THE WHISKY BAR · HANOI

Daily Review Archive

21 September 2026

Review calendar

2 Amber Room Reviews

Amber Room Review

Douglas Laing Old & Rare Macallan 1979 2009 30 Years Old

Macallan
89
Client photo: Douglas Laing Old & Rare Macallan, 30 years; bottle view.
Illustrative image · Illustrative Macallan 1979, 30-year Old & Rare bottle and case; 2009 is not clearly readable. Photo: Whisky-Online; photographer uncredited.
Illustrative imageIllustrative Macallan 1979, 30-year Old & Rare bottle and case; 2009 is not clearly readable. Photo: Whisky-Online; photographer uncredited.

Whisky facts

Region
Speyside
Independent Bottler
Douglas Laing
Age
30 years
Vintage
1979
Bottled
2009

A 30 year old Macallan from the 1970s that does not look over-sherried or even sherried at all, bottled at a 45,1% ABV that is quite close to actual OB Macallans. An interesting & affordable 30yo non-sherried Macallan for those who want to try something new

Nose

Very fresh, light, and fruity, definitely not a nose you would normally expect from Macallans, then comes some chocolates & a bit of a creamy peachy note

Body

A little spicy and packs quite a punch despite the "low" ABV, again quite creamy, fresh orchard fruits, gets a bit spicy towards the end; not as complex as I would expect from a 30 years old whisky

Finish

Definitely a long, dry, and a bit spicy of a finish

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Review 070

Ardbeg Lord of the Isles bottled 2001 25 Years Old 46%

Ardbeg
92
Client photo: Ardbeg Lord of the Isles; bottle view.
Illustrative image · Illustrative bottle photo: Ardbeg Lord of the Isles. Representative of the reviewed product line; the exact reviewed release is not confirmed by this image. Source: Malt Runners / zSolaris.
Illustrative imageIllustrative bottle photo: Ardbeg Lord of the Isles. Representative of the reviewed product line; the exact reviewed release is not confirmed by this image. Source: Malt Runners / zSolaris.

Whisky facts

Region
Islay
Bottling type
Official Bottling
Age
25 years
ABV
46%

A famously good bottling from the 1970s from Ardbeg despite not being single cask, being bottled at 46% instead of the usual 40 or 43% definitely helps. This is one of those bottles that is a must-have for anyone who is a fan of smoky whisky

Nose

Salty, briny, seawater, while also meaty, BBQ slow roasted pork ribs, the nose is definitely and probably peak Ardbeg (atleast for me). The smokiness is not all over your face kind of smoke but rather gentle and elegant and quite delicate. Gets a bit creamy and zesty, a bit of pepper towards the end

Body

Bacons, burnt ends, salted caramel, honey, salty, seawater, iodine, coal, truckload of smoke towards the end. The body is increadibly thick for a 46% whisky, definitely feels like 50%+. Citrusy, oysters, tar, oily, just an amazing body to be honest

Finish

Medium, dry, a bit oily finish, salty, charred woods, slightly bitter towards the very end

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