Convalmore 42 Years Old 1960 Rare Old (G&M)

A Convalmore drawn by the Elgin house Gordon and MacPhail, distilled in 1960, bottled at 40%. Convalmore was built in 1894 by the Convalmore-Glenlivet Distillery Company, one of the seven stills of Dufftown. Diageo retains the rights to the Convalmore name, and the few official bottlings come from its vaults.

The spirit was run through the distillery's pot stills at Dufftown, building the old fashioned Convalmore style. An ex-Bourbon barrel shaped it, vanilla beneath the waxy, full bodied spirit. At a great, fragile age oxidation rules, sotolon lending maple and old oak as beeswax and a warm spice linger. The firm, fruity spirit takes cask flavour well while keeping its waxy, malty core. From 1910 it ran an experimental continuous still for malt, abandoned in 1916 as the spirit aged poorly. Maturation in the cool north east kept the spirit fresh across the long years. Closed in 1985, its profile is fixed for good, though a revival is now planned.

At 40% it is gentle, creamy and fruity. Malt, dried fruit and a sweet spice, with a soft vanilla from the oak. Soft orchard fruit and a waxy honey sit behind the cask. The finish is long, waxy and fruity. This is a finite single malt from the lost Convalmore distillery.