A RARE OLD TIME
Blair Bowman nudges several special aged whiskies towards extinction
‘Each dram consumed brings the whisky nearer to complete extinction’
Recently I found myself standing on the top balcony of the Wellington Arch, at Hyde Park Corner in London, watching the rush of London below me. I was then called inside to take part in what would be one of the most intimate and unforgettable whisky tastings I have ever been fortunate enough to attend.
In a small room, directly beneath the enormous sculpture of the Angel of Peace on a quadriga – an ancient four-horse chariot – which crowns Wellington Arch, time seemed to stand still as a small group of invited guests tasted some truly outstanding whiskies from the Last Drop Distillers.
The founders of Last Drop, James Espey OBE and Tom Jago, are not retiring types. Both have achieved notable and groundbreaking accomplishments during distinguished careers in the wine, spirits and more specifically whisky industries. Between them they have created and developed spirits brands such as Johnnie Walker Blue Label, Chivas Regal 18 year old and Diageo’s Classic Malts range, as well as Malibu and Baileys Irish Cream.
However, instead of putting their feet up and retiring, they decided to join forces and established their new company nine years ago ‘to find, and bottle, for the delectation of friends and connoisseurs alike, the world’s finest, rarest and most exclusive spirits’. In other words, you could say that they have decided to save the best for last.
They seek out what they describe as ‘last drops’ of exceptionally old and rare spirits. They will only ever bottle something if they believe it to be ‘unique, extremely limited in quantity and exceptionally delicious’. They wish to offer once in a lifetime bottlings. In their nine years of trading they have only bottled six different whiskies and one cognac, all at exceedingly limited quantities.
On that day we tasted each of their seven ‘last drops’. It is sufficient to say that this was truly a once in a lifetime tasting experience. The combined age of the six glasses of whisky and one cognac was 356 years old, with an average age of 51 years old, so you get the idea. These bottlings are the rarest of the rare. Each of the whiskies was exceptional, balanced, elegant and not in the slightest overpowered by wood notes, despite their age maturing in casks. The cognac was also incredibly floral and delicate, despite its age.
The bottlings in the order they were released are as follows:
The 1960 Blended Scotch Whisky (only 1347 bottles)
The 1950 Finest Aged Cognac (only 478 bottles)
The 50-Year-Old Blended Scotch Whisky (only 388 bottles)
The 48-Year-Old Blended Scotch Whisky (only 542 bottles)
The 1967 Glen Garioch Single Malt Scotch Whisky (only 188 bottles)
The 50-Year-Old ‘Double Matured’ Blended Scotch Whisky (only 898 bottles)
The 1961 Dumbarton Single Grain Scotch Whisky (only 32 bottles)
When tasting whiskies like these I find that my senses are heightened by the unrepeatable nature of the whole thing. The Dumbarton Distillery was closed in 2002 so each dram consumed brings the whisky nearer to complete extinction.
I find myself becoming more reflective and mindful in the short moments when the whisky, with all its liquid history, is on my taste buds. I try to prolong the inevitable act of swallowing, before the moment is gone.
Whisky, more than any other drink, is about the experience, the moment and the occasion.
As it says on each bottle from the Last Drop Distillers, I was privy to ‘a rare privilege for the very few’. I hope that anyone else who is fortunate enough to taste or own a bottle from the Last Drop Distillers has as special an experience as I had that afternoon in London.
www.lastdropdistillers.com