St. Magdalene 1980 Old Centenary Reserve Gordon & MacPhail 40% 1980

Professional reviews

Serge Valentin (89)

I know, only 40% vol., a thing from the past, but we’ll take our time and do it gently… Oh and it’s got a twist cap. Not that that matters much… Colour: straw. Nose: oh this is very different. Fish brine, metal polish, fuel smoke, lager beer, green tea, with a little plasticine yet again… It’s obviously much softer than the others, but it’s also very elegant and refined. Also love these whiffs of artisan sunflower oil… Mouth: super good, complex, full despite the strength, rather oily, with many smoked or roasted nuts and seeds. Sesame, for example, or gourd seeds. Normally, as a whisky blogger, I should write ‘I’d kill to be able to try this at cask strength’. But I won’t… oops. Finish: perhaps a little short, but the lemons are coming to the rescue. Pine-y aftertaste, which is obviously good as long as it’s not excessive. Comments: I just noticed that we had this 1980 after the 1975s, while this was supposed to be a verticale. What a mess at WF Towers!