Convalmore 39 Years Old 1984 Cask #1733 (G&M)

The Elgin house Gordon and MacPhail bottled this Convalmore, a 39 year old, distilled in 1984, from cask 1733, bottled at 51.1%, one of 108 bottles. Convalmore is a closed Speyside distillery, its single malt rare and its stock now finite. With the distillery long silent, every bottle draws on a finite, dwindling stock.

Distilled for a firm, fruity Speyside spirit, for a waxy, fruity make of real depth. A sherry butt held it, the wood lending raisin and walnut. Ethereal and old, decades draw the malt to a waxy, honeyed delicacy of sotolon, old oak and dried fruit. Refill oak lets the robust Convalmore character lead, malt and orchard fruit beneath. Years in oak round the spirit, the fruit deepening to dried fruit and honey. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and coconut over the waxy malt. Most Convalmore went quietly into blends, a little surviving as single malt. No more will ever be made, the distillery silent since 1985.

At a full 51.1% it is bold yet fruity. A robust, fruity sweetness, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. It is robust and fruity, the full bodied spirit shining through. It finishes robust, fruity and warm. This is the robust, fruity ghost of Convalmore.