Part of the annual release of Singleton’s rarest and most precious whiskies comes this year’s exciting selection. At a pairing dinner led by Ervin Trykowski, the first Global Scotch Whisky Ambassador for The Singleton, held at Genting Grand’s The Olive, Malaysia got its first taste of the Forgotten Drop Series.

We start with The Singleton 18 Year Old Cask Strength, which was created to celebrate the distillery’s 180th anniversary. On the nose you catch the aroma of walnuts and polished antique oak, with some honeyed sweetness. The palate is rich and fruity and has a delightful mouth-coating, followed by a long and finely detailed finish of cedar against silky chocolate. Trykowski described it as “spikey”, and jokingly called it “The Glen Ord 18, turned up to 20”. Bottled at cask strength of 58.4% ABV, it is best enjoyed neat, or with a drop of water to further open up the aromas.

The star of the evening – and indeed the series as a whole – was the Singleton of Glen Ord 41-Year-Old. Only 600 bottles were made available worldwide, of which 24 made it to Malaysia (and at the time of the dinner was already completely sold out in the country).

The 41 Year Old, bottled at cask strength of 49.9% ABV, is a change from Singleton’s preferred European ex-sherry casks, being matured in refill American oak casks that seem to impart some sweet spiciness into the whisky.

Overall it’s a complex and exhilarating taste that is finely balanced and nicely smoothed out – you catch whiffs of light gingery notes, with a suggestion of candlewax and even smoke, together with berries and tropical fruits. Expect a delicately minty palate, and the smooth finish of exotic green floral notes. Adding a splash of water will reveal more spiciness, and a crisp bitterness.

The 18 Year Old is retailed at RM624 (starting price), while the 41 Year Old was RM15,193, and can be found at authorised distributors nationwide. For more information on the Singleton of Glen Ord range, click here.