St. Magdalene 28 Years Old 1982 Cask #DL 6810 (Douglas Laing)

This is a St. Magdalene single malt, chosen and bottled by Douglas Laing, a 28 year old from 1982, drawn from cask DL 6810 and bottled at 50%. Only 439 bottles were released. St. Magdalene was founded in 1753 on the Union Canal in West Lothian, and closed in the great cull of 1983. After closure the buildings became flats, the pagoda malt barn preserved and listed.

Distilled in coal fired pot stills, the barley floor malted on site, giving the waxy, mineral spirit it is remembered for. It rested in ex-Bourbon oak, the wood adding a light honeyed sweetness. Long ageing brings an oily depth, tropical fruit and a mellow, waxy character. The waxy, oily make carries cask flavour while holding its own character. St Magdalene took its name from a convent and leper hospital that once stood on the site. The Union Canal ran past the distillery, carrying its casks through the whisky boom years.

Undiluted at 50%, it is layered. The refill oak lending honey and vanilla, with sharp white fruit and a grassy wax. The mouthfeel is oily, the fruit carried on a waxy body. A long, honeyed finish carries a grassy note. This is a vanishing dram from Linlithgow's silent distillery.