Review: Haig & Haig Five Star (1949)

Haig & Haig Five Star - 1949 - 43.4%

Historic for being the first grain whisky distillery to utilize the column still, Haig reach the height of its popularity in 1971 breaking the million case mark in the UK. Despite the popularity and iconic branding of the Dimple and Pinch expressions, Haig's sales sunk to just 750 cases by the millennium overshadowed by other blends in the Diageo portfolio like Johnny Walker.

Dating this bottle was fun. The label pre-dates the Markinch production facility (1952). The Wisconsin tax stamp lines up with the 1949 version. Unfortunately, about 1/3 of the contents had evaporated over the past 70-ish years.

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Nose: There's hope. Oak-y and smoky. Rotting wood. Wet earth. Spent bonfire.

Flavor: Generic malty sweetness. Stale butterscotch. Faint ash. No finish.

Structure: Lopsided and flabby.

Alcohol Integration: Guessing this wasn't properly stored. Seems like flavors are ghosting where there should be flavor.

Score: NA The risk you take when you open a tiny bottle that's 3/4 of a century old.

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Archived Scores

Rating System

10 - Reevaluate The Budget

9 - Stash Two (If Able)

8 - Stash One (At The Right Price)

7 - Highly Recommend It To Strangers

6 - Solid - Above Average

5 - Acceptable For The Situation

4 - Not Vocally Complaining

3 - Anything Else To Drink?

2 - Nothing Nice To Say

1 - Drain Pour

Sources: scotchwhisky.com