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90
Scott’s Selection (Distilled at North of Scotland), 1964 Vintage, 45.5%, $140
According to the Christie family who owned North of Scotland Distillery before it was sold to DCL in 1982 (and closed it shortly thereafter,) they would purchase the least expensive grain possible to make their grain whisky. In 1964, it was barley. The barley, combined with the fact that the whisky is finished off in port casks, makes for a surprisingly rich, sweet, and fruity grain whisky, expressing notes of demerara sugar, perfumed candles, cherry almond tart, caramel and vanilla. Remarkably restrained wood notes for such a mature whisky, which expresses itself mostly in its soft, creamy finish. Unique among whiskies.
(4th Quarter 2006 Issue-Vol. 15#4)
87
Scott’s Selection (distilled at "North of Scotland," 1963, 46.8%)
Antique gold. Thought-provoking aromas and flavors of molasses, leather, vanilla, and wood spices, with a hint of bourbon and rum. Light to medium in body. Given that this whisky is so mature and rather light in body, it has held up very well-the woody dryness is balanced nicely by the sweetness of the grain.
Style: single grain Scotch whisky. Price: approx. $120. Available nationwide in limited quantities (imported by International Brands, 860/677-0473).
In one word: exotic. In some respects, it is reminiscent of a very old column-distilled Jamaican rum, and a lot of the wood spices really express themselves. Like the Compass Box whisky above, this whisky again proves that grain whiskies should not be ignored. They taste completely different than other whiskies-particularly the older ones-and they can be a lot of fun to drink. The two reviewed in this buyer’s guide are very fine examples of the style.
(3rd Quarter 2001 Issue-Vol. 10#3)
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