Macduff 21 yo (1970) James MacArthur’s 55.5% bottled Aug 1991 vs Macduff 13 yo 1974 / 1987 SMWS 6.5 58.2%

Macduff 21 yo (1970) James MacArthur’s 55.5% bottled Aug 1991

Almost all the whiskies in this little pocket rocket mini collection have been pure rocket fuel, and this is no different. Powerful, spirity, sweet woody caramel and other bourbonesque notes. A bit of grease, some oiliness, scratched copper pans, a drop of herbal bitters and lots lots lots of power despite it’s relatively manageable 55.5%. 83 pts

Macduff 13 yo 1974 / 1987 SMWS 6.5 58.2%

We’re onto a big muscular meaty sherrybomb in the truest sense of the word. Bovril, seared beef, tar, soy, Worcestershire sauce, flambed plums, molten cocoa, lots of sweet woody spices, lots of dried resins, fruit pastes, menthol jujubes and multi-hued overtones from purple to black. And most amazing of all, no blocky overly tannic wood. Sherry maturation done right. (and it is all about the sherry here) 91 pts