St. Magdalene Rare Malts Selection 19 Years Old 1979

This St. Magdalene, an official release, a 19 year old Lowland malt from 1979 and bottled at 63.8%. St. Magdalene, also bottled as Linlithgow, was dating to 1753 in the old whisky country west of Edinburgh and closed in 1983 after some two centuries. The Union Canal carried its casks to market through the whisky boom years.

Distilled on artesian well water in old fashioned coal fired stills, building the distinctive oily character it is loved for. An ex-Bourbon barrel shaped it, gentle American oak beneath the wax. Past twenty years the malt gains a waxy weight over its grassy, oily base. Refill oak flatters the make, holding back its sweetness so the grass and wax lead. Its oily, grassy character set it apart from the lighter, more floral Lowland malts. The distillery is bottled under both its names, St Magdalene and Linlithgow. Run by the Dawson family for much of the 19th century, it passed to DCL in 1912.

At 63.8%, undiluted, it is deep and waxy. Grass, lemon and a waxy weight sit alongside honeyed oak sweetness underneath. It is mineral and elegant, the grassy spirit shining through. A waxy, white fruit finish lingers long. This is a revered Lowland malt from a distillery silent since 1983.