Ayrshire
SCOTCH SINGLE MALT WHISKIES > A
AYRSHIRE
Aged 31 years
43.6 %
RAREST OF THE RARE
SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY
Unique Whiskies of Distinction
Fons et Origo
D T C
Distilled 10.1973
Bottled 11.2004
Cask no. 5786
Numbered Bottles
197 Bottles
No Chill Filtration or Colouring of any kind
Duncan Taylor & Co, Ltd, Huntly,
Aberdeenshire
RAREST OF THE RARE
SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY
Unique Whiskies of Distinction
Fons et Origo
D T C
Distilled 10.1973
Bottled 11.2004
Cask no. 5786
Numbered Bottles
197 Bottles
No Chill Filtration or Colouring of any kind
Duncan Taylor & Co, Ltd, Huntly,
Aberdeenshire
A Historic Collection of Cask Strenght Single Cask Whiskies from Distilleries which no longer exist.
A rigorous selection process has determined the casks which have been bottled in the 'Rarest of the Rare' Collection to ensure that the single malts in the range are not only exceptionally rare but are - first and foremost - exceptional whiskies.
This Ayrshire distillery had a very short life with the distillery closing when the first spirit that had been produced was only nine years old. The whisky has rarely been supplied as a single malt and this bottling from Duncan Taylor is an exellent example of its quality.
Enjoy this unique opportunity to experience a whisky that is, ultimately, one of the 'rarest of the rare'.
Please note: The actual name of the distillery has not been disclosed on this bottling to respect the rights of the distillery company.
Euan C. Shand Director of Duncan Taylor & Co, Ltd. Highland Malt Speyside
AYRSHIRE
Aged 36 years
45.3 %
SIGNATORY VINTAGE
CASK STRENGHT COLLECTION
Ayrshire Single Malt Scotch Whisky
RARE AYRSHIRE
Distilled on: 21 / 02 / 1975
Matured in a Bourbon Barrel
Cask No: 563
Bottled on: 20 / 06 / 2011
161 Numbered Bottles
Natural Colour
Casks individually selected and bottled by
Signatory Vintage Scotch Whisky Co, Ltd, Pitlochry
SIGNATORY VINTAGE
CASK STRENGHT COLLECTION
Ayrshire Single Malt Scotch Whisky
RARE AYRSHIRE
Distilled on: 21 / 02 / 1975
Matured in a Bourbon Barrel
Cask No: 563
Bottled on: 20 / 06 / 2011
161 Numbered Bottles
Natural Colour
Casks individually selected and bottled by
Signatory Vintage Scotch Whisky Co, Ltd, Pitlochry
Lowlands
AYRSHIRE also see LADYBURN
AYRSHIRE also see LADYBURN
A Historic Collection of Cask Strenght Single Cask Whiskies from Distilleries which no longer exist.
A rigorous selection process has determined the casks which have been bottled in the 'Rarest of the Rare' Collection to ensure that the single malts in the range are not only exceptionally rare but are - first and foremost - exceptional whiskies.
This Ayrshire distillery had a very short life with the distillery closing when the first spirit that had been produced was only nine years old. The whisky has rarely been supplied as a single malt and this bottling from Duncan Taylor is an exellent example of its quality.
Enjoy this unique opportunity to experience a whisky that is, ultimately, one of the 'rarest of the rare'.
Please note: The actual name of the distillery has not been disclosed on this bottling to respect the rights of the distillery company.
Euan C. Shand Director of Duncan Taylor & Co, Ltd.
Highland Malt Speyside here’s a definite Irish accent to this one, which makes it distractingly entertaining and funny.
However, from a more academic perspective, it’s also a very fine dram in its own right.
The cask feels rather dead, which I think has served it well as there’s still rather a lot of freshness about it: cereals, fabric, fruits, etc.
Fascinating and pleasurable to taste such an obscure and historic name.
RIGHT PLACE, RIGHT TIME
There’s an abundance of curiosity, but the blind tasting just got a lot more expensive.
RARE AYRSHIRE 44 YEARS OLD, DISTILLED 1974,
SIGNATORY 30TH ANNIVERSARY (SIGNATORY)
SCORE
93
Scoring explained >
Rare Ayrshire 44 Years Old, Distilled 1974,
Signatory 30th Anniversary (Signatory)
PRICE BAND
£ £ £ £ £
ABV
53%
PRODUCTION TYPE
Single malt whisky
REGION
Lowland
FLAVOUR CAMP
Fruity & Spicy
NOSE
Fat, punchy fruits in jellied form. Bags of gooseberry, mango, acacia honey, quince and a multitude of different dried herbs. There’s also waxes, almonds, rosewater, eucalyptus oils, menthol tobacco and pine cones. It’s one of these very old whiskies that has become exotic, super concentrated and extremely complex as a result. Fennel, camphor, hessian, ointments, ink, very old herbal liqueurs... you could really go on and on listing tiny wee aromas. With water, it develops more towards cedar wood, unlit cigars, pine resin and face cream. Still lots of resinous and nervous fruity notes.
PALATE
Damn! The palate is far from tired or overly woody. This is superbly complex and an extraordinarily concentrated, punchy old whisky. Swollen with dried tropical fruit chunks – mango, papaya, pineapple and banana. There’s also fruit loaf full of date and sultana, Darjeeling tea, lime leaf, liquorice, lemon cordial, jasmine and some wonderful old Sauternes. Silky in texture but also direct, spicy and chiselled in profile as well. It shows such an unusual combination of muscle and power on one hand, and complexity and grace on the other. Water elevates the complexity even further and brings a rather astonishing spiciness. Also treacle, sunflower seeds, fruit-scented tobacco and leather.
FINISH
Long, extremely resinous, herbal, texturally oily; garden fruits baked in syrups and spices, herbal medicines, waxes... stunning.
CONCLUSION
What a stupendous old whisky. You can imagine when nosing that it might all fall apart on the palate, but instead it just keeps on getting better and better. By quite some distance this is the best Ladyburn/Rare Ayrshire I’ve ever tasted. Cinematic in scope and offers up complexity, balance and concentration in almost embarrassing abundance.
RIGHT PLACE, RIGHT TIME
Sitting in an extremely plush library, writing numerous letters to William Grant executives requesting that they make more of this magical old ‘Balvenie of the Lowlands’.