Introduction
I picked up this bottle of Old Perth Solera partly out of curiosity. I generally lean toward single malts, but I’ve always felt that a well-made blended malt has its place. This one caught my attention because of its Solera maturation process—a method more commonly associated with sherry—and its promise of rich, sherried Speyside character. I didn’t go in expecting fireworks, but I hoped for something consistent, satisfying, and a touch different.
Nose
Right from the start, the nose gives away the sherry cask influence, but it’s not overdone. There’s a mellow sweetness—dried raisins and dates—carried on a base of soft malt and slightly polished oak. A swirl in the glass adds a drizzle of honey and a faint touch of orange peel. Beneath the sweetness, I picked up a quiet earthiness, something like damp wood or old leather, which kept things grounded and prevented the aroma from tipping into anything too dessert-like.
Palate
On the palate, it’s smooth and quite balanced. The texture is on the lighter side of creamy, leaning more toward a silky mouthfeel. The taste reflects what I picked up on the nose—dark fruits like fig and prune, paired with mild winter spice, mostly cinnamon and clove. There’s also a subtle roasted malt note, almost like barley toasted on the edge of a wood stove. One thing I appreciated was that the sherry influence didn’t dominate. It’s present and integrated, but it leaves room for the grain and malt to come through.
Finish
The finish starts out soft and warming, with a trace of cocoa and stewed fruit lingering. It’s medium in length—not too quick, but it doesn’t hang forever either. There’s a light bitterness at the tail end, almost like walnut skin or cold coffee, which adds some grip. It may not be the kind of ending that invites deep contemplation, but it finishes clean, and I didn’t feel it needed anything more.
Price and Value
Price-wise, this sits comfortably in the range you'd expect for a well-put-together blended malt. For what it offers—non-chill filtered, no added colour, and a well-executed sherry cask profile—I think it’s good value. It’s a whisky that delivers steady quality and is versatile enough to enjoy casually or share with guests who aren’t deep into the whisky rabbit hole.
Background
Old Perth is a name revived to honour the blending tradition that once thrived in Perth, Scotland. Morrison Scotch Whisky Distillers are behind the current Old Perth lineup, which includes several expressions built around sherry maturation. The Solera expression draws from a system originally used in the ageing of sherry, where layers of casks are continually topped up from the one above, allowing for a consistent profile over time.
The whisky itself is a blended malt—no grain whisky—sourced from unnamed, but likely Speyside, distilleries. It’s matured entirely in sherry casks and bottled without chill filtration or added colour. Further details can be found directly from the Old Perth website.
Final Notes
Would I buy this bottle again? I think I would—especially to have on hand as a reliable pour when I want something that leans sherried without being too dense or overbearing. Is it beginner-friendly? Definitely. Its smoothness makes it approachable, while the subtle spice and dryness add enough character to keep things from getting boring. It fits well during relaxed evenings or quiet moments when I don’t want to puzzle over a complex dram. Compared to other Speyside-style blends with sherry cask influence, it strikes a nice middle point between warmth and clarity. It might not surprise you, but it won’t disappoint either—and sometimes that’s exactly what I’m looking for.