McCallum's Perfection Blended Scotch Whisky - 1950's Bottling

Life's journey involves ups and downs, sideways steps, and a bit of luck. My process for managing and rationalizing my whisky collection is similar. I've given away over twenty bottles to friends and at auctions. At one auction, I saw a case of 1959 McCallum's Blended Perfection being sold in smaller lots. They knew it was from 1959 because a certificate was included. I'm quite sure the standards for determining whisky age haven't changed drastically over the decades. In fact, I believe a minimum age of three years was established during WWI, so this must contain stock from the mid-1950s, perhaps earlier, making it the oldest spirit I've sampled. I mentioned it to a couple of friends, and we bought two bottles from the case, splitting them among three of us. We paid $100 USD each, which was a fantastic deal considering they sell for £500 on the whisky exchange and recently fetched several hundred euros at a UK auction. Small market advantages in New Zealand with limited demand! One bottle went to a friend, and another friend and I shared the second. It appeared to be in perfect condition until I removed the metal cap and found rust. The cork crumbled at the top, requiring a wine opener to extract. Initially, the taste was unremarkable, but after letting it breathe for a week, it significantly improved. I've sampled older blends before. One, possibly an older White Horse, was like pure molasses. This is similar but less intense in that regard, both in aroma and flavor. Caramelized notes, toffee, cigar smoke, and more. It's very complex and distinct. I don't want to sound old, but blends from the past definitely possess more character than modern versions. This easily earns a 4.25 rating on its own, perhaps even 4.25 to 4.5. Considering it's a standard blend, it's significantly superior to today's offerings and would score higher on that scale. It's very well-balanced and flavorful. I regret not purchasing another 1960s bottling of a different blend for even less money. Seriously, with today's exorbitant whisky prices, bypass the overpriced single malts and seek out forgotten treasures – old blends. You'll experience a piece of history and taste something unattainable today: a unique example of what a quality standard blend should be. Update: Feedback from other friends I shared with. They preferred the 1959 over the 1971 (tasted blind, as I didn't label the samples). I concur... the more I drink it, the more I'm captivated and diving deeper... upgrading to 4.5.