Tropical fruits like passion fruit, pineapple, guave. It’s floral but less floral then the other release (46.5%). A very nice fragrance on this one, floral and fruity notes and then leaning towards some herbs. There is some heather and ricola (the candy) in there too. Later on some light tobacco and a touch of oak. Then throw some applesauce in the mix to complete it all.

A nice abundance of fruity flavours: apricots, passion fruit, guave and some red fruits all coated in honey and a touch of herbs. After a little while there is some menthol too, a little bit of cinnamon and again some very nice sweetness. A bit of oak and leather, and maybe even some cacao. Definitely the more spicy and herbal version.

The finish is very long, quite some spices in here. Oak and pepper are noticable, I expected a little bit more dominant fruits and honey but this is leaning more towards the background. The spices are overpowering and the fruits are here as well but just a little bit. But it’s still a very good finish.

I think if I would have tasted this on its own, it would have been a different tasting note. I realized that I was really comparing and trying to describe what the differences between the two were, instead of just tasting the whisky as it is. Let’s not forget this is a very good 1973 whisky, not old or tired and still very vibrant in the taste. This is complex enough to classify this as a very, very good dram. I prefer the other one just a little bit more, but this is negligible.

Peach and nectarine. Kumquats too, as well as a hint of grapefruit and honey. Also oak, furniture polish and resin. A touch of hay, but then back to fruitier notes of apple cider. Maybe even slightly hoppy.

Bitter grapefruit, herbs, stewed apples and beeswax. Soft, subdued lemon notes, accompanied by cinnamon, cloves. A touch of menthol.

Ends on sweet notes, with a touch of pink grapefruit and honey. Quite long.

These two new Speyside 1973s from Archives are in a league of their own. An abundance of fruit, a healthy oak influence and lovely sweet honey and beeswax notes.