Ladyburn 44 Years Old Rare Ayrshire Signatory 30th Anniversary Cask 2606 53% 1974

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Serge Valentin (93)

Of course it doesn’t say it’s Ladyburn, but believe me, it is. I won’t tell you the story of Ladyburn again, you’ll find it on the Web (you may favour Johannes’s Malt Madness still the best source). And we’ll all remember that Michael Jackson had just hated earlier bottlings of Ladyburn, around 1989.

Colour: gold.

Nose: Vorsicht, attention, caution, this is the kind of nose that may lead you to an overoaked palate, but we shall see if that’s the case or not. Banana skins, beeswax, old Gewurztraminer Vendanges Tardives, milk chocolate, nougat, brioche, middle-eastern sour bread, Weetabix, pot-pourri. The banana skins are a tad worrisome… With water: not that many changes. A wonderful nose, but indeed, a growing fear… Tah-TAH-tah-TAH-tah-TAH-tah-TAH… (that’s supposed to be the music of the movie Jaws)…

Mouth (neat): do you believe in miracles? Between us, this one should have gotten too oaky ages ago, but it’s just utterly magnificent. Amazing fruits, papayas, guavas, bananas, mangos, maracujas, pears… In fact, it’s extremely reminiscent of some ex-refill 1960s Bowmore. There’s just nothing to dislike here… With water: astounding light and fresh tropical fruitiness.

Finish: medium, with a flabbergasting freshness and a totally entrancing fruitiness. Plus, above all, not a iota of over-oakiness, which really is a miracle. Mind you, this little Lowlander is 44.

Comments: I know it’s their last cask of Ladyburn. Well, it’s their best. This, is collectable whisky. Forget about hastily-designed crystal decanters and two-penny silverware, THIS is true History!