Cadenhead dumpy 1957-68 x 13 + Auth/Orig 1964-66 x 3 H2H

[lincoln imp]

Apologies this post is along and probably too wordy, as all 16 tasting notes are at the bottom.

Tasting order as follows :-

Ardmore 1965 22 year 46%
Caperdonich 1965 14 year 45.7%
Coleburn +/- 1966 13 year 46%
Convalmore +/- 1961 21 year 46% (miniature) same as dumpy 1961/83 for the US market
Glenlochy 1967 20 year 46%
Glenrothes 1957 22 year 45.7%
Glenugie 1959 18 year 80 proof
Inchgower 1959 17 year 80 proof
Isle of Jura 1966 18 year 46%
Macduff 1964 13 year 80 proof
Scapa 1965 15 year 46%
St Magdalene 1964 15 year 45.7%
Tamdhu 17 year +/- 1960 80 proof
Dailuaine 1966 27 year 45.7% Original Collection
Glen Albyn 1964 27 year 51.4% Authentic 150th Anniversary Bottling
Dufftown 1966 28 year 52.5% Authentic Collection


This was a mammoth tasting on so many levels 13 Cadenhead dumpy 1957-1968 and then an Original Collection and two Authentic Collection 1964/66/66 respectively so 16 in total. The Glen Albyn & Dufftown were last as they were cask strength but the others were all labelled 45.7%/46%/80 proof.
This tasting took a long time to do, with plenty of water between , breaks and some food.

Our of the 16 there was only one that was found wanting and that was the St Magdalene, with the first place honours a shoot-out between the Convaalmore 21 year, Jura 66 dumpy and the 1964 Glen Albyn tall bottle.
The 1st place shoot out was carried out the next day (today) and the winner was the Glen Albyn by a nose, I know it was higher strength but is also had more depth of profile and a lovely orange marmalade note, almost a 93 point average

I have had Cadenhead dumpy before, full bottles and samples but what is clear from this tasting is that the type of liquid in these bottles is not made anymore, they are the proverbial `Old School` bottles, slightly austere at times but sharper and crisper on the palate than today’s manufactured drams with massive sherry.
I would only describe the Glen Albyn, Dufftown &Glenrothes as an obviously sherried whisky, I believe they all will be but in a blind tasting you certainly would not.

What I found fascinating was that many of them had very similar notes on the nose and the palate, a grassy/cereal note was a common thread and also grapefruit on the palate or so it seemed. I wondered if this could be down to the type of barley used and coal fired stills who knows but actually when you think about it in the 1950’s & 1960’s nearly all of this whisky would have gone into blends, and nearly all these whiskies are from the Speyside area.
There were so many similarities on show it was a real eye opener, another was a slight menthol note in a few of them.

It is really hard to put these in order as I said, there were many similarities so the scores were similarly very close.

Here is my attempt at putting these 16 whiskies in some sort of pecking order
Here is the result with average total points score and them marks for nose/palate/finish
1st-16th place

[b]Glen Albyn 1964 27 year51.4% Authentic 150th Anniversary Bottling 92+p - 91/93/93
Convalmore +/- 1961 21 year 46% (miniature) same as dumpy 1961/83 for the US market 92p - 92/93/92
Isle of Jura 1966 18 year 46% 92p - 91/92/93
Dufftown 1966 28 year 52.5% Authentic Collection 92 - 92/93/91
Dailuaine 1966 27 year 45.7% Original Collection 92p - 91/92/92
Macduff 1964 13 year 80 proof 92p - 91/92/92
Glenrothes 1957 22 year 45.7% 91p - 90/93/91
Caperdonich 1965 14 year 45.7% 91p - 90/92/90
Inchgower 1959 17 year 80 proof 90p - 88/91/92
Glenugie 1959 18 year 80 proof 90p - 90/90/87
Ardmore 1965 22 year 46% 89p - 87/90/90
Tamdhu 17 year +/- 1960 80 proof 89p - 88/89/90
Scapa 1965 15 year 46% 89p - 88/89/90
Coleburn +/- 1966 13 year 46% 89p - 87/89/90
Glenlochy 1967 20 year 46% 87p - 88/87/87
St Magdalene 1964 15 year 45.7% 86p - 86/85/86


Tasting notes as follows:-

Ardmore 1965 - 89 points – 87/90/90
Nose
Grapefruit and lemon zest on the nose mixed with lemon drizzle cake. dash of white pepper and cream.
This gives the impression of a higher abv.

Taste
Quite difficult at first with a hard edge but the fruit the nose suggested is there.
You need to work at this one, grapefruit galore with a little sweet lemon.
With a little water it releases a little peat and more slightly bitter fruit (in a good way) and really opens up.

Finish
Long, warming fruit finish with sweet grapefruit now.

Great stuff, this real old school, this sort of profile is dead now, what a great shame, this is like history in a glass

Caperdonich 1965 – 91 points -90/92/90

Nose
Faint peat, a little pepper, grapefruit & lemon zest but give it a minute or so and it really opens up with air.
A really lovely fresh spice note comes up and some pomegranate.
Cake and biscuit notes next with a little icing sugar
Excellent nose

Palate
Like the Ardmore 65, it has more power than the suggested abv, they don`t make whisky like this anymore.
Fresh, zesty & spicy.
There is a little peat in there but it is in the background, it is the white fruits that sing like a symphony.
Only 13 years old, what complexity this has

Finish
Remaining spicy until the end, actually it increases pushing the fruit out, this is long & lingering

Similar to the Ardmore 65 dumpy I have just tasted, you don't get whisky like this anymore,
Such complexity for one so you young, I used to get old CA dumpy bottles. this is why.

Coleburn 13 year +/- 1968 - 89 points – 87/89/90

Nose
This has a grassy nose, mixed with hot buttered toast, cereal grains, grapefruit, lemon and black pepper.
The grassy/cereal note is the predominant flavour here.

Palate
This is quite fruity at first, I was expecting a harder edge to this but the fruit is working with some biscuit & cream.
After a while some diluted like juice and the pepper not increases with it, there is also a little fresh clean peat in the mix but it is in the distance.
As you go on basically it is all the lighter coloured fruit gums, great stuff.

Finish
Quite a long finish remaining fruity & zesty.

With a little water:-
The water has released even more white fruit and a little more pepper.
The finish seems longer also

It is even better with a little water

2nd tasting
I think I am enjoying this a little more this time round.
Another great example of old school whisky from a closed distillery that even now still receives little coverage in the whisky world, shame.


Convalmore - +/- 1961 – 92 points 92/93/92 miniature

Nose
Lovely, honey, white fruits, gooseberry, greengage plums at first.
The fruit dissipates after a few minutes in the glass to reveal a faint polish note mixed with a few cereals.
This reminds me of some Cragganmore's I have tasted.

Palate
sugary sweet but then some slightly sour fruit of apple & Grapefruit but this is in a good way.
The fruit returns mixed with a little honey and the development is quite something, the depth of the profile here is what you notice.

Finish
Massive for 46%, it just keeps going.

With water:
More refined in every way, the fruit it top draw now, lovely

Wow, if you see this mini at auction or the full bottle which is very rare, I suggest you get it.
Another to draw Cadenhead from a lost distillery

Glenlochy 1967 – 87 points – 88/87/87

Nose
Grapefruit, lemon, hint of lime, something buttery, hint of cereal, dry biscuit, reminds me of an old Strathmill but nowhere near the amount of grassy/cereal notes.
the faintest wisp of menthol.

Palate
Really spicy and a healthy dose of peat but it is very hot at first, attacking the back of your throat. It is also quite drying at first.
Lemon juice, a touch of pineapple and a little sugar, like pineapple cube sweets with sugar on.
There is also a faint metallic note.
Starts to get more lemony but a little bitterness is creeping in.
If you add a little water the fruit increases and a little peat but it is still hot in the throat the balance is not there to get it near 90

Finish
Quite long, remaining fruity but still on the dry side.

It is 5 years since I last tasted this and I thought it was better last time, it is quite nice but not a 90 pointer.
Regardless tasting old Glenlochy is always a pleasure.
Down by 3 points from 90 5 years ago.

Glenrothes 1957 – 91 points 90/93/91

Nose
What surprises me is that I immediately can smell a chocolate orange note.
Various cake notes, ginger, chocolate, golden syrup cake notes (Lyons in the UK) etc.
There is also a pleasant wood note which is hard to describe but it's there,
Finally a faint creosote note, again in a good way,

Palate
Creamy with some fig, prune, and slightly unripe plum at first.
A nice spice note emerges that mixes beautifully with the sherry, good balance on show here.
A few fudge notes emerge and then a nice spice, pepper kick.
Vey good

Finish
Remaining spicy, last for ages.


Glenugie 1959 – 90 points – 90/90/87

Nose
A faint ginger note mixed in with other spices, this has a delicate nose.
Cake notes mixed with wine gums and a nice faint menthol note in the mix

Palate
This is a bag of fruit gums mixed with various spices and then a little orange notes emerges but a burnt orange.
There is a little cream and then bang some pepper and peat emerge together.

Finish
It remains spicy but faded just a little too quickly
I had a bottle of this then a 10cl sample from another bottle and loved it.
Old Glenugie, just buy it, that is my advice.

Jura 1966 – 93 points 91/92/93

Nose
Oh yes, it is a fruit salad mixed with a touch of menthol and possibly faint camphor notes but not entirely sure?
Definite orange note and a ginger ale angle too which is really nice.
Great stuff a little Lucozade in the mix also and after a few minutes some grapefruit, old Cadenhead dumpy seem to always have a grapefruit angle if tonight's H2H is anything to go by

Palate
Bang, there is a fruit and spice explosion of such magnitude and flavour that the current Jura distillery manager can only dream of but there is also a slightly dry cardboardy taste that is trying to spoil the party.
The mouthfeel is exquisite and the fruit just keeps popping across your tongue, beautiful and the dry cardboardy note has gone.

Finish
Long, spicy and fruity.

With water:-
The nose has grapefruit and mango, the palate has various white fruit with a lovely peppery spicy angle, no off notes , if I was being ultra picky there is a faint woody bitterness but I only notice it because everything else is so good.

The finish is actually a little longer with water, the fruit is there but much more spice.

What an old glory, this is not Jura as we know it, the current weak as *** , flavourless , soulless whisky that they churn out, this is from a Jura distillery in a parallel universe.
I think this is even better that the 66 SV Jura that I rated so highly.
In tonight's H2H of Old Cadenhead dumpy from the 60`s this is number 7 and it is out in front.
A stellar whisky.


Inchgower 1959 – 90 points 88/91/92

Nose
Stewed white fruits on the nose mixed with that dry grassy and cereal note that along with grapefruit many of these old cadenhead dumpy bottles seem to have these two characteristics?

Palate
This has a lovely yellow/white fruit pastille sweetness at first but is quickly gets drying.
A 2nd mouth full reveals a massive spice kick and icing sugar sweetness.
The fruit note is endless but there is also a little peat in the mix.

Finish
Slightly hot in the finish with the sweet fruit notes lingering into a final wave of spice which I really like

A very good old grumbly Inchgower, with a lovely finish nothing more to say really.

Macduff 1964 – 92 points – 91/92/92

Nose
Nice nose, full of white fruits, grains, hay, scent of roses, hints of Turkish delight and lemon drizzle cake
Finally some moist cake notes.

Palate
This is a packet of fruit gums but the initial blast of fruit is then replaced by , well nothing really, it just seems to stop developing in it's tracks, strange?
Try again, white fruits, ah yes, a big wave of spice & faint peat now, but the spice & peat seem to grow exponentially, now that is subtle power for 80 proof

Finish
Massive, it never quite leaves the back of your throat, faint fruitiness but mainly the warm glow, if it was not so dry I t would be a 94 finish but actually right at the end there a little metallic note so 91 is about right.

Top draw old Macduff but you need to give this one plenty of time my first impression of this was completely wrong, no need for water

Scapa 1965 – 89 points – 88/89/90

Nose
Once again, like so many of these old Cadenhead dumpy bottles I have tried tonight this is slightly grassy, white fruits, with some pastry notes and finally a touch of menthol.

Palate
Creamy, like a bag of fruit gums but with a peat & spice angle.
This seems to get sweeter as you go on on but it is also a little hot

Finish
Long, sweet, fruity finish

Better than the last time I tasted it, just lacks a little balance to hit the 90 point barrier but still a nice whisky.

St Magdalene 1964 – 86 points – 86/85/86

Nose
Lots of cereal notes and grass on the nose at first.
Fruit emerges, a little lemon & grapefruit mainly, but faint cinnamon and then some double cream.
To me the nose seems a little distant

Palate
The fruit that the nose hinted at is here but it seems very not and alcoholic at first, I also detect a little bitterness.
Iced buns and a massive spice kick, but the balance is not here, it is hot and seems to

Finish
Hot and slightly uncomfortable with a bitter fruit finish

I have always struggled with this one, not too bad, but not the quality of the other Cadenhead dumpy I have tasted tonight.

Tamdhu 17 year - +/- 1960-89 points - 88/89/90

Nose
Very nice, the usual old Cadenhead white fruits, slightly grassy, flower stems, warm bread and hints of white pepper.

Palate
Very nice, the usual old Cadenhead white fruits, slightly grassy, flower stems, warm bread and hints of white pepper.

Finish
Good length with lingering spice and drying

Pretty good, if it was sweeter it would get over 90 points, another old school Cadenhead dumpy


Dailuaine 1966 – 92 – 91/92/92

Nose
The nose smells of Turkish delight, walnut, and burnt fruit cake,
Definitely on the nutty side this one.

Palate
Sweet rich fruitcake at first with a peaty edge, a few bubble gum notes and then rich blackberry and damson jam.
The sherry on display here is top notch, the balance is quite something and as you go on there is some lovely Christmas spices on show.
Great balance.

Finish
Long, lingering & lip smacking

Excellent whisky from an underrated distillery

Glen Albyn 1964 -92 points – 91/93/93

Nose
This actually smells woody, you can smell the oak of the cask.
There is also a nutty angle to it.
Wisps of cigar smoke elevate this and there is the faintest hint of orange.
Sherry mixing with dark fruits and with time in the glass the nose gets even better.

Palate
Really fruity and spicy this one, orange marmalade, hint of peach & apricot,
This has a confectionary sweetness about it, the balance on show here is 1st class.
I am also getting some Lucozade and some ginger ale mixed in with various spices

Finish
Quite a long finish and a lively one also.
A lovely sweetness right to the end along with a spiciness that never seems to leave, great stuff

An excellent old Glen Albyn, the best one I have had.
No need for water with this one,

Dufftown 1966 – 92 points – 92/93/91

Nose
Smells a little like bourbon on the nose, cedarwood at first but then something sweeter like Turkish Delight.
Pecan pie, bubble gum and treacle.
Yes, this is very rich if the nose is anything to go by?
With water the nose is even better

Palate
Various dark fruits and as the nose suggested it still reminds me of some bourbons I have had but this is from sherry casks, strange?
Cherry tart, followed by bags of various spices

If you add water it gets sweeter and it also gets better, this is like a very rich fruit loaf, and then some nice orange notes.
Balance is very good here,

Finish
Long, sweet & spicy


A lovely Old Dufftown, the sweetness and the balance are top notch,
If you add a little water the sweetness it releases are not something you come across very often in a whisky,
_________________
Pour me a glass please.

[Quaich1]

I have been impressed for some time with the veritable range, age and quality of the whiskies you have tasted over time & recently and written about. I'm just curious how you get access to such a vast array of premium and super-premium whiskies. Are you in the industry or are these simply from your own collection. I have been to some pubs here in Canada which offer many of these brands and older whiskies but the price tag for even 1/2 ounces is quite astonishingly high. I wish you well.

Cheers,
Murray
_________________
"Always carry a large flagon of whisky in case of snakebite and furthermore always carry a small snake."
W.C. Fields (1880-1946)

[lincoln imp]

[Quaich1]