Chivas Royal Salute 38 Year Old Stone of Destiny

So far it looks as though only Mark Jedi (@markjedi1) has reviewed this scotch, and he has already gone through the introductory steps: the story of the Scottish Stone of Scone and the cork stopper resembling a claymore handle; I don't remember if he mentioned the 24k gold plated label or the Revol porcelain flagon, noteworthy as well.

OK, let's go to the review proper. I shared this very expensive blended with a friend over the course of many conversation-laden sessions, the first of which took place in May 2017. Nice memories.

Color is ocher (or should I say "colour is ochre" for ye britons?) with a greenish cast, a rather unusual color in my limited experience, and you shall see this is a rather unusual whisky in many respects (starting with the presentation, as mentioned before.)

Aroma is not super intense, and sweet scents prevail: dried fruit (apricots, prunes, oranges, pineapple), baked apple. There's a clear note of pipe tobacco (it reminds me of Borkum Riff Bourbon, but maybe that's going a bit too far.) There's also a lot coming from the cask (38 years show): sandalwood, leather, fireplace... In the background, some green hints of olive and raw plantain.

Much warmer than anticipated by age and ABV (another surprise). The sip is very umami and smoky, not sweet as you could have expected. It lacks crispness from beginning to end, and that's a pity, even more so taking its cost into account. Texture is thin, not dense (surprise, surprise). Despite that, the finish is quite long-lasting. All that warmth and lack of crispness make it grow with a drop of water, believe it or not.

It's not a bad whisky at all, God forbid I made you think that, but in my opinion it does not deserve the €750 tag price.

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