Scotch

Whisky Review: Orphan Barrel Muckety-Muck 26 Year Old

We review Orphan Barrel Muckety Muck 26 Year, a single-grain Scotch distilled at the now-closed Port Dundas Distillery in Glasgow.

OVERALL RATING

6
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Orphan Barrel Muckety Muck 26 Year review

Tasting Notes

About:

Single-grain Scotch distilled at the now-closed Port Dundas Distillery in Glasgow; mash bill of 100% malted barley; aged 26 years; 92 proof/46% alcohol by volume; $299.99 for a 750 ml bottle.
Appearance:
Light tawny color, more orange than straw. Still light, however.
Nose:
I really enjoyed the nose on this whisky. It smells sweet and fruity, reminiscent of the lowland Scotch that it is, having been distilled in Glasgow. There’s nothing particularly complex about it, but it’s pleasant and inviting. Think poached pears with chocolate drizzled on top.
Palate:
The straightforward, uncomplicated, sweet, and fruity tendencies we found in the nose continue in the mouth. This is an easy-going and sweet whisky, but disappears quickly. There’s no finish to speak of at all. A hint of spice tempers the sugary, fruity flavors. I tasted dark chocolate, tangy citrus, cloves, fruitcake, pecans, and lightly buttered toast.
Finish:
Comments:
My Whiskey Wash colleagues who reviewed the 24 Year Old and the 25 Year Old Muckety Muck offerings weren’t particularly impressed. Talia Gragg two years ago and Margarett Waterbury last year each gave it three stars out of five, and I tend to agree with their assessment after tasting the 26 Year Old.rnrnThis is a perfectly acceptable lowland Scotch, and the packaging and presentation are top-notch. But I think you’d have to be a muckety-muck with some extra income, indeed, to want to pay $299 for a bottle.

Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by The Whiskey Wash or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.

Scott Bernard Nelson

Scott Bernard Nelson is a writer, actor, and whiskey reviewer based in Portland, Oregon. While currently working in higher education, he previously dedicated 22 years to journalism, covering impactful events such as 9/11 in Manhattan, crossing into Iraq with U.S. Marines, and contributing to The Boston Globe's Pulitzer Prize-winning coverage of abuse in the Catholic Church, which inspired the film "Spotlight." Since 2019, Scott has shared his insights as a whiskey reviewer for The Whiskey Wash.  

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