Latest Last Drop 50 Year Old Whisky Had Long Sherry Cask Finishing

Last Drop Distillers, while not distillers in the traditional sense, have nonetheless made a mark in the Scotch world as independent bottlers of long aged whisky. Examples of this to date have included a 1967 Glen Garioch and 48- and 50-year-old blended whisky bottlings. Now they are back again with their sixth ancient, and quite expensive, expression – a 50-year-old blend that’s been double matured in multiple cask types, including ex-Oloroso sherry barrels.

The new Last Drop 50 Year Old “Double Matured” Blended Scotch Whisky, according to the company, was first blended back in 1995 as a 30-year-old offering for the Asian market. It was refilled into ex-bourbon casks, and after an initial bottling occurred what was left over was transferred into seven Spanish (sherry) Hogshead casks before being “returned to a traditional maturation warehouse in the Lowlands of Scotland.”

Fast forward a period of over 20 years and the Last Drop team decided to acquire the casks for bottling late last year. What’s resulted is 898 bottles for this release, each clocking in at 51.8% ABV and costing £3,000 (around $4,300 USD).

Included with this price, besides the 700 ml, wax-dipped by hand bottle, is a special leather presentation case which also has inside of it a 50 ml miniature for tasting your purchase without cracking the main container. There’s a little booklet included as well to give more information about the Scotch’s back story.

Noted, and sometimes controversial, Scotch whisky writer Jim Murray has already taken note of Last Drop’s latest, scoring it a 97 in his 2016 Whisky Bible and naming it 2016 Scotch Blend of the Year • 2016 Blend of the Year (26-50 Years). Official tasting notes for it are below from Last Drop.

A warm aroma of baked orchard fruits, chocolate cherries and rich sherry with a hint of wood spice and roasted coffee.  On the palate, the whisky is rich and smooth with generous dark raisin, star anise and baked plums. The finish is luscious and lingering; red grape and blackcurrant with a subtle overtone of licorice.