Convalmore 1977 28 year old, 57.9%, £155
OK, confession time. This remains one of my favorite whiskies ever, a classic example of what long, slow aging in a refill cask can do for a whisky — increase its unctuous nature, bring out butterscotch, ginseng, honey, deepen the orchard fruits, and release a dazzling spiciness on the tongue. It has balance, it has finesse, and there’s not much left. —Dave Broom
Advanced Malt Advocate magazine rating: 93
(Not available in the U.S.)
Does this have any connection to cragganmore (because of the design)?
Funny – that was my question too so I looked it up in my copy of “Whiskeypedia”. Convalmore was last owned by William Grant (now closed/dismantled – 1985)- Craggenmore owned by Diageo. Both in Speyside – Convalmore in Dufftown; Craggenmore in Ballindalloch.
Convalmore is very rare – therefore the higher price. They also have a 24 yo, 1978 -”Rare Malts Series” 59.4% ABV
Ooops – I misspelled Cragganmore… sorry. It’s an A not an E…
Convalmore closed in 1985, Diageo sold the buildings to Grant’s in 1990. I am pretty sure the reviewed whisky is a Diageo bottling under a sub company name. Grants uses the warehouses for their own stuff afaik
Steffen
I was surprised to see this whisky posted. There can’t be much of it left for purchase. I think we sold out of it two years ago… Great review, wish I had this a couple of years ago!
Me too, Andrew… I guess maybe Dave just reviewed it as an example of one of his favorites, which is kind of cool in a way…
Hence, “there’s not much left,” eh?
I wonder where it is that there is still some left after 6-7 years– I have a feeling Dave’s review will be very welcome by some whisky shop owners in the uk who’ve been having trouble kicking out their last couple of bottles of this…
I actually found one of these in a grocery store in Dufftown earlier this year. Needless to say it is now sitting on my shelf
Bryan…open it! You know it would be good research.
I’ve got a bottle of this stored away for a rainy day.
Don’t think there were many available originally.
i’m curious: how much did this sell for when there was a lot of it around?
$218.99 Canadian in Alberta. Plus 5% Sales Tax
Can you get any more Andrew? I’d like a bottle of this.
Sadly no, though I may know someone who has one…
If you can arrange it I would be appreciative
My very first bottle from SMWS was a Convalmore distilled in 1978 and bottled in 1993 – Still have most of it