A new package with samples from the Thompson Brothers arrived. It includes a variety of releases from the past few months and we’ll start with some of the older whiskies: an undisclosed Highland Malt 1976, as well as Old Rhosdhu 1994 and a teaspooned Side-burn 1989.
I’m not sure any of them are still available: the Thompsons seem to be more comfortable with supplying review samples well after the whisky is sold out – which is perfectly fine. Keep an eye on their online shop for future releases.
Highland Single Malt 49 yo 1976 (45,1%, Thompson Bros. for Dornoch Castle 2026, cask #SR26050, 140 btl.)
Nose: delicious. It’s full of mango, papaya and tangerines, passion fruit syrup, as well as some apricot jam and orange juice. It’s totally fruity juice with a great tropical side to it. Dried wildflowers and hints of furniture polish. Then a whiff of frangipane cake, floral honey and some candle wax. Very light resinous touches and soft leather.
Mouth: entirely about the tropical fruits again. So good, really. Apricots, mango and dried pineapple, as well as ripe gooseberries, more tangerines and pink grapefruit. Impossible not to think of Bushmills here. Later the beehive notes join the party: honey, waxy notes, fresh flowers. Also fruit tea, a little bergamot and elderflower, along with hints of olive oil and gentle wood spice.
Finish: quite long considering the age. No excessive wood, all on jammy fruits, mint and mild resinous notes.
I think we’ve had this very same profile not long ago and even at almost 50 years of age it’s still unmistakably fantastic. Simon gave me a sip of this at the Limburg Whisky Fair and I immediately felt nostalgic because I hadn’t had this profile in such a long time. What a joy!
Old Rhosdhu 32 yo 1994 (49,4%, Thompson Bros. 2026, Madeira barrique finish, 155 btl.)
Nose: a complex mix, with lots of tiny nuances. There’s sour apple, cranberries, lime and a hint of guava. Hay and leafy notes. An old metal toolbox, including some grease, along with hessian and teak oil. Some moist bread and herbal notes too. Hard to pin down really.
Mouth: still old-school, with a nice oily texture, oxidized apple, lots of leafy notes and green herbs again. Rosemary and lime, hints of cigar leaves, a hint of sandalwood and mustard. A controlled tannic grip, nice rancio and a curious salty note in the end.
Finish: quite long, on leathery and oily notes, some saline hints, aniseed and tart fruits.
This is a very complex dram, with some funky old-style herbs and industrial notes, as well as sour fruits from the Madeira cask. I can’t really think of other distilleries that give you this slightly bizarre combination of tasting notes. Intruiging whisky! Score: 89/100
Teaspooned Side-Burn 35 yo 1989 (51,1%, Thompson Bros. for Dornoch Castle 2025, refill cask #Bal.001, 333 btl.)
Nose: lush aromatics, with honeysuckle, green apple and a sweet hint of vanilla custard. Later also melons and lemons, with a slightly winey influence (good wine, nothing tangy). Then also a subtle chalky edge, some ginger and light honey. Very pleasant.
Mouth: more honey now, and also a very beautiful waxy note. We also get tangerines, more cantaloupe, pears and greengages. Also mint, a pinch of white pepper, drops of herbal tea and hints of grapes. A gentle salty note in the end. Good depth, and well rounded.
Finish: long, with some old oak and grape pith, so slightly greener.
Always a bit restrained, these very old undisclosed Balvenies. However it’s a complex dram with lots of fruity roundness. Score: 90/100