Whisky : Dewar’s White Label (1971)

Country/Region : Scotland/Blend

ABV : 43%

Cask : Various

Nose : Subtle with smoke, wood, and citrus.  An initial whiff of herbal smoke parted to reveal tart grapefruit, lemon gummies, lemon tea, and peppercorns.  Wood varnish and violets led to venerable floral notes of old drapes and shag carpet.  

Palate : Medium-bodied with a mild creaminess and notes of citrus, spice, and pastries. Citrusy notes of lemon butter, lemon pepper, and lemon tea with an ample dollop of sweet honey. Wisps of smoke, wood varnish, and cinnamon apple sauce hung in the back, while tea and butter cookies remained at the end.

Finish : Lingering apple, pastries, and a mild dryness.

Score : 7

Mental Image : Purple Shag Carpet

Notes : When we were little, we moved into the same house where my mother had grown up. Her room, which eventually became my brother’s, was painted in shades of lavender which matched the deep purple shag carpet. The aroma on this Dewar’s took me right back to the feel of that soft carpet and the hope that maybe I could get shag carpet in my room. That never happened (it would have been a terrible idea), and before my brother took over that room, the shag carpet was replaced— yet there was a particular scent to it that has always stuck with me.

I was surprised just how vibrant and robust this was for such an old bottle. Stamped with 1971 on the bottle and a label design that put it squarely in the 1970s, this was an old dram— nearly fifty years just sitting in a glass bottle, stashed away somewhere. It was in excellent condition, and it was easy to see why the 70s were the age of the blend— a period before single malts were all the rage and long before single cask bottlings became the center of hobbyist attention. The flavor profile was beautifully balanced between sweet citrus, buttery pastry, and hints of charcoal ash. It reminded me of a lot of Clynelish and, as Distillers Company Limited owned both the distillery and brand at the time, it is certainly possible at least some Clynelish was present in the bottle.

Overall, tasting old blends is fun and usually not very expensive. Any bottle is a massive gamble because storage conditions vary wildly. Sometimes the whisky has clearly lost much of its flavor, vibrancy, or, even worse, developed some unpleasant cabbage notes. Typically a label in poor condition or a low fill level are good warning signs, so it is always a pleasant surprise when the whisky is still lively and delicious.