SMWS 73.64 Anytime can be Xmas (Sample Box No 1, whisky #8)

73.64 Anytime can be Xmas, 24 YO, 58,4 %

I am still, slowly, working my way through my Christmas calendar of SMWS whiskies. I have now arrived at whisky sample number 8, which (after my blind tasting) turned out to be a 24 year old Aultmore. Aultmore is a Speyside distillery, and a distillery i am not really all that familiar with.

The 73.64 Anytime can be Xmas was distilled on 1989-05-31, matured in a refill butt, then bottled in 2014. The total outturn was 532 bottles.

The asking price for this bottle at SMWS was GBP 92, and it is not sold out.

Nose (21/25): Rich, sweet and somewhat heavy. This is a borderline sherry bomb. Christmas cake, warm spices, red berries and chocolate. Becomes richer still with time, and heavier. There are some spicy notes coming through now, and the red berries get a dusting of powdered sugar.

Taste (21/25): Oily and rich mouthfeel. Floral and sweet. Actually very floral, almost like perfume. Behind the curtain of floral notes I also pick up dried fruits and orange peel.

Finish (20/25): Quite a long finish. There's spices in the mix now, and it turns dry and the perfume is back in full force.

Balance (21/25): Not really my type of dram, but if you are into floral whiskies I would definitely seek this one out.

Score (83/100)

Sláinte! - Thomas