Sampling The Whisky Exchange’s Exclusive Bottling – A 1973 Vintage Speyside – Taste Thats 43 Years In The Making!

Great things come in small Sample bottles!

The Whisky Exchange has once again collaborated with German independent bottler The Whisky Agency to release a 1973-vintage Speyside blended malt whisky, aged for 43 years and bottled in 2017 from a refill sherry butt.

The Speyside Region Blended Malt Scotch Whisky

It is one of a small number of similar casks that have been released recently, all to critical acclaim. They capture a very particular style of early-1970s spirit, which has been allowed to develop slowly over the past five decades, bringing together fruity character from both cask and distillery.

The Whisky Exchange believes it has been matured in a fino sherry butt, rather than the more usual oloroso cask, adding an extra dimension of flavour.

The whisky’s style is incredibly reminiscent of similarly matured whisky from a renowned family-owned distillery, bottles of which sell for many times the price of this excellent release.

The Whisky Exchange has kindly sent me a sample to try (Thanks Whisky Exchange!).

So, what did I think? Here are my tasting notes …

Tasting Notes – The Whisky Exchange’s Exclusive Bottling Of A 1973 Vintage Speyside (47.4%)

Distilled: 1973
Age: 43 Years (Matured in a refill sherry butt)
Bottled: 2017 at 47.4%
Price: £399 (70cl.)

Nose: Massive, crisp, crunchy, green apple aromas hit you right out of the glass! There’s Vanilla, fudge and then glorious quantities of tropical fruits.
Following on comes some wood, old waxy polish and there’s a crisp, icing sugar headiness which increases the longer the dram is in the glass. Which wasn’t very long to be honest!

Palate: Bountiful Tropical fruits, hints of cherry and a nice, underlying vanilla creaminess.

Finish: Smooth and sweet with tropical fruitiness and vanilla. Spicy pepper is present to spice things up nicely! A slight dryness at the finish.

Overall: Smooth, creamy and tropical is a quick summary of this most excellent dram.
Getting hold of whiskies this old is getting increasingly difficult and getting hold of one at this price is nigh on impossible.
So if you fancy tasting a dram from a bygone age then this one could be for you!