Last Drop Distillers launches 1971 blended Scotch

by Melita Kiely

Luxury spirits company The Last Drop Distillers has released its 10th bottling – a 1971 blended Scotch whisky priced at £3,000.

Only 1,352 bottles of The Last Drop 1971 have been created, which started out as a 12-year-old blend in 1983. The remnants of the blend were then refilled into 11 ex-oloroso Sherry butts and left to mature for another nine years, before some of the liquid was bottled as a 21-year-old blend. The remaining liquid was then transferred into nine oak barrels, which were left to age in a dunnage warehouse for another 24 years. The casks were bought by The Last Drop Distillers and bottled in June 2017, having aged for a total of 45 years. Andrew Rankin, The Last Drop Distillers master blender, commented on the liquid: “On the nose, sweet honey and vanilla give way to tangy orange and lemon followed by warmer notes of stewed apple and toasted almonds. “On the palate, there is a very pleasant fruity sweetness, again followed by a crisp orange and lemon tang, and just a hint of freshly cut oak. “A taste of chocolate orange and baked fruits with a lingering suggestion of orris root and smoke.” The Last Drop 1971 forms part of the company’s Finest Aged range and is presented in a green leather case, complete with a 50ml miniature, a certificate of authenticity, a leather-bound tasting booklet and a custom-made stopper. More information on where to purchase The Last Drop 1971 can be found online at www.lastdropdistillers.com/stockists. Earlier this year, Last Drop Distillers released a 70-year-old Cognac and a 1972 Lochside single grain Scotch whisky.