I have long suspected I'm a fan of the Lowland style done well, to a level that is almost impossible to obtain from modern Glenkinchie/Auchentoshan/Bladnoch except in the rare IB. This St. Magdalene was priced within my comfort zone for a dram of a silent distillery's product at relatively old age. I think I got more than what I could imagine.

Tasting Notes

Nose: Fresh pears, limes, vanilla, cigars, royal jelly, sea coconut, smoked herring, florals in the form of magnolias, patchouli but elegantly integrated unlike FWP Bowmore. Among the best noses, maybe the best in balancing intensity, diversity and coherence, I have ever tried.

Palate: Smooth, medium texture, nectarine, avocados, finger lime, pineapple, lemongrass, pandan.

Finish: Long, elegant, pine syrup, cedar, sandalwood, flan, nutmeg.

The grassy creamy Lowland style is prominent here with the avocado and pandan notes, but the star is definitely the nose. I was also pleasantly surprised at how well integrated the florals were; this is what FWP Bowmore wishes it could be, except without any real smokiness of course. The cigar note was like that of unlit cigars. And the long sandalwood finish is one to savour.

This is a 94 IMHO, and The only reason this isn't 95+ is that the flavours on the palate are not quite as intense and cleanly defined as on the nose.

H.Y.