This week’s tasting is the first of two segments in which Angus MacRaild explores obscure bottlings from Italian bottler Moon Import. The company has gained fame for the artistry of its labels and the ‘thematic’ nature of its bottling series. While renowned for its early series such as Birds and Animals, Moon Imports’ later collections are often overlooked.
Two bottles this week are from the bottler’s well-known Costumes Series. The first is a classic Caol Ila 1981 bottled in 2010 for the company’s 30th anniversary. MacRaild notes that while it is ‘wonderful’, it doesn’t perhaps possess the same ‘oomph’ and quality that many of its sibling bottlings from these vintages often display.
The second is a Glen Mhor 1966 bottled in 1988, which MacRaild finds straddles the more old-school waxy qualities of the distillery’s 1960s style, while also displaying more of the tough and austere qualities that would characterise its ‘70s and ‘80s output.
Rounding things off is a ‘highly renowned’ Tamnavulin 20-year-old official bottling released in Italy by Moon Import in the 1980s. MacRaild finds the Sherried single malt an excellent and commendable example of old-style Sherry cask maturation, and his ‘second best’ Tamnavulin ever.