Murray McDavid ‘Mission Series V’ Glenturret 1978 (27 year old) 46%
Bourbon/ Dist: 1978 Btl: 2005/ Tasted: Nov 2005
A lovely shimmering gold colour. Clean and quite weighty on the nose with the rich fruit quick to assert itself, followed by crisp cereal, fudge, natural caramel and vanilla. I could sniff this all day. Underneath the oak lurks a depth of spicy citrus fruit, melon, pear, apricot and cooked apple all lusciously dripping in the softest honeyed vanilla imaginable.
Dry and clean on the palate with the ultra clean, soft and smooth vanilla oak engulfing the slightly smoky succulent fruit. Mouth-filling and complex with apricot and natural toffee, along with cooked apple, spice and salt notes in the finish. Very long and very rewarding.
Murray McDavid ‘Mission Series Gold’ Glenturret 1978 (29 year old) 45.8%
Bourbon/ Rioja (Tempranillo)
Dist: 1978 Btl: 2007/ Tasted: May 2007
Well knock me down feather. What was I saying about red wine finished whiskies? A glorious nose, the mature bourbon influence is obvious from the start but it is supported by some gloriously oily, rich, mellow fruit dripping in natural honey, beeswax and a touch of red wine fruits. Subtle it isn’t, the aromas engulf the senses, this is gorgeous!
Quiet a sweet entry onto the palate, heavily bourbon laced mature fruit with red winey fruit notes and natural toffee along with a slight peaty note on the middle. It has a lovely crisp garden pea freshness but finishes a bit short. However this is immediately rectified with a drop of water which lengthens it and emphasizes the glorious honeyed notes. Well there you go this is the first red wine finished malt that isn’t over powered by the finishing cask. Is it a case of practice makes perfect or a fluke? Either way it is gorgeous!
Whisky According to Chris Whiskyman 