Cadenheads 1989 Strathclyde 32yo Authentic Collection

Whisky: Cadenheads 1989 Strathclyde 32yo Authentic Collection

Region: Lowland

ABV: 54.5%

Price: £98.50

For our first grain review we’re heading to Glasgows only grain distillery, Strathclyde, where we’re tasting a dram from Cadenheads, Scotland oldest independent bottler. After spending 30 years in a refill bourbon cask this was transferred into a refill sherry cask for the remaining two years of its maturation.

Nose

Creamy grainy goodness, light yet punchy. Werthers originals, fresh ripe strawberry, maraschino cherries, marzipan, Mr. Kipling Bakewell tarts, blood orange peel and dried cranberries.

Palate

Christmas cake without the icing - the raisins, sultanas and brandy soaked sponge. Brandy butter, rum and raisin ice cream and Walnuts. Nice long sweet, rich finish with toffee notes and lingering spice.

Nose (with water)

Molasses, treacle, still a lot of red fruits, some spicy rye notes, fruit punch and Pimms on a summer afternoon.

Palate (with water)

Sweet shortbread, biscuits with raisins, latticed fruit pies, and burnt honeycomb. Still quite full bodied even after a fair bit of water.

Conclusion

We think that old grains are underrated, and this is a great example of why. The additional maturation in sherry has transformed the spirit into something like a Christmas miracle that can be enjoyed at any time of the year. It’s not technically the most complex whisky, but it’s one we’d like to go back to again and again, and fortunately we can as this is still in stock at the time of writing! 

Score: 8/10 

• 10 - Perfection. A whisky that we’ll remember forever.
• 9 - Amazing. We’d pay through the nose for a bottle.
• 8 - Great. Pick this up at RRP.
• 7 - Good. Happy to have a dram or two but wouldn’t buy a bottle.
• 6 - Passable. Would accept a dram, but wouldn’t seek it out.
• 5 - Poor. Would drink if it was the only option.
• 4 - Bad. Maybe it can be saved by ginger beer?
• 3 - Awful. It can't be saved by ginger beer.
• 2 - Pour it out
• 1 - We’ve never tried a whisky rated this low and hopefully never will.

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