I had the privilege of trying Convalmore 36, finally. I nosed it once in a previous visit to the bar but decided to go with the Balvenie 1974 SV for a grail dram back then. But I never forgot how it nosed and I knew I had to try it. Prices have climbed through the roof and with good reason for this vatting of 1977 distillate bottled in 2013.

Tasting Notes

Nose: wax, lightest hint of plasters, rock sugar, light date pudding, limes, slightest hint of salted cabbage but never offensive, green mangoes, kiwi

Palate: so smooth, so velvety, very very slightly tannic, kiwi, lime juice, lemon candy, coconut flakes, strawberry candy, fig, rhubarb

Finish: endless, wax paper like the sort wrapped around sweets, butterscotch, pineapple, rhubarb, blackberries

What really stands out it's not just the incredible complexity, but how the dram evolves with air, as well as how cleanly defined each note is. I commented to the bar owner that I could almost taste each individual cask in the vatting and what they brought to the dram. This is clearly a mostly ex-bourbon vatting with some sherried whisky. Maybe a 80/20 balance? My goodness - a clear 97 for me. And this was from a session where I had 3-4 drams I'd score 90+.

H.Y.