Overall rating
93.11/100
ratings
12
Whiskybase ID
WB18638
Category
Single Pot Still
Distillery
Bottler
Cadenhead's (CA)
Bottling series
Authentic Collection - 150th anniversary commemoration
Vintage
1949
Bottled
1991
Stated Age
41 years
Cask Type
Oak Cask
Strength
65.9 %
Size
50 ml 750 ml
Added on
30 sep 2010 9:58 pm
UncoloredNon-chill FilteredCask StrengthSingle Cask Whisky
Overall rating
93.11/100
ratings
12

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Whisky reviews for Tullamore 1949 CA

3 users have left 3 reviews for this whisky. Average rating is 93.11 points.

Read the reviews
  1. SFWC scored this whisky 96 points Expert Senior

    Legendary malt.

  2. hs305 scored this whisky 94 points Connoisseur

    [March, 2018]  This truly is a historic dram.  The original Tullamore Dew distillery was shut down forever in 1954 and after that Tullamore Dew was just a brand name of a blend that was produced in the large Midleton distillery complex.  But due to the recent whiskey boom a new Tullamore distillery was build near the original site that started production in September, 2014.  Nevertheless, this stuff was distilled in the old Tullamore Dew distillery and there are just very few bottles left - so I am grateful to have the chance to taste this sample...

    The colour is tawny and the texture shows many very little tears that stick to the top of the glass like small pearls on a string (I never had such a texture before).  The nose is very old style and very adorable - the first impression is the smell of an old library room in an irish castle with heavy leather armchairs that were polished just recently.  The room is full with aromas of very old rum, cognac and most prominantly calvados as if there were half-empty glasses all around.  Some fine herbal and fruity aromas complement this and above all there is this wonderful old bottle flavour (hints of aceton).  Some elements remind me of very old grain whiskies but this nose is very powerful and still surprisingly fresh, a flabbergasting surprise!  One to nose for hours...

    The dram arrives immediately coating in the mouth with a minor bitter-dry-adstringent feeling (no wonder after 41 years in the cask) but this is still very okayish.  The taste is multi-layered on more intense fruity flavours than the nose (what is great), leathery and tobacco notes, herbs, barley sugars and again many flavours comparable to very old (50+years) cognac and calvados drams (I just recently had such stuff, incidently).  The wood is strong but not overpowering and provides a very fine containment for all the sweet and fruity aromas.  The finish is long and adds more spices (white pepper, ginger and a hint of salt) from the woods.  Again it is a little bitter-adstringent as was the initial mouthfeel but hey - more than 40 years in an oak cask take their toll.  To me this is absolutely fine this way, not distracting at all.  Some water turns both the nose and taste smoother but it increases the bitter wooden notes too, unfortunately (as so often with very long matured drams).  It is worth to try it a little reduced but to be honest:  I like the neat dram much better.

    What a great whiskey of the past - and it is so sad that most people who read this review will (most probably) never have the opportunity to taste this fine dram anymore.  So, if you are lucky enough to spot a bottle at a whiskey fair or auction and you can afford it - go for it, you will not regret (I promise)!
    • Nose
      96 96
    • Taste
      92 92
    • Finish
      93 93

  3. ARDBERG scored this whisky 94 points Connoisseur

    The nose is absolutely the 80 days around the world english club - where Phileas Fogg placed his bet - with leather arm chairs, the sound and warmth of a log fire and the ticking of an old style clock, maybe even playing the Big Ben melody at the full hour. A rumy, cognacy and grainy note, ripe fruits, glue, leather polish, ginger, herbs (thyme) and a fantastic cask that is present but not overwhelming.

    Arrives quite dry in the mouth, the 41 years in the cask show. More of a Cognacy note comes out. The more I chew the better it gets, a very fruity leather, if this makes any sense. With lots of air, a very nice sweet malty notes complements the Congnac note. Fantastic.The alcohol powerhouse gives it a big backbone as well, but is not as overpowering as I would have expected. It is packed with flavours. Quite a Cognac note remains on the tongue.With a few drops of water at first the Cognac note dissapears somewhat and more herbs come through and after 20+ min of air, the herbs are back and tastewise, the cognac/herb note gets very dominant and there is certainly an imbalance now. So to me certainly without water, despite the high strength.Absolutely fantastic, very high end. Drink it if you can and give it time but no water.
    • Nose
      94 94
    • Taste
      93 93
    • Finish
      94 94

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