Master of Malt 40 Years old (Speyside)

The undisclosed Master of Malt 30 years old was our favourite expression in the Master of Malt series so far. They also have a 40 years old version and even a 50 years old. They’re competitively priced considering their age, so let’s find out how they perform.

 

Master of Malt 40 years Undisclosed Speyside distillery 40 yo
(40%, Master of Malt 2008)

Nose: big notes of dates and dried figs. Oak polish. Sour notes of red fruits (redcurrant, raspberry) and tangerine. Hints of sherry vinegar that work quite well. There’s also a great nuttiness in the background. The whole is a bit sharp but very entertaining. I hope I can be just as vibrant at the age of 40. Impressive.

Mouth: fruity start, good attack but the fruity notes can’t keep up very long. The oak comes rolling in and takes over the whole mouthfeel. Tannic and resinous. Again some notes of vinegar.

Finish: long, nutty and fruity. The oak is less prominent. Hints of dark chocolate.

Good stuff but a malt of ups and downs. The nose is very nice, the palate is disturbed by the oak and in the finish the battle between fruit and wood seems to end in a draw. Around € 160.

Score: 87/100