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| Hello, that is certainly one of our (nearly) every day tastings. Santé! |
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October 6, 2022
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St Magdalene, quatuor main
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Lengthy story brief, G&M have a brand new St Magdalene (hurray) and we’ll seize this chance so as to add one or three different St Magdas or Linlithgows that we’ve got by no means formally tried earlier than. Any excuses, actually… And let’s do that retro-vertically, as they’d say at House X… Say like 1970, 1974, 1979, 1982. With a nod to our good friend Tomas, #1 St Magdalene (and 2cv) collector on this planet.
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St Magdalene, Linlithgow (Historic Surroundings Scotland) |
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St Magdalene 23 yo 1970 (58.43%, OB, Uncommon Malts, 70cl, 1995) 
There was rumours that some early Uncommon Malts have been single cask bottlings, but it surely’s been formally confirmed to me that that is by no means been the case. We had tried sister-bottling 23/1970 at 58.1% earlier this yr and thought it was fantastically introspective (WF 92). All Uncommon Malts St-Ms have been gorgeous anyway (yeah, regardless of the very s****y cork stoppers). Color: gold. Nostril: it is a bit like an outdated Mercedes-Benz diesel, it’s a little gradual to get to any correct velocity, however it’s then unstoppable. First simply malt and scoria, then charcoal and bunches of long-forgotten greens, properly no less than parsnips and Jerusalem artichokes, then burnt muffins, autumn leaves, teas and olives, then acetic liquids, bacterial issues and, properly, cheeses. It’s a humorous growth, however this what you’ll count on from these slightly austere St Magdalenes. With water: an ideal stroll, from meadows to the woods, then to the seaside. Surprising whiffs of peach liqueur coming out too. Sensible. Mouth (neat): I could have written this earlier than, however that is of Brora class. Leaves, tobaccos, teas, farmy parts, emotions of outdated leathers, waxes, then these humorous greens once more, Scottish moussaka (yeah proper), salted tea, umami, candied lemon, pickled candy onions maybe… The factor is, these whiskies want lots of your time, however they’re actually value it. With water: the trademark leafiness is shining by means of, however fruits have not stated their final phrases, with peaches certainly, lemons, then drops of smoked tea, some fabulous farmy parts, outdated natural liqueurs, pine resin, verbena, mint, wormwood, liquorice, and simply tons of tinier parts, which could be very St Magdalene. Maybe probably the most complicated whiskies ever made by Man, however then once more, the attentive taster should make investments slightly lots of time to get all of it in its integrity. End: retains enhancing! This seldom occurs, whiskies that maintain unfolding like this, even means after you’ve got swallowed the final a part of the final drop. Wonderful. Feedback: austere, tight and but massively complicated, stunningly natural and earthy, with citrus the place and if you want citrus.
SGP:462 – 93 factors. |
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We’re means too excessive already (so to talk). However that is St Magdalene…
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Linlithgow 27 yo 1974/2001 (50%, Silver Seal, First Bottling, 180 bottles)
Silver Seal did a subsequent 1974 ‘First Bottling’ (we have tried in it 2011 – WF 90) however that is the very first inception. Oh, sure, by the way in which, Linlithgow and St Magdalene are the identical Distillery, however I do not suppose anybody reaching these foolish pages wouldn’t be within the know. Oh and certainly, that is pre-Massimo Silver Seal. Color: gold. Nostril: these SSs have at all times been simpler, with some bananas, additionally early gray, a gentler earthiness, some vanilla, the aforementioned peaches, and slightly lots of heather honey that will impart just a few ‘HP-like’ notes. Minimal whiffs of ham and cigars within the again. With water: you’ll be forgiven for pondering that is Nineteen Seventies Highland Park. Mouth (neat): that is extra St Magdalene correct, with some soot, paraffin, pepper, tobacco, bitter chocolate and solely within the background, peaches and bananas. Will get leafier over time, although. With water: there, the fruits are again, candied tangerines, quinces, bananas, peaches, unfold with earl gray and orange blossom water. End: fairly lengthy, more energizing than the RMs, nonetheless extra fruity than leafy. Feedback: just about the simpler facet of the legendary Distillery. An lovely albeit much less seminal, albeit fruitier St Magdalene that anybody ought to take with him/her into his/her grotto (how foolish, S.!) I feel the opposite 1974 SS was slightly extra austere. In any case…
SGP:561 – 91 factors. |
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St Magdalene 19 yo 1979/1998 (63.80%, OB, Uncommon Malts)
Good, I consider I’ve downed slightly just a few bottles of this legend, however plainly I by no means revealed any correct tasting notes, which could be very foolish as properly, I agree. I’d suppose you might discover some notice of mine on the outdated Malt Maniacs web site, having stated that, however I do not appear to have the ability to discover any at this level. However sufficient archaeology, let’s write some official ‘WF’ notice (after 20 years!)… Color: gold. Nostril: oh this camphor! Carbon! Brake pads! Artichokes! Eggplants! Paraffin! Garlic bread! Coal! Cigars! Pu-ehr! Liquorice wooden! Autumn leaves! Patchouli! Bidis! Ski wax! Suet! Marrow! Citrons! Grapefruits! With water: narrows it down in probably the most lovely method, attending to the underside of citrusness. Mouth (neat): I prefer it higher than final time, and I could prefer it even higher subsequent time. Probably the most gorgeous expression of citrus and earth. Sufficient stated. With water: I feel I’ve to apologize as a result of I’ve simply seen that I used to be having this one at WF 92, certainly with none correct tasting notice. Pearls earlier than swine. End: the epitome of earthy and leafy malt whisky, for a really very long time. You’d get to the very finish of GOT’s even sillier sequel earlier than your glass is completed and empty. Feedback: everlasting whisky, one of many favourites of all Malt Maniacs since round… 1998. Effectively, because it got here out. Illustrious malt whisky, flabbergasting St Magdalene, and top-of-the-line malt whiskies ever bottled. What’s extra, seems prefer it retains enhancing in its bottle. Chic, in all probability 95-material in two or three years’ time, then in all probability extra. See you round 2030.
SGP:462 – 94 factors. |
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Aaaaaaaand the brand new one!…
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St Magdalene 39 yo 1982/2021 (54.8%, Gordon & MacPhail, Non-public Assortment, The Recollection, refill American oak hogshead, cask #2094, 165 bottles, 2022)
Adore it that G&M would launch a St Magdalene in 2022 and like it much more that they would not have waited for only a few extra months, in order that it might be 40 as an alternative of 39. Briefly, there’s extra love in right here than in Donny Hathaway’s music ‘Love, Love, Love’. Oh and I am properly conscious of the truth that it is extraordinarily troublesome to return after the RMs. Sorry about that, G&M. Color: gold. Nostril: hey hey! Very a lot within the type of the 1974 by Silver Seal, but it surely has additionally bought these trademark leafy, natural, rooty, earthy and sooty tones which can be including complexity to an in any other case slightly fruity profile, though all these fruits would slightly be baked or stewed. All in all, I am slightly reminded of a really, and I imply very high-class Wulong tea. With water: love these whiffs of outdated teas, outdated books, outdated automobile interiors, and outdated cigars. And the beeswax, outdated vestry, outdated library, and so on.. Mouth (neat): wait, a large citrusy punch, with candied lemons, yuzu and grapefruits, then resins, propolis and ‘sucking a cigar’. Some humorous hints of rye whisky, which isn’t as odd because it sounds. No extra outdated vestry. With water: and there, natural teas mingled collectively, lavender, thyme, chamomile, bay leaves, chartreuse, Bénédictine, Mandarine Napoléon… End: identical… … … No apparent oak getting in the way in which… … … And citron liqueur within the aftertaste. Excellent. Feedback: certainly, fairly good. Is there extra? Could not anybody very good convert the ‘Linlithgow’ flats again right into a Distillery?
SGP:561 – 92 factors. |
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(Thanks and hugs, Jeffrey!)
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