Sheep Dip 8 Year Old Pure Malt

In 1974 Sheep Dip – a pure malt which would be a blended malt today – was launched. When Whyte & Mackay acquired the Invergordon Distillery in 1993, Sheep Dip is part of the deal. But Alex Nicol – of the Spencerfield Spirits Company – acquires the brand in 2005. His Sheep Dip, Pig’s Nose and Edinburgh Gin did so well that Ian MacLeod Distillers did him an offer he could not refuse. Nicol sold in 2016. But I will try the old ‘The Original Oldbury Sheep Dip’ from the 1970, composed of 16 single malts that each matured at least 8 years.

It feels very young on the nose. Fresh and lively on green malt, unripe banana and apples, crystal sugar, gooseberries and freshly cut grass.

The mouthfeel could have been a bit more creamy in my book. The whisky is soft and sweet, a touch metallic on apples, pear drops, some candy-like sweetness and soft spices with ginger and white pepper.

With the short finish I cannot shake the felling of having sipped a disappointing whisky.

To be honest, I had expected much more of this, but it is a very light blended malt that does nothing for me at any point. This is not a sheep, but a young lamb.