The Cally 40 Year (2015 Special Release)

As a sendoff to a long-time friend, I decided to finally crack open this 40-year-old Caledonian that was bottled by Diageo for their 2015 special release and was priced at $1400 retail. With an ultra-premium price tag, you’d rightly expect some primo packaging; however, Diageo didn’t opt for the bottle porn eye-catching crystal decanter or even a fancy wooden box and instead went for a run of the mill clear glass bottle with an individualized bottle numbered label inside a gargantuan paper box with some ill-fitting ribbons inside to help remove the bottle, along with a teeny tiny book describing the Caledonian distillery. With that price, lackluster packaging and a consumer aware that they can get 40+ year Caledonian for under $400 with a fancy wooden box from independent bottlers, these bottles have sat as shelf turds for the last 6 years. I can only assume that my bottle sat begrudgingly gazing as customers one by one passed by it quietly or not so quietly mocking it, while choosing some other bottle to take home, until the price was drastically reduced by $900 to a clearance price of $500 that prompted me to splurge, help that poor liquor store clean up a bottle turd in their Scotch aisle and give it a chance based solely on my amazing prior experience with an independent bottled single cask Caledonian. Here’s hoping this blended version by Diageo was worth that $500. The nose starts with floral notes of honeysuckle and orange blossom then a mix of cereal and fruit with Apple Jacks cereal, peach ring candy, lemon gum drops then roasted macadamia nuts and vanilla gelato followed by very light oak spices of a whole cinnamon stick, dill and freshly fallen autumn leaves along a hiking trail with no ethanol burn. The taste starts with a honeycomb waxy mouthfeel that coats your mouth starting with floral notes of honeysuckle and orange blossom then fruit notes of apple jolly rancher, caramelized peaches over vanilla gelato, lemon head candy then comes roasted macadamia nuts followed by fronds of dill and lightly steeped black tea that slowly fades to antique leather armchair with light ethanol burn. The finish is long with honey suckle, orange blossom, roasted macadamia nuts, vanilla creme brûlée, mandarin orange slices, peach rings and antique leather armchair that lingers for minutes. This is an exceptional whisky that has aged well through the 40+ years in the casks that starts with an aromatic mix of florals, toasted cereal, candied citrus fruits, nuts and mild oak that carries over to the palate but the balance is slightly off that veers towards a mild bitterness mid-palate before dissipating into the long finish that brings back the pleasant mix from the nose and lingers for minutes. For the cost, I thought this would exceed my prior independent bottled single cask Caledonian experience, but the single cask seemed to provide a better balance of flavors that flowed effortlessly with no bitterness compared to this one and cost under $400. Perhaps this will open up with time and improve, but as of today it’s not better than some whiskies out there that can be had for under $200.

Celebrating the end of 40 days of Lent with a 40 year old whisky. Hefty dose of sweetness on the nose, brown sugar, butterscotch, candle wax with a burnt wick, old varnished furniture. The palate matches the nose for me, along with some baking spices mixed in with the old oak going into the finish. I had this before trying the Glenglassaugh Sandend and the difference in quality was fairly stark. I actually really enjoyed the Sandend, but the old oak notes really set this apart. At the same time, and only the tiniest of quibbles - I think this isn't quite as complex as I had hoped. Still, for the first time to ever taste any whisky in the 40s, it was a sublime experience and a great way to wrap up Lent. Huge thank you to @pkingmartin for the opportunity to try this.

This was sample #2 in our online tasting this evening ( courtesy of @pkingmartin ). An amazing pour —-the real beauty of this lies in the aroma. Peaches, plums…stone fruits galore. I could’ve smelled this all day. Hell…put it in a cologne bottle and call it L’Eau d’Cally. Yeah…maybe not…it’ll smell good in the bottle, but on me…I’d have a sit-down with HR for smelling. drunk all day. This is elegant. Like silk, wrapped up in vanilla and peaches. Look, it’s Diageo and a Special Release,,,,and priced at about $1200-1500…more than my two car payments for a month. So, at that price, I’d have been pissed if it was anything but elegant. Easily, best grain whisky I ever had. Thanks to @pkingmartin for the generous pour!

I've always heard 30 years is the age at which single grain tends to become worthwhile, and this is my first foray into that territory. The aroma is mild, pleasant, a little floral, with some fruit, custard, syrup, and just a hint of parsley in there. The palate is a little sweet, with some creme brulee, cinnamon, baked apple, and a little bit of dill, oak, and spice coming in on the finish. The breadiness that I've gotten in younger (as in ~25 years) grain whiskeys is absent, and this is an all-around enjoyable dram. Maybe I'll give more 30+ year single grains a try if I run across any. Thanks to @pkingmartin for the sample.

This is a very smooth single grain. I'm not sure how much of it is 40 years old but I would recommend a same age Highland Park.