Bells 20 year liqueur blended 86 proof 4/5 quart mid 1960's

[lincoln imp]

imported by Heublin inc Hartford Conntecticut, sole distributors for USA.
brown dumpy bottle, white label , Royal Reserve

This is a 1960`s bottle i am told, so the spirit was distilled in the 1940`s.
I always held off buying the dark label 70`s & 80`s that are not called Liqueur blend but decided to try this one.

Nose
88
Spicy with hints of ginger, warm pastry, white pepper, dried autumn leaves, hints of treacle tart

Taste
92
wow, i was hoping this would be good but this exceeds my expectations.
lovely mouth feel and great balance.
Flavour wise there is a big orange marmalade hit mixed with ginger and pepper and as you go on it gets creamy.
warm pastry

Finish
91
not the longest finish but very pleasant with the spice very active on the tail, it is actually really nice.

I really like this one, much better than i was hoping the palate and finish are better than the nose suggests.
excellent balance, 1940's distillate, bottled around 66/67
the cork was mushy and snapped at the top but found another cork luckily.
this is no good if you are a peat head or like massive sherry but as a pre dinner dram you would be hard pushed to better this, regardless of whether it was a blend, blended malt or single malt.
The most surprising thing is that after only one dram i know i have had a dram, now that is quality
A bottle of Bells at 90 points+, who would have thought. I knew the North American market got the best blended liquid in the 50's. 60's & 70's this bottle certainly proves that.

This is dangerously drinkable, i will need to be careful with this bottle.
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Pour me a glass please.

[Quaich1]

Very detailed and appealing taste notes highlighting a most desirable whisky. Thanks for sharing.
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"Always carry a large flagon of whisky in case of snakebite and furthermore always carry a small snake."
W.C. Fields (1880-1946)