Haig Gold Label late 1970s/early 1980s

 

 

 

40° (I assume)

Distilleries Officially Unknown - Scotland

Ex-Bourbon Casks From Kentucky

Independent Bottling 

By John Haig & Co. Ltd

Core Range 

Blended Whisky 

Launched around 1890

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

I got this bottle from my grandmother. It may have been open for more than 40 years. The alcohol content is not indicated on the bottle, which means that it dates from before 1990, when this became mandatory in France. Until the 1970s, Haig Gold Label was imported into France by a company called Pierre Rivière et Cie. This was mentioned on the bottle. There's no mention of it here, so I've deduced that this bottle dates from the late 1970s or early 1980s. The former is the more likely hypothesis, given the label on the back of the bottle, which I find on other bottles officially dated 1970s. On the other hand, the code on the bottom of the bottle is Z833 24 04. This would suggest that it was bottled in 1983. In other words, it's an antique. John Haig & Co. Ltd is said to be the oldest spirits brand in business, having been founded in 1824. The Haig family has been in the whisky business since the 13th century, apparently. They are also the founders of the Cameronbridge distillery, which is certainly one of the main ingredients of the Haig Gold Label. By reputation, the other distilleries involved were Glenkinchie and Linkwood. But at the time, the only distillery listed on the bottle was Markinch, in the County of Fife, which has been closed since 1983. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Airy caramel, dust, dates and quinces, apricots, noble wood, larch or cherry. It's good, but light. Chocolate chips, old yellowed books. Egg cake. A touch of vanilla. Orchard fruits in the background, green apples, pears, peaches. A drop of turpentine. On the palate, it's woody, velvety and a little alcohol-laden. Dried figs, spices, black pepper, cumin, cloves. A hint of bitterness. The finish is not very successful, too aggressive, a dash of cola and bitterness, tobacco leaves, cigar smoke. Olives.

 

In Short, 

It's a decent Blend, but it's still a Blend. I'm not going to start saying it's wonderful because it's from another era. The nose is nonetheless not bad at all, but all the rest has important flaws. In any case, it's drinkable. Connoisseurs tell me that the quality of this Blend really dropped around the mid-1970s. Maybe this one dates from later.

Score : 77 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Cavan O'Connor - Little Town in the Old County Down