Whiskey Review: Macduff 1989 Cadenhead’s Authentic 26 Year Old

Macduff 1989 Cadenhead’s Authentic 26 Year Old / 51% / £120

Tasted neat, then with a bit of bottled water

This MacDuff was distilled in 1989 and bottled in 2015, at 26 years old, from a sherry butt. It gave up 414 bottles, and the label does not give much more information beside assurances of NCF/cask strength!

• Color: tawny (1.4)
• Nose: sulphur, Marlboro reds, bourbon; black pepper and cured ham
• Taste: dried figs, dry leather, butter; malty gunpowder and pine sap
• Finish: oloroso dry sherry, sweetness, tannins, and oak

Despite being only 51% strength, this absolutely needs a bit of water to open up. It’s a sherry bomb in the worst (best!) way; super-dry, super heavy, and sulphured.

This is not to everyone’s taste, but I like it; it’s not boring, and you feel the age of it properly.

Rating: 85/100