Muirhead Silver Seal Maturity Whisky

My never-ending quest to find affordable, drinkable whisky. Finding well priced blended whiskies is relatively easy. There are plenty of them around, and some of them are quite good. However, single malt whisky is a different story. There are not too many new single malts available at a reasonable price in South Africa.

With the worldwide increase in single malt prices and our unstable currency, it might become even more difficult in future. My ongoing search led me to the Muirhead Silver Seal Maturity Highland single malt Scotch whisky. I found it at a Pick n Pay. I have never heard of Muirhead, but it was in the affordable category, so I grabbed it.

Muirhead is owned by Picard Vins & Spiritueux S.A. An affiliate company that also owns Tullibardine and Highland Queen. According to some research, the brand is today distributed in over 30 markets around the world, both under the Muirhead’s Blue Seal range of blended whiskies, and the Silver Seal range of single malt whiskies.

The Muirhead Clans’ slogan is part of the labelling. It reads: “Auxilio Dei” which means “By the Help of God”. The name Muirhead means, “Head of the Moor” or “Highest Point of the Moor” in Gaelic.

Muirhead’s Silver Seal Maturity single malt whisky is aged in oak barrels for 5 years and from the Scottish Highlands. It does not state a distillery name.

Also Read: Glenmorangie 18 yo whisky

Muirhead Silver Seal Maturity Whisky Review

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ABV: 43%

COLOUR: Sunset yellow with bits of yellow floating around.

NOSE: The first notes that come through is barley, spices and oak. Hints of  condensed milk and marshmallow provide a sweet side. There is a bit of raw alcohol on the nose. The nose is not quite as rich or complex as I would have hoped for, and it seems a bit young.

PALATE: It has quite a nice mouthful feeling. Without water, there is a bit of an alcohol bite and some raw edges. The initial palate is a bold winter spice, but not in a negative way. After a while, some of the sweetness and richness comes through slowly.

There are notes of oak, lemon drops and barley. The addition of water makes the Muirhead Silver Seal softer and takes away some of the harsher alcohol notes. The water also releases more of the sweetness and vanilla and make the dram more drinkable.

FINISH: The finish is long and lingering and builds slowly to a nice warm feeling in your stomach. It ends in oak, lemon drops and barley.

RATING: VERY GOOD

The Muirhead has an interesting flavour profile. For me, it’s a whisky that I could picture in the middle of winter, in front of a fire after dinner, when you are having a philosophical conversation with someone.

Indeed a good buy at the affordable price point. It is inexpensive but does not taste cheap. It is very similar to the Highland Queen. I would nearly venture to say that it is a spicier version of the Highland Queen. Have you tried this Muirhead whisky release yet?

I was surprised to spot some of the Muirhead Silver Seal Maturity whisky in the US. It is the Muirhead Silver Seal 20 year old whisky that is not available in SA, but it was interesting to see it there.

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