Decadent Drinks re-introduced the name Old Orkney in 2023, with a very nice 2009 bottling from a first fill bourbon barrel. Today we’re trying the two bottlings that came later (well, not counting the 2003 vintage for Whisky Show 2024).
Old Orkney 19 yo 2004 (53%, Decadent Drinks 2023, refill hogshead)
Nose: the dirtier side of Highland Park, with fallen leaves, a bit of gunpowder and meaty notes. Hints of metal tools. Plenty of vegetal notes too, like moss and kelp, along with herbal notes. Heather and heather honey, with mild citrusy sharpness after a while. Not a lot of peaty notes, instead more of a waxy, fatty profile with coastal elements.
Mouth: honey sweetness, mixed with herbal notes and more peat than the nose suggested. Subtle resinous touches, with some candle wax and leather. Mid-palate it develops a sweet nuttiness as well as a peppery and salty kick. Still a whiff of sulphur, but it doesn’t bother me much as it’s more towards a classic charred / smoky note. Mildly bitter herbs and orange peels as well.
Finish: long, herbal, with subtle salty notes, grapefruit and some peppery heat.
Not the most exciting pick ever from Decadent Drinks, in my opinion. The dirty and leafy side makes it hard to focus on the more attractive elements like the waxiness and coastal hints. Sold out, I believe.
Old Orkney 21 yo 1999 + 2003 (52,9%, Decadent Drinks 2024, bodega sherry butt + refill hogshead)
Nose: more elegant this time, with a nicely balanced layer of sherry (or rather old sherry brandy) rounding it off. A whiff of waxed oak. Then some red apple, a bit of rhubarb and subtle salt. Earthy notes, flints and soft medicinal echoes in the distance. Again only mild peat.
Mouth: old style whisky. The sherry is adding nice complexity. Walnuts, heather, salt and herbal tea, with a mildly biscuity edge and some raisins. Black pepper, wood oil, hints of damp hessian cloth. Then faint eucalyptus and camphory touches. Hints of tobacco and matchsticks in the background.
Finish: long, with minty freshness, herbal drops and old style ale.
Still a bit of a stubborn dram, although the sherry is definitely an asset here, balancing some of the robustness. Not as waxy as the 2004, but very good whisky. Available from Decadent Drinks or Royal Mile Whiskies for instance. Score: 89/100