We all know the Limburg Whisky Fair as one of the major whisky festivals in Europe (btw the 2012 edition is April 28-29). They have their own whisky label which is used to release interesting drams, not only at the time of the festival but practically the year round.

This one was distilled at an undisclosed Speyside distillery. My guess would be Glenfarclas and in that case it’s quite rare since it was matured in bourbon wood (check this similar release by Whisky-Fässle).

Speyside 42 yo 1969 (53,4%, The Whisky Fair 2011, ex-bourbon cask, 156 btl.)

Nose: elegant and luxurious. A lot of beehive notes (beeswax and honey) with vanilla cream and Demerara sweetness. Plenty of precious woods and spices. Mint. Some floral touches. Hints of dried apricots and walnut cake. Mouth: oily mouthfeel with spices everywhere! Pepper, ginger, nutmeg… Clear oaky notes but not the drying, tannic kind of woodiness. It stays rather sweet and rounded. Less fruits though, mostly citrus now. Orange cake. Finish: long, still gingery and peppery. A little mocha. Maybe a tad too woody in the very end.

A marvellous nose and a very spicy palate, clearly marked by the oak but still fresh after so many years. Around € 200. Available from the Whisky Fair shop or eSpirits.

Score: 89/100