After an unplanned hiatus lasting a few weeks due to personal circumstances, it’s time to dive back into the world of whisky. Blends have always been an integral part of the Scotch whisky tradition, particularly in earlier decades when the concept of single malts may not have even crossed minds. Today, we’ll be reviewing several old Scotch whisky blends, ranging from the 1980s to one whose components were distilled before 1939.
Bell’s Old Scotch Whisky (1970s) Review
Unfortunately, I begin with a bottle for which I have very limited information. According to the whisky auction website where I purchased the miniature, This Bell’s Old Scotch Whisky Extra Special was bottled in the 1970s. However, the label does not provide details such as the alcohol by volume (ABV) or the size of the miniature bottle (the picture below is one of the full-size bottle). These bottles are often available at auctions or on the secondary market.
Colour:
Deep gold.
Nose:
Neat: There’s a noticeable graininess, but it’s not overpowering. Notes of caramel and light vanilla emerge, accompanied by hints of paint thinner and nail varnish. The aroma is soft in intensity. In the distance, there’s a hint of orchard fruit salad generously sprinkled with sugar.
Palate:
Neat: The palate starts with sweetness, a blend of maltiness and grains. Flavours of vanilla, honey, and caramel unfold, complemented by a subtle woody bitterness. Despite an ABV likely around 43% at most, it maintains a pleasing mouthfeel. A hint of spices accompanies notes of orchard fruits, including pear, peach, and perhaps a touch of cherry.
Finish:
The finish is prolonged with a lingering touch of pepper, which persists for a reasonable duration.
Comments:
While the nose is rather light, I find the palate of this whisky quite enjoyable. Although it may seem somewhat straightforward, I still found it quite pleasing. In fact, I prefer it over a contemporary Glenlivet 12.
Rating: 6/10
Teacher’s Highland Cream (1970s) Review
Teacher’s Highland Cream is renowned for its high malt content, boasting an impressive 45%, which is notably high for a standard blend. At its core is smoky malt whisky from the Ardmore distillery, with more than 30 different malt whiskies included in the recipe. The particular bottle I’m reviewing was bottled in the 1970s at 40% ABV.
Colour:
Deep copper.
Nose:
Neat: Faint grainy notes are present, but there is little else to detect. Even when using a 1920 Blender’s glass, the aroma is almost nonexistent.
Palate:
Neat: Unfortunately, the palate doesn’t offer much more. It resembles sweetened water with distant hints of peach and cinnamon.
Finish:
Sweet notes linger momentarily before dissipating.
Comments:
I’m left wondering if perhaps some air got into my miniature, causing the alcohol to evaporate. Despite the fill level appearing fine, the extremely low intensity on both the nose and palate makes me question its condition. I’m hesitant to give it a rating; it seems that the whisky in this mini has unfortunately deteriorated.
Rating: – /10
Logan Deluxe 12-Year-Old (1970s) Review
Logan Deluxe 12-year-old is a Blended Scotch Whisky produced by White Horse Distillers. For those familiar with the story of the White Horse blend and its creator, the whisky baron Sir Peter Mackie, the name Logan might ring a bell. It refers to his uncle, James Logan Mackie, a whisky merchant from Glasgow who had a keen interest in Lagavulin. It was said to contain 24 grain and malt whiskies, including Lagavulin, Craigellachie and Glen Elgin. Unfortunately, the ABV was not stated on my miniature bottle, but according to the auction website, it was likely bottled in the 1970s.
Colour:
Chestnut.
Nose:
Neat: Notes of caramel and milk chocolate are accompanied by subtle grainy elements and hints of vanilla. With time, the grainy notes intensify, along with a faint scent of paint thinner. Light coastal influences emerge, reminiscent of kelp and sea spray.
Palate:
Neat: The palate opens with delicate peaty notes, followed by a delightful array of spices, including pepper, hints of chili, and nutmeg. Richer, darker chocolate flavours emerge, accompanied by notes of salted soy sauce and the aroma of coffee that has been left on the pot all day. Light hints of citrus and raisin round out the experience.
Finish:
Medium-length finish with notes of spicy salted caramel, subtle woody undertones, and a hint of distant phenols.
Comments:
I find this Logan 12-year-old to be quite enjoyable, and I prefer it over many modern blends. Both the nose and palate are pleasant, and it’s a shame I only had a miniature because I would have loved to pour myself another dram or two. I might have to look for a full-size bottle. Considering it was likely bottled in the 1970s by White Horse Distillers, I most certainly contains Lagavulin, and perhaps even some Malt Mill? (I just watched ‘The Angel’s Share’ again earlier this week…)
Rating: 7/10
White Horse Fine Old Scotch Whisky (1970s or 1980s) Review
Here we have another blend from White Horse, the White Horse Fine Old Scotch Whisky itself. This bottle, likely from the 1980s or possibly the 1970s, is bottled at 40% ABV. Known to contain Lagavulin amongst its components, it likely also includes several other malts and grains from distilleries owned by Diageo. I acquired this miniature at an auction a few years ago, but similar bottles still frequently appear at auctions.
Colour:
Burnished
Nose:
Neat: Delicate wisps of smoke, accompanied by notes of cereals, distant hints of lemon, wet hay, dried apricots, salted soy sauce, and a touch of wine vinegar.
Palate:
Neat: The mouthfeel is surprisingly robust, much thicker than you’d anticipate from a 40% ABV whisky. The palate reveals a stronger smokiness than the nose suggests, accompanied by flavours of dark chocolate, subtle wood and pine needles, and hints of grapefruit and oranges.
Finish:
The long finish offers flavours of salted and smoked dark chocolate, burnt oak, and a hint of ground pepper.
Comments:
I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of this whisky, and I’m considering treating myself to full bottles of those old White Horse blends – they’re quite impressive! Blindfolded, based on the mouthfeel alone, I would have guessed it was around 46–50% ABV; the richness is truly unexpected. The taste and nose are delightful, with possibly a good amount of Lagavulin contributing to its character.
Rating: 6.5/10
White Horse Fine Old Scotch Whisky (1970s) Review
Next up is another White Horse Fine Old Scotch Whisky blend, this time from the 1970s. I purchased a 50 ml flask-shaped miniature bottle at auction, and similar bottles frequently appear on auction websites. This particular bottling is 70 UK Proof, equivalent to 40% ABV.
Colour:
Russet. Two shades darker than the previous one.
Nose:
Neat: Aromas of pine sap and peat are more pronounced compared to the previous White Horse blend. There’s also the scent of freshly cut pine trunks and a burst of citrus from a bag of oranges. There are some creamy and vanillin notes pastry cream, a slight grainy sharpness of paint thinner, and light floral notes.
Palate:
Neat: Once again, the mouthfeel is pleasant, though less thick and oilier. The peat is quite prominent, accompanied by flavours of burnt wood, black pepper, a hint of chili, and perhaps even a touch of Tabasco sauce. Herbaceous notes intertwine with flavours of dark chocolate, smoked dried apricots, and oranges.
Finish:
The finish offers smoked salted chocolate once more, alongside notes of burnt wood, oak ashes, and a touch of chalk. It’s a satisfyingly long finish once again.
Comments:
Wow, this is excellent. It’s even peatier than the previous one. I wonder if there’s more Lagavulin in this one compared to the slightly newer White Horse blend. I’ll definitely be on the lookout for bottles of this on auction websites in the future.
Rating: 7/10
White Horse (1960s) Review
Once again, we take a leap further back in time, this time to the 1960s, with a White Horse bottled featuring a spring cap closure. This bottling has an ABV of 43%. I acquired a 50 ml sample from a friend who purchased a bottle at auction.
Colour:
Burnished
Nose:
Neat: There’s a scent of smouldering coal, followed by whisky-infused orange marmalade. The nose is sharply pronounced, with hints of a peculiar mix reminiscent of durian fruit, almost overripe passion fruit, and composted fruit peels. There’s also a creamy undertone. Additionally, I detect notes of wet soil and forest humus after a heavy rain.
Palate:
Neat: Sweeter than the White Horse from the 1970s, and with a thinner mouthfeel. Initial flavours of smoke and ashes are followed by the sensation of a freshly stubbed-out cigar and burnt oak logs. Soon, fruity notes of white peach and oranges emerge, along with hints of cracked white and black pepper, barley water, and a touch of chili oil reminiscent of pizza. I also detect flavours of pistachio shells, raisins, old golden apple, and a slight hint of wet cardboard, possibly due to the effects of aging. With subsequent sips, the mouthfeel becomes creamier, which is quite impressive for a whisky at 43% ABV.
Finish:
The finish is characterised by the lingering sensation of pizza chili oil and the aroma of an unbaked pizza base, both infused with wood smoke and peated barley. Subtle salty notes intertwine with hints of engine oil, liquorice roots, and the bitterness of star aniseed. There’s also a touch of raw fennel that adds to the complexity.
Comments:
This whisky left me perplexed for days. Initially, I thought there might be something wrong with my sample, but it turned out it just needed a lot of aeration. I tried it several times over the course of a couple of weeks, and this last tasting was a revelation. This White Horse from the 1960s really came together, revealing surprising and delightful notes, along with fantastic complexity. There were new things to discover with each sniff and sip. It requires a lot of time, as expected for something this old, but the effort is heavily rewarded. Thanks a lot, Nicolas!
Rating: 8/10
Whyte & Mackay Special Selected Scotch Whisky (1970s) Review
Although Whyte & Mackay Distillers was officially founded in Glasgow in 1882, its roots trace back to 1844. At that time, James Whyte managed the firm of Allan and Poynter. Following the establishment of their own company, James Whyte and Charles Mackay promptly introduced their proprietary blend, Whyte & Mackay Special. I purchased a miniature bottle containing 1 2/3 fl. oz (50 ml), bottled at 75 proof (43% ABV).
Colour:
Deep copper.
Nose:
Neat: Strong notes of paint thinner and grain whisky dominate, with a hint of caramel. The nose is rather harsh.
Palate:
Neat: Cardboard, caramel, and brown sugar dominate the palate, with little else to offer. The whisky feels quite rough, with the cardboard notes becoming more pronounced with each sip. A hint of pepper emerges toward the end.
Finish:
The finish is characterised by notes of cardboard, burnt caramel, and a slight bitterness. It’s of medium length.
Comments:
Well, I suppose I won’t be seeking out a full-sized bottle of this Whyte & Mackay blend. It’s too grainy and harsh, with prominent cardboard notes on the palate. Despite giving it ample time to aerate, much like I did with the 1960s White Horse, it remains overly harsh, with the cardboard notes persisting. It’s nice to try once for reference and to gain knowledge of old blends, but that’s about it.
Rating: 3/10
Ballantine’s 30-year-old pre-1939 (1974) Spirit SpA Import Review
We conclude this session of old blends with something truly special: a 30-year-old Ballantine’s bottled in 1974 specifically for the Italian market. Imported by Spirit Spa, this whisky was made from whiskies distilled before 1939, as indicated by the attached note hanging on the side of the bottle.
In 1827, George Ballantine, the son of a farmer, established a shop in Edinburgh. Over time, the shop expanded its offerings to include wines and spirits. In 1865, George Ballantine handed over the operation of the shop to his eldest son, Archibald, while he set up a second, larger premises in Glasgow. With this new business, Ballantine began creating his own blends, which garnered considerable interest. He then enlisted the assistance of another son, George Jr., and together they began trading under the name George Ballantine & Son.
I acquired this bottle from Whisky Antique 18 months ago for a substantial sum (about €650), but given the opportunity to try something distilled before the Second World War, it was an easy decision. This 750 ml bottle was filled in 1974 at 43% ABV, and only 900 bottles were produced for the Italian market.
Colour:
Russet
Nose:
Neat: The nose offers rich aromas of orange marmalade and old caramel, alongside hints of camphor and herbal embrocation. There’s a sensation reminiscent of cooling coal and oak smoke from a barbecue, with a touch of old engine oil. Subtle notes of eucalyptus, floral hints, candied apricots, and dried fruits round out the complexity.
Palate:
Neat: The palate reveals flavours of salted caramel, Jaffa cakes, and exotic woods, followed by hints of turpentine and old leather. There’s a distinct taste of smoked haddock, accompanied by notes of orange peel, pepper, lemon zest, and bitters. A subtle hint of walnut wine lingers in the background. In the rear, there are traces of smoked tropical fruits and oranges, salted quince, dried figs, and smoked mango.
Finish:
The finish is characterised by lingering smokiness and leather, along with a citrusy sourness. There’s also a more prominent woodiness, reminiscent of American oak.
Comments:
When I first tried this whisky a couple of months after purchasing the bottle, I was pleasantly surprised. It was quite different from what I was expecting from a whisky of its age. Initially, it felt ‘too modern’ and ‘not tired enough’, leading me to wonder if it might be a fake. However, after sharing it with many friends and people I trust in the whisky world, I realised that it was my expectations that were mistaken.
This Ballantine’s is truly impressive. Despite being around 85 years old since distillation and 50 years since bottling, it remains remarkably lively. It shows very few signs of old bottle effect; the smoke is still very present, and both the taste and nose are complex and delightful. You can easily spend hours savouring it. Considering all this, the price paid for this bottle was quite reasonable.
