Today I’ll review the Old Perth 21. A blended malt from Macallan and Highland Park with a proper age statement of 21 years and an ABV of 43,6%. These two legendary distilleries sound like an interesting mix for a blended malt for sure! But in the tasting notes we’ll find out how well the sherry from Macallan pairs with the soft peat from Highland Park!
Tasting Notes: Old Perth 21
Stats
Age: 21 years old
ABV: 43,6% (87,2 proof)
Distilleries: Highland Park & Macallan
Bottled by: Old Perth
Chill-filtered: No
Natural Colour: Yes
Nose
Strawberries and cream paired with ripe plums, cherries and sandalwood are the notes that will hit you initially. On the background, however, you’ll find a whiff of cured ham paired with candied orange peel and freshly baked honey comb. A beautifully pleasant and complex nose for sure!
Palate
Dark chocolate covered raisins par with dried figs, créme brûlée and a touch of ash are paired up with cinders of heather and a soft touch of lavender. The palate is much more delicate than the nose will lead you to believe and the flavours here will surprise you at every turn (or should I say at every sip).
Finish
A medium long finish finds itself paired with pronounced notes of salted liquorice, salmiak, liquorice root tea and a fair dusting of ground white pepper. Some seasalt paired with pecorine cheese and soft touches of old leather and tobacco show the age of this dram and provide a nice complexity, to an already very complex dram.
Food Pairing
This dram works absolute wonders paired with some Tuna Tataki generously dipped in soy sauce. But for those with a sweet tooth it will also provide a very fun pairing with créme brûlée, just like we found on the palate!
Verdict
Strengths
The Old Perth 21, Macallan & Highland Park, provides you with a beautifully complex dram with great intense flavours that show its age. The balance of flavours here is striking and it leaves you with a dram that’s both bold and elegant at the same time.
Weaknesses
I did find the finish to be a bit lacking in length and intensity. Where the low ABV was barely noticeable on the nose, on the finish and palate it shows it’s lack of strength. The flavours here are worth savouring longer than the whisky will allow and that’s a shame for a dram this flavourfull!
