Convalmore Distillery, established between 1893 and 1894 in Dufftown, Speyside, Scotland, is a now silent single malt Scotch whisky distillery renowned for its distinctive waxy and fruity character. Originally constructed during the late Victorian whisky boom, it was one of Dufftown’s famed seven distilleries and primarily contributed to blends such as Black & White and Lowrie’s. The distillery underwent various ownership changes, including acquisition by James Buchanan & Co. and later integration into the Distillers Company Limited (DCL), now part of Diageo. After modernisation efforts in the 1960s, Convalmore was mothballed in 1985, and its site was sold to William Grant & Sons, who repurposed the buildings for whisky maturation linked to Glenfiddich and Balvenie. Although distillation ceased decades ago, Diageo retains the rights to the Convalmore name, leaving open the possibility of other future releases under this historic name. Convalmore’s whisky does not seem to have been bottled officially as a single malt during its operational years, making official single malt releases rare and highly sought after today (a few were released by Diageo as part of the Rare Malts, Special Releases, Prima & Ultima and the Casks of Distinction series since the 2000s). However, today we are not reviewing an official bottling; instead, we are reviewing a Convalmore 1975 from Gordon & MacPhail, released in 2015.
Convalmore 1975 Gordon & Macphail (2015) Review
This Convalmore was distilled in 1975 and bottled in 2015 by Gordon & Macphail. It matured in a Refill Sherry Hogshead for 39 years before bottling with a lot number of RO/15/06, which likely indicates bottling in June 2015, at 46% ABV. They filled a total of 299 bottles, and after nearly 40 years, this suggests either a remarkably low angel’s share in terms of volume, or dilution to 46% ABV, implying a low angel’s share impact on the ABV. The latter seems more probable, as all Rare Old releases typically come bottled at 46% ABV (or slightly lower).
Despite its release a decade ago, some bottles remain available in the UK, priced around £1400–1500. Retailers such as Whisky-Online or The Whisky Exchange appear to have stock.
Colour:
Deep gold.
Nose:
Neat: The nose presents a gorgeous aroma with ripe orchard fruits, predominantly apricots and peaches, along with beeswax, banana, and rhubarb. The nose really is rich and waxy.
Palate:
Neat: The palate offers spicy fruits with a lemony tang and rhubarb. The mouthfeel is slightly drying, and an herbal layer with tea leaves emerges. More fruits follow, including cider apples, oranges, and green apples. Despite its age and 46% ABV, it packs quite a punch.
Finish:
The finish is long, developing more empyreumatic notes with coffee and chocolate, whilst maintaining a citrusy tang with lemon and cider apples.
Comments:
As it was my first time trying Convalmore and I hadn’t heard or read much about it, I had no expectations. I was pleasantly surprised to find that this Convalmore 1975 from Gordon & MacPhail was excellent. It was remarkably vibrant and lively, especially considering its age and moderate ABV. Truly a splendid whisky.