1973 Teaninich 41 Year Old Hunter Laing's "Old & Rare" Single Sherry Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky (750ml)

In what is likely to be the most-overlooked of the recently acquired Hunter Laing "Old & Rare" series, don't let this 41 year old sherry cask of Teaninich fall off your radar. It's one of the most pleasing, easy to love, deliciously decadent sherry aged whiskies we've tasted this year. While most people have never heard of the Johnnie Walker distillery, the name on the bottle is perhaps the least important aspect of this whisky's quality, yet it's completely relevant when determining the price. Simply put, if this bottle said Macallan 41 on the label we'd be slapping a five figure price point on the shelf. However, with similar sherry-aged flavors, sweet toffee richness, and single barrel concentration of flavor, the comparison isn't all that far off. The sweetness of the sherry is still there even after 40+ years in the barrel. It's robust, brimming with dessert-like qualities, but it's not even remotely tired. It's a beautifully balanced ride from front to back, meandering from maple donut bar to baking spices and cloves. $450 is a serious chunk of change in today's whisky market, but considering the age and the quality of this Teaninich, we think it's quite the steal. Our goal was to find a less expensive luxury whisky that delivered the highest possible quality for the best possible price. We think we've succeeded in that quest.