1989 House of MacDuff The Golden Cask Dumbarton 32 Year Old Cask Strength Single Grain Scotch Whisky (700ml)

The Grandfather of the House of MacDuff grain collection is this 1989 Dumbarton. The plant was known for making a slightly heavier style, partly due to its stills and possibly due to a preference for maize rather than wheat but closed in 2002. Looking like sherry is playing a key role from first glance, but it's actually Bourbon(!), that in spite of the superb oloroso-ish aromatics that range through Seville orange, hazelnuts, high cocoa chocolate, dried plums, fruit cake and more. It follows through with elegant flavours of dried peels, rancio, aged muscat, salted nuts and fruit cake before a sticky-date finale that rebounds with walnuts, cinnamon and fine astringency. Miles away from the Lowlands, this is more like a perfectly mature Armagnac or a premium sherried Speysider (if Macallan or Glendronach was on the label you would be paying several thousands for what is on offer here). A glorious wood-aged spirit and a bargain for both drinkers and speculators, jump on it before the market wakes up. 127 bottles at natural strength of 47.1% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered. Collectable.