In Scotland in 1971, some 40 different distilleries of malt and grain whiskies were busy crafting the spirits that would eventually become part of this truly exceptional blend.

ABV: 46.7%

This 1971 whisky can be classed as a ‘triple matured’ blend: having first been blended in 1983 for a Premium 12 Year Old, a reserve of the liquid was refilled into ex-Oloroso Sherry Butts. After a further nine years of ageing, a small proportion was refilled once more, this time into ex-American Oak Barrels. There followed a final maturation of 24 years in an old traditional dunnage warehouse before we bottled the whisky, in its prime, at the grand old age of 45 years.

You need only to taste one drop to be enveloped in the harmonious complexity of this exceptional whisky, yet one drop is certainly not enough to unveil all the rich flavours developed during its long, multi-faceted maturation.

KEN GARGETT, QUILL & TIMESo, how good is Last Drop 1971 blended Scotch whisky? Some great spirits are surely meant to be drunk – sipped reverently – on bended knee. This is one of them. Raisins, sultanas, glacé fruit; it is still amazingly fresh and vibrant, yet incredibly complex.

The hallmark of this spirit is, however, its great length. The length has more in common with one of the wonderful old Rutherglen muscats. It is mindbogglingly long and the intensity never wavers for an instant.

More flavors unfold on the palate: stone fruits, figs, orange rind, even florals. The texture offers some fire and power. This is decadence in a glass.