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Whisky Review

2011-09 Shackleton Replica Mackinlay's

Shackleton's MacKinlay's Rare Old Highland Malt nights Tuesday 20th and Monday 26th September 2011.

We have all heard the hype. No other whisky release is steeped in such history. The story and the packaging are second to none but what about the drinkability?! On two nights we studied some key single malts that were used in the replica, the replica malt itself and a blend as well, which is still produced under the MacKinlay name.

The replica is a vatted malt, a marriage of singles, and such whiskies generally don't have loads of character. We were well suprised just how good it was. Buy a bottle and put it away. It's limited to a run of 50,000 bottles, which is not exactly "rare", but it will always be a fascinating bottle in anyone's collection.

Check out our whisky blog for more background history on this story.

In addition to that info we can add further details: The three bottles taken back to the spritual home of Scotland each had small samples extracted by needle. The bottles then were returned to Christchurch and currently await a flight back to cape Royds. The samples themselves were analysed first for alcohol level, found to be 47.3%. The level was not stated on the original bottles nor was this legally required at the time. Traces of wood particles were found in the whisky and these turned out to be american oak having had stored spanish sherry. A great combination. No one is 100% sure whether the original was a single malt or a marriage, but the replica is based around the long closed distillery Glen Mhor malt, with Dalmore, Highland Park, Jura, Glenfarclas and others. The original was a premium scotch in it's day (single malts were not commercially available) so this is a chance to see what whisky drinkers enjoyed way back then.

The reviews and scores were as follows:  

Highland Park 14yo Sept 1996 bottled OMC Feb 2011 at 50% from hogshead 6958. Score 9.04 Came First.
NOSE: Smoked bacon, vanilla, high alc, maple, tobacco, cardboard, dusty, a laphroaig note, formic acid (ants), bitter, berries.
PALATE: Peat, sweet, Islay, bourbon.
FINISH: Salt, smoke, vanilla ice cream, finally we have a finish, tingly.

Iconic Speyside 1966 42yo 25.05.1966 bottled Duncan Taylor 27.11.2008 at 45.2% from sherry hogshead. Score 8.55 Came Second.
NOSE: Banana, oak, age, leather armchair, cinnamon, tropicana, brown sugar, pineapple lumps, smooth, sherry, toasties, PVA, fruit salad, smoke hint.
PALATE: Liquorice, oak, high alc, musty, banana lollies.
FINISH: Sacking, wine, dries out, biscuits, addlery, malty, all over the show, liquorice, medium.

MacKinlay's Replica Old Highland Malt 47.3%. Score 8.43 Came Third.
NOSE: Rubber, strange, vanilla, moves around, nice, creamy, dusty, light, low alc (!), smoke.
PALATE: Peat hint, interesting, better than nose, oily note, bit plain.
FINISH: Banana, wood, metalic, cheese, heat, sustains, spice, medium

Glen Mhor 1979 bottled G&M 2004 43%. Score 7.67 Came Fourth.
NOSE: Oak, heaps of leather, pepper, pancake breakfast, honey, spicy apples, Xmas cake, cloves, straw, prunes.
PALATE: mushrooms, chemical, uncomplicated, caramel, newsprint, coffee.
FINISH: Smoke, floral oils, caramel, buttery, dries, oak, burnt note, short but with an echo.

MacKinlay's Blend 40% Score 7.42 Came Fifth.
NOSE: Soft, sweet, chocolate, salt, no trace of peat smoke but a hint of dirt, marshmallow, cereal, floral, sherry, burnt hokey pokey, thick, citrous, golden syrup, walnuts.
PALATE: Manuka honey, blend? sharp, but oily, short.
FINISH: Smoke, bitter chalk, more than palate, lean, clean, white pepper.

Jura 16yo Diurach's Own 40%. Score 6.99 Came Sixth.
NOSE: Sweet, caramel, fudge, dark fruit, maple, charred wood, toes, honey suckle, cognac, leather, sherry, powdery.
PALATE: Salami, yeast, beer, bitter chocolate, coffee.
FINISH: Some smoke, sherry, something got into the barrel, falls off, kava, bitter, a damp Scottish beach holiday and about as short.

Dalmore 12yo 40%, 50%bourbon/50% oloroso. Score 6.70 Came Seventh.
NOSE: A savoury side, floral oils, dusty, sacking, blubber, pepper, shaving cream, vanilla oak, biscuity, cheese, juicy fruit, paint, dusty.
PALATE: Bitter/sweet, egg carton, subtle, smooth, cocoa, sewing machine oil, malt.
FINISH: Bitter, less fire, cool, low alc, liquorice, woody, med/short.

DMM/RWS
The Products...
DALMORE 12YO 700ML
Dalmore 12Yo 700Ml
Reviewed at our Shackletons Replica tastings September 2011 Dalmore 12yo 40%, 50%bourbo...
$89.95 sale! 700 MLS
More...
GLEN MHOR 1979 700ML
Glen Mhor 1979 700Ml
Reviewed at our Shackletons Replica tastings September 2011 Glen Mhor 1979 bottled G&am...
$143.70 700 MLS
More...
JURA 16 YO 40% 700ML
Jura 16 Yo 40% 700Ml
Reviewed at our Shackletons Replica tastings September 2011 Jura 16yo Diurachs Own 40%....
$106.85 700 MLS
More...
HIGHLAND PARK ADELPHI 1995 15YO 55.4%
Highland Park Adelphi 1995 15Yo 55.4%
Reviewed at our Glenfarclas vs highland Park tastings August 2011: Highland Park 15...
$184.35 700 MLS
More...

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Staff Recommendations

KIERAN

And the good weather starts! I had a fantastic roast shoulder of lamb on the weekend.

DANIEL

Give me big flavour at cask strength if possible please.
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