow factor to reach an even higher score.
Photo: The Whisky Exchange