Coleburn 1979 / 21 Year Old / Rare Malts Speyside Whisky

Tyler Bennet — Solid Rare Malts entry

8/10

I've been working through the Rare Malts series and this Coleburn holds its own. Neat it's a bit of a bruiser at 59.4% but with water it softens into toffee, dried apricot and a lovely waxy quality. The finish lingers with a pleasant bitterness that keeps you coming back to the glass.

Clara Johansson — Solid Rare Malts entry

8/10

I've been working through the Rare Malts series and this Coleburn holds its own. Neat it's a bit of a bruiser at 59.4% but with water it softens into toffee, dried apricot and a lovely waxy quality. The finish lingers with a pleasant bitterness that keeps you coming back to the glass.

Luna Chavez — A ghost distillery treasure

9/10

Coleburn closed decades ago so finding a 21 year old official bottling like this feels special. The nose is pure old-school Speyside — dried orchard fruit, honey, a hint of furniture polish. At 59.4% it needs a splash of water to really open up, and when it does you get waves of stewed apples and gentle oak spice. Not cheap at £900 but try finding another Coleburn in this condition.

Priya Sharma — A ghost distillery treasure

9/10

Coleburn closed decades ago so finding a 21 year old official bottling like this feels special. The nose is pure old-school Speyside — dried orchard fruit, honey, a hint of furniture polish. At 59.4% it needs a splash of water to really open up, and when it does you get waves of stewed apples and gentle oak spice. Not cheap at £900 but try finding another Coleburn in this condition.

Gianluca Ferro — A ghost distillery treasure

9/10

Coleburn closed decades ago so finding a 21 year old official bottling like this feels special. The nose is pure old-school Speyside — dried orchard fruit, honey, a hint of furniture polish. At 59.4% it needs a splash of water to really open up, and when it does you get waves of stewed apples and gentle oak spice. Not cheap at £900 but try finding another Coleburn in this condition.