Old Rhosdhu 1994 - 48% - AD Rattray
Product details
From the A. D. Rattray Vintage Cask Collection
- Distilled at Loch Lomond
- Known as Old Rhosdhu
- 27 Years Old
- Matured in Bourbon
- Cask No: 9
- Date Distilled: 03.02.1994
- Date Bottled: 23.09.2021
- Number of Bottles: 309
- Cask strength: 48.0%
- Un-chill filtered
- Natural colour
Cask Notes
Rhosdhu is unpeated Loch Lomond single malt from a configuration of pot stills not used since the 1990s. An extremely rare cask bursting with a medley of ripe fruit and spice, the underlying waxy character is highly sought after and characteristic of a much older malt.
Colour: Orange marmalade.
Nose: Roast apple peel, plum, bergamot, liquorice and beeswax.
Palate: Rooibos, pineapple, mango and crystallised ginger.
Finish: Luxurious white chocolate praline and indulgent vanilla cream.
Appearance: Amber gold, beads quickly before falling as very slow, thin legs.
Nose: Honey, stoned fruit, a little cooked apple and hint of furniture wax
Palate: More honey, fruity but more estery with baked pineapple, fresh mangoes, apricot, apple, together with a slightly bitter fruit tea note. Ginger provides a warming prickle.
Finish: Quite drying and astringent, a little crème brûlée at the close.
Summary: A really interesting whisky, for a 27 year old it has a character which is fresh and fruity. Although quite drying, the old oak note you would almost expect to be there is conspicuous by its absence. Bottled at a generous 48%, even a few drops of water absolutely drowned it. It’s enjoyable, but a bit of an enigma.
There’s a sense that there could be far more to this malt than is immediately obvious, and that it needs a long time in the glass to really open up and reveal its full character. It also has the feel of one of those bottles which, once opened, will improve as the level goes down over a longer period of time.
Current price is £179 which isn’t atypical for a whisky of this age. Well outside my usual price range unfortunately, but I did enjoy the experience and would love to have the opportunity to find out if there really is a lot more to this one than first appears.
If you would like more information on AD Rattray and their range of whiskies, please visit the company website.
