North Star Spica 29 Year Old Blended Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Tasting note: [15ml sample] Independent bottlers, North Star are renowned for offering big age statements at modest price tags. Another incredible buy, this deeply coloured, three-decades-old blend smells like it's almost dripping in sherry (PX?), air time accentuating dates, fruity dark chocolate, pipe tobacco and trace sulphur. Less apparent wine input on the palate, but the delivery is everything you'd expect from a middle ager of this ilk. Malt-heavy with no shortage of richness (dark chocolate / dried fruits) and beautiful balance, with a vibrancy, lightness and length on the finish that suggests it's been bottled at ideal maturity. Non chill filtered. 45.5% Alc./Vol. 1000 bottles worldwide.

Other reviews... Colour: gold. Nose: that’s right, a blend. Nice maltiness, breads, cakes, ripe fruits, old wine cellar, potpourri, liquorice, cherries, sweet mushrooms… It hasn’t got the higher definition of a good single malt, but it’s got a good complexity and I’m not sure we’re worse off for that. Mouth: same feelings. Fruitcake, dough, cherries, raisins, malt, then chocolate and tobacco and a touch of violet sweet. Or there, crystallised violet flowers, as they make in Provence. Finish: rather medium, and rather more on marmalade, oranges… Back to cherries, raisins and pepper in the aftertaste. Comments: reminds me of some folks that used to fit VW Beetles with genuine Porsche engines. Good, one Euro each and I drop my crappy car analogies and metaphors.
85 points - Serge Valentin, whiskyfun.com