Review | Antiquary 30 Years Old

The 30 Years Old is the pinnacle of The Antiquary blended Scotch whisky range. The famous and highly regarded blend is one of Scotland’s oldest blended brands. This expression features single malts from the Highlands and Speyside, including its spiritual home of Tomatin. The blend also includes single grain whisky from the Lowlands.

All have been matured in a combination of ex-bourbon and ex-sherry oak casks before lengthy secondary marrying period in ex-Oloroso sherry casks. These are sourced from the sherry producing city of Jerez, Spain. There are also age statements at 15 Years Old and 21 Years Old in the range. These have been married in ex-Claret red wine casks from Bordeaux, France and ex-Port casks from Portugal’s famous Douro Valley respectively.

The Antiquary is a blend of the Victorian era. It was first registered as a brand in 1888 and was named after Sir Walter Scott’s gothic novel The Antiquary. The blend was created by JW Hardie Ltd. This was formed of James Hardie – a former Edinburgh grocer specialising in wine, spirits and tea – and his two sons, John and William.

The Antiquary had its heyday in the 1980s, when it became hugely popular. The current brand owners are The Tomatin Distillery Co. Ltd. They purchased The Antiquary in 1996. They in turn have been owned by the Japanese company Takara Shuzo Co. Ltd. since 1985.

The Antiquary 30 Years Old is bottled at 40% ABV and is available worldwide via selected specialist whisky retailers. It is most popular in France and southern Europe, Japan, South America, the UK and USA. A bottle will cost around £295.

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Our Tasting Notes

The colour is deep coppery amber and the nose is fruity, rich but with a savoury twist. Aromas of caramel, raisin and milk chocolate sit up front with others evolving nicely – imagine hints of dried cherry and dried tropical fruit, especially peach. Savoury aromas also intermingle well with a intriguing combination of waxy furniture polish, antique shop, mahogany, gentle warm baking spices and old leather.

On the palate this whisky is elegant, rich and luxurious. Early notes of heather honey and maple syrup are quickly joined by plenty of dried fruit. Think of raisin and sultana but also tropicals again such as pineapple and peach with a hint of papaya. Then comes the chocolate and a pinch of drying cocoa powder, plus some toasted hazelnut. The marriage makes one think of fruit and nut milk chocolate bars.

After the initial sweetness it is the savoury characteristics that dominate the second half. These are notes that only significant ageing in good oak can give. The nuttiness evolves into hard wood, especially oak and cedarwood. This combined with the beeswax polish and dusty furniture makes one think of an antique shop or old library. Hints of baking spice and gingerbread add further depth and complexity.

The finish is of decent length and the sweeter elements slowly fade. This leaves the savoury notes to linger well with a lovely drying woodiness, delicate warming spice and a hint of old leather sitting nicely. Is there the tiniest hint of gentle, soft peat smoke right at the end also?

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What’s The Verdict?

The Antiquary 30 Years Old is a classy and highly enjoyable whisky. Highly aged Scotch blends are relatively rare and this is one of the best examples that we have tasted. It shows off a set of characteristics that only long maturation in good casks can give – tropical fruit, savoury woodiness and gentle, deep warming spices. The entire Antiquary range seems somewhat underrated and is of high quality. They represent good value too. Even though this is nearly £300 a bottle, that is significantly cheaper than a single malt of the same age.