The Whisky Agency 44 Years Old Speyside Region Ten Years TWA 48.6% 1973

Professional reviews

Serge Valentin (93)

Colour: light gold. Nose: ahh, the wonders of ‘plain wood’. One of these totally beautiful very old refill wood profiles that’s just bursting with pollens, nectars, honeys, yellow flowers, subtle waxes, sandalwood, verbena, wormwood, soft earthy tones and beyond all that hints of camphor, yellow chartreuse and vapour rubs. Pure pleasure and totally stunning aroma. We’re not far from a 1950s Glenfarclas or a 1972 Caperdonich. Mouth: A superb combination of yellow flowers, herbal extracts, wormwood, olive oil, lemongrass, soot, menthol resins, chamomile, ointments, a whole beehive of honeys and waxy honeycomb. Pine liqueurs, mint juleps, tropical fruit syrups, tea tree oils, tarragon, lemon peels, green banana... just totally wonderful! Finish: Long, all on various green, mint and herbal teas, star fruits, lemon balm and caraway. More allusions to ancient herbal liqueurs and eucalyptus extracts. Comments: This kind of profile is really just to die for. A cask that nurtures but never dominates. After 40+ years this combination great distillate and subtle wood is, for me, the epitome of old malt whisky at its best.