S.S. Politician, Whisky Galore

In 1941, a large ship named "The S.S. Politician" sank near Eriskay Island, carrying 260,000 bottles of malt whisky and over 3 million in Jamaican currency bonds. The islanders took the whisky and faced prosecution from English authorities. This captivating event inspired the well-known film "Whisky Galore," and some of the salvaged whisky was used in a special blend called S.S. Politician, Whisky Galore. Bottled in the early 1990s, this blend includes some of the original whisky from the wreck, a true historical treasure. But was the whisky any good? Bottled at 40% ABV with a golden color. On the nose, it feels aged. Dampness, an old closet, spongy vanilla cake, sawdust; earthy dust. It carries an aroma of old books, old oranges, orange cake, and zest. After the initial taste, the notes shifted to a mountainous landscape, the smell of rain on dry earth, with an overall aged character. Further sips revealed more notes, leaning towards sherry characteristics: dates, tamarind, and dried fruits. On the palate, this is a truly robust dram, especially for a blend. Very fruity, it has a "Glenmorangie Orange" quality. Spongy and very juicy. It feels like biting into a freshly cut orange that is intensely acidic. A second taste was all about vanilla ice cream, some astringency, and prominent orange peel. Aftertaste wasn't as intense but still managed to maintain the experience. Dry old wood; wood polish, amaretto, ginger, and a slight ashiness. Velvety. Overall, for a blend, this is quite surprising. Setting aside the historical context of the bottle, you're still left with a highly enjoyable experience. A beautiful decanter holding historical whisky. It surpasses typical 12-15 year old everyday blends, and I truly believe it's worth trying. My rating for this exceptional bottle is 91 out of 100.